Tour de Gulfport

Roland B. was kind enough to give us a guided tour of Gulfport this evening. Pictured here* are a few of the highlights:

• A massive oak tree that is 520 years old (goes back to 1487). Yes, that's before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It's amazing how these oaks survived the storm (they're all over the ocean front area--gnarled, but standing.)
• What's left of Southern Mississippi University (located just off the beach), and Milt in the gang scheming on how we could fit its repair into our schedule.
• Sunset with the McDonald's arches in the foreground--notice that there is no McDonald's (its dark, but trust me--its just a slab of cement) and that the sign was ripped apart and only a shell remains.
• Devotions (prayer and song) on the beach.
• Dave and Rachel S. dancing on the beach (at least Rachel's dancing. I'm not sure if what Dave is doing qualifies :-) )

I missed a few important points of interest, however (today and in the last few days). Among them are:

• First Presbyterian Church: If I have the story right, the building (located on the water) was condemned after the storm and won't be rebuilt since the insurance payment would use up the entire church budget (near a quarter of a million, if I heard correctly). The congregation will now relocate 8 miles inland.
• The Dole banana plant--apparently they all come in through Gulfport.
• Dairy Queen--not that significant, we've just enjoyed going there the last two nights.
• "The Wall"--a wall (part of which still stands) that literally divided black and white Gulfport. This was still in use in the last half of the last century. Amazing.

*Press play if the slide show doesn't start automatically. Refresh the page if no pictures show up.