If time is of the essence, try the quick soak. For a faster soak, put the beans and water in a saucepan and bring them to a boil. Allow them to boil for about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it with a lid and let the beans soak for at least 1 hour.
On the way down, I stayed at Comfort Inn in Mount Vernon, which was fairly average. While I was in Mississippi, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. It was a step up from the Comfort Inn. The Hampton Inn had the Hilton stamp all over it...the quality and feel was definitely more upscale than the others.
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