Waking up in Mississippi

Sun rising on a gorgeous day in the Magnolia State

A turkey vulture Cathy and I spotted as we ran this morning, just down the road from the cabin.
(Richard says this is how these birds warm their wings in the sun before taking off.)

Loving this cabin. Almost wish I could stay here all week. . .

Early risers Kate and Heepke

Who's who

Nothing says"Mississippi" like belly laughs and story-swapping around a table
in a rustic cabin after a good Southern meal!

Michele, Anna, and Michelle listen as Moses talks about why he wanted to come on this trip.

Moses, pensive.

McKenzie and Sarah get tickled.

Oge tries out a new look.

The Phillips cabin.

Twelve hours later. . . the crew from Wittenberg finds themselves in a cabin in the woods* outside Ruleville, Mississippi, eating barbecue and learning about their fellow travelers. (Most of us had not known each other prior to the trip.) A lovely evening of laughter and anticipation as we shared our stories and talked about the week ahead.

*Owned by the family of Wittenberg biology prof Richard Phillips, who very graciously allowed us to stay there to save hotel expenses.

Packing the experiences in

Leisurely morning running and walking, exploring the property around the cabin and bunkhouse, and sitting in rocking on front porches, traditional Southern-style. Then breakfast at the cabin, with Tyler demonstrating a talent for baconry.

We bid Dr. Phillips farewell and got on the road, stopping in Clarksdale to sign the wall at Ground Zero, Morgan Freeman's nightclub. Quick visit at the Shack Up Inn, where we chatted with Bill, one of the owners Cathy knows from years past. Everybody got a peek into one of the shacks.

For lunch, Bill recommended we eat at Abe's BBQ at the crossroads (the intersection of Highways 49 and 61, where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil for mastery of the blues guitar). When we got there, Abe's had closed for the day but opened back up after they saw the whole bunch of us wandering around the parking lot, looking dismayed.

We arrived at Cary Christian Center just in time for a taco supper with our counterparts from Iowa (18 students from Northwestern College) — followed by a short orientation session. Our crazy busy day ended with everyone crashing early in our barracks-style bedrooms.


Photos: 1) Tyler and Cathy rocking on the porch of Dr. Phillips' bunkhouse. 2) Ryan snaps a photo of Karlos at the Shack Up Inn. 3) A bottle tree at the Shack Up. 4) The Witt team meets the Northwestern College team in our first dorm meeting.