The BugSmasher rolls again, heading to the Natchez Trace.
The Natchez Trace is a two lane parkway that stretches 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. No commercial vehicles are allowed and the speed limit is 50 MPH. It follows the well-worn path created by native American Indians and used for centuries for travel and trade. When the European and American explorers came along the Indians introduced them to their path. Subsequent traders and emigrants (late 18th and early 19th centuries) followed this well-used route.
Traffic was sparse, the air crisp and clean after the hard rain. The lighter green of water oaks, live oaks, maples, pecan, and persimmons were punctuated by the darker greens of skinny pines and bushy firs. Extensive meadows of the greenest grass were punctuated by grand splashes of red clover and a purple offering I couldn't name.
The Trace has many pull-outs on this route and several larger parking areas for historical displays. We stopped at Mount Locust for a lunch break. Mount Locust is a home built about 1780 and subsequently used as an Inn. It has a long and colorful history. You can check out the Natchez Trace Parkway
HERE .
We were a bit early to catch the spectacular display of flowering spring foliage the Trace is famous for, but the drive was cool and serene. The Trace intersected I-20 a bit further east than I remembered, just a few miles west of Jackson, Mississippi. Our walkie talkies were demanding a recharge, so we agreed to drive to the first rest stop and reconnoiter. We drove and drove and drove. I was beginning to worry we would catch up to the storm but the rest stop appeared just past the intersection with State Highway 35.
After a quick stop to peruse the internet we decided it was a WalMart night. This area is sparse of RV campgrounds for the quick overnighter. Ones that were available appeared to have a tendency for mud or flood, and with the storm and flood warnings that wasn't in the cards. A call ahead to the WalMart in Newton (junction of State Highway 15 exit 109) netted us a spot for the night. The great thing about this WalMart is there's a large parking area in the back for semi's and that's where the RVers go. There were no semi's and it was very quiet. A great place to stop. We filled up the truck and shopped for new doggie collars, treats, and fresh water to pay our dues. Thanks WalMart!
Chuck remembered this was the exit for a Japanese restaurant we had eaten at years before and loved. Their menu included to-die-for Tempura. Really good Shrimp and vegetable tempura at fast food prices. We were looking forward to dinner here.
Alas, no more tempura. The lady said they took it off the menu because no one liked it. I was flabber-ghasted. It was REALLY good tempura and the servings were huge. I guess it's a local thing. So we went with their Hibachi plates - I with shrimp and chicken and Chuck with just shrimp. Very good, but with a slight disappointment over the tempura.
So after a good nights sleep we are headed out again this morning. Chuck is wanting to push all the way back, but I'm wanting to do it in two days. We'll see.
A BIG SHOUT OUT to our friends Mona Liza and Steve, hunkered down in LaGrange Georgia. Hope the night was an easy one for you.
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