Natchez Trace

The reason we stayed at Tupelo, Mississippi was to drive down the Natchez Trace. We found the Visitor Center and found out some information about the parkway and some maps. There were some school buses and fire engines parked and some school kids around as we were leaving. As Dave drove out of the car park - look who we saw!!! Dave braked as I wound down the window. Lesley and I were hanging out of the window, 'Smokey!!!! Can we have a photo?' The poor fella was carrying some cartons, which he put down as we ran over to him, all excited!

The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates an ancient trail used by animals and people that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today's central Tennessee. Today, visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

The heaviest use of the Old Trace was from 1800 to about 1825 by men, known as "Kaintucks," who floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and returned north on foot. But the stories of the Old Trace reach far beyond the early 1800s. They include Mound Builders, Natchez, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Indians, preachers, bandits, slaves, soldiers, settlers, and even Meriwether Lewis.

This is Dave standing on the actual 'trace' which comes from a French origin meaning 'footprint'. The road today shadows the trace. This is standing on history! We drove along approximately 60 miles (took almost 3 hrs!) and stopped to look at exhibits which showed remains of Indian settlements, mainly Chickasaw tribe. The drive was beautiful - cars only on the road, no advertising or traffic lights, just National Park. And animals - we saw wild turkey buzzards, deer, squirrels, a (flat) fox and birds.

We had a late lunch in Kosciusko (yep - same name) and drove on to Meridian, Mississippi. Made one of our (almost) usual afternoon stops at Walmart - to buy some beer and other miscellaneous items. Had to take a pic of that!

We found a great Jameson Inn which was right across the road from Bonita Lakes Mall where there were a few choices for dinner - we settled on 'Charley O' diner.

Saturday (today): we left Meridian early in the morning and drove south to Mobile, Alabama. Found a Flea Market for a look - lots of puppies (boxers!) and rabbits, chooks, kittens etc etc.

Crossed the border into Florida at lunchtime. Staying at Marianna, Florida tonight. Should return to Daytona Beach tomorrow. Great weather - blue skies and 80 + degrees farenheit.