Nineteen days on the Natchez Trace

This morning we left Natchez State Park with that feeling you get when you're leaving a best friend after a fun visit, but going home to family you've missed.  We've clung to the Old Natchez Trace Parkway since October 30, basking and soaking up her beauty, peacefulness, ruggedness, simplicity and oozing of history.  From day one, way up in the Nashville area, until we saw the sign announcing it all was to end, we've lived in a different world and time.  Today our journey along the entire length of the Natchez Trace will be left behind physically, but the memories will travel with us for the rest of our lives.

What sweet memories.

 Leaving the State Park behind, our first assignment was to rejoin the Trace where we left off and drive it the last 15 miles.  First destination was Mount Locust, built in 1779 and the oldest surviving stand (Inn) along the Natchez Trace Parkway.  The Trace was primarily a south to north route to Nashville and beyond.  Day one of the month long journey ended at Mount Locust for most travelers.  Here a traveler, for 25 cents could buy a meal of corn mush with milk and a spot on the floor to sleep.

 We strolled the grounds of the old home built on the edge of the wilderness.  We looked in the rooms and visited the family cemetery and the slave cemetery.  It was a beautiful walk.


The old grape arbor.





















Inside the main house where a space on the floor was treasured.

The family's children had their own rooms.

 Another child's room.

 The other side of the main house.














The master bedroom.











Outside the home was the soap making bin.

We walked the trail and came across the family cemetery.

 There are headstones in the cemetery marked with the date of birth for the surviving family in the area.  The house was sold to the state but the rest of the family land is still privately owned.  The family all plan to be buried on the property.

 We spent at least an hour at this site.  There was a ranger there who was a history buff...he loved to talk and share everything he knew about the area and the family.  He was truly enjoyable.  But.....we had places to go, people to meet and hands to shake so we scooted off for the Emerald Mounds.  Yes, one last mound, but the is the big one.

 The mound was in three levels.  This was taken from the top overlooking the platform level.

Just past the Emerald Mound is a site showing the Loess soil.  It was this type of soil in the surrounding area that allow the most compacting of the earth that created the "sunken trail".

Now we're coming down to the last few miles.

Our Trail down the Trace.  Oct. 30 to Nov 17, 2013

Down we go, go, go....almost there.  So excited, but hate to see it end at the same time.

And looking back up the road we just finished.  Impressive.  Every state should have the equivalent to the Natchez Trace.  Thank you Mississippi for all the great memories.

So let's see what Louisiana holds for us.  Here we come, ready or not.

Aside from the cloudy and rain threatening day, it was an easy drive south.  Tonight however, we stayed at the Prairieville, LA WalMart.  It was hot, sultry and we all slept poorly.  Tomorrow we plow deeper into Louisiana searching for New Orleans.  I think we'll find it just fine.

Thanks for visiting, come back soon.