Monday, December 15, 2008 - Richland MS

Okatibbee Mist, December 15, 2008, Twiltley Branch Campground, Collinsville MS

Why choose a shop in Carthage MS for alignment work?

Because there are two shops in Carthage I had good dealings with last January when I needed a problem diagnosed and between them they did a fine job. So I figured on or the other of them might be able to do the alignment or would know someone who could. To my mind, even though Carthage is a bit off my course west, it's not that far off to be worth my while to look up a familiar face in an area I don't know.

This is rambling a bit and I'm going to post it as is for the moment while I collect my thoughts for another go at writing this up..... I need a few things at Wal-Mart.

Oh, yes, before I forget - it rained lightly this afternoon - and the leak by the door leaked lightly as well - oh foo.........

Night camp

Wal-Mart Parking Lot in Richland MS

Wal-Mart Supercenter in Richland MS

Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #17, 3200 Lusk Drive, Neosho, MO 64850 - (417) 451-5544

I chose this particular Wal-Mart in the Jackson MS area to boondock at for its convenience to the alignment shop I had an early morning appointment with. This neighborhood on Rt 49 South is a busy, noisy commercial area with lots of heavy truck traffic but it quiets down at night.

Good level parking, shared with lots of trucks
Busy commercial neighborhood
Verizon cell phone service is excellent
Verizon EVDO Broadband service is excellent
Find other Wal-Marts in the area
Check the weather here

Heliograph route between Fort Cummings NM and Tubac, AZ

1886 heliograph transmissions between Tubac near Nogales Arizona/Mexico, and Fort Cummings New Mexico: Joe Marques (Flagstaff) was doing some research in old Flagstaff newspapers and found something that might interest. In the Arizona Weekly Champion, Saturday August 7, 1886, page 2 column 1, it says: "A message was recently sent by the government heliograph (signalling by sunlight flashes) from Fort Cummings, N.M. to Tubac, Ariz., a distance of 400 miles, and an answer received in four hours." What a great [research] find! This was during the Geronimo Campaign of 1886, and the heliograph system at that time did indeed extend between the two stations. From Tubac, the most westerly terminus, the intermediate stations were Baldy Peak or possibly Josephine Peak just a little south of Baldy), Fort Huachuca, Antelope Spring, Emma Monk, White's Ranch, Bowie Peak (or Helen's Dome), Steins Peak, and Camp Henely (east of Fort Cummings). This means the message would have been relayed seven times, one way. It most likely was a test message, and relatively short, but I would love to know what it and the reply really said. The 1886 "airline" distance between Tubac and Fort Cummings; and of course on to Fort Cummings. I calculate the one-way distance between the two extremes as being 241 miles, with round trip of course being 482 miles.

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