Sunday, October 27, 2024

Natchez trace Trail








 On Thursday we headed for the Natchez Trace Parkway.  This roadway which stretches 450 miles through mostly Mississippi is like no other highway we have ever been on.  It is like a green belt that stretches across the state, a double lane highway with very limited access and light traffic, lined with wide mowed shoulders. The roadway commemorates the historical route traveled for centuries on foot and horseback from the Lower Mississippi to Nashville.  We stopped at several sites, most notably Meriwether Lewis’ tragic death and burial site.  We snuck in late one night into a park campground next to Davis Lake.  We got off the parkway a few times to see the real Mississippi.  Enjoyed the town of Tupelo,   Elvis’ birthplace and childhood home.  Another highlight was the southern terminus of Natchez.  The historic town with hundreds of old houses was buzzing as it was the annual hot air balloon festival.  We ate dinner at a local brewery and drove to the Louisiana border and slept in a rest area, making it two consecutive nights in our SUV RV.  Saturday we walked Baton Rouge with its impressive capital building and grounds.  A short afternoon brought us to a Motel 6 near New Orleans and a local laundry mat to get ready for the cruise.  The next morning we thought we gave ourselves plenty of time to get to the cruise, but the crowded and confusing port area took us an hour to drop off baggage and find our reserved parking lot.  Boarding was organized and we heaved a big sigh of relief once on board.

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