I’m not one for celebrity worship, but some characters rise to a level that when given an opportunity I might investigate. Elvis Pressley’s hometown of Mississippi was a short distance from the Natchez Trace and I needed gas so I ventured into town. I limited my visit to the downtown area and was pleasantly surprised. The tributes to the King were not over the top and the downtown was around the courthouse had some interesting features.
This fountain has to be the simplest but most interesting fountain I've ever seen.
TUPELO, MS.:
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Beginning Mileage: 133,546 miles Trail miles: 444 YTD Miles: 1141 Major Rivers Crossed: Clinch, Caney Fork, Stoney.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a national park that runs along the ancient Natchez Trail from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. It is about 440+ miles with no stop signs, traffic lights, gas stations, billboards, power lines, or businesses. Just an occasional speed limit sign (50 MPH), picnic or rest area, wooden mile markers, and many historical and sightseeing stops. A smooth 2-lane road through a beautiful, rolling and pristine landscape. A historical trail that was created by migrating bison and other herds of animals. The ‘trace’ of a trail they created over centuries was taken up and used by hunting and trading partners of the Natchez area native-Americans. These Native-Americans were followed by Kentucky and Tennessee trappers and farmers who would float their goods down river to trade in Natchez, Mississippi followed by a long hike back home via the trace to Nashville, Tennessee and points beyond. Later slave traders and armies would march the road.
The Natchez Trace Parkway crossing the Tennessee River.
Like most of my routes on this 49 State Road Trip I am planning my route along historical and significant routes, such as; the Wilderness Road, Route 66, the Old National Road (US 40), etc.
The Natchez Trace is one of the oldest known road/trails in America and like the Cumberland Gap and Kentucky segment of the Wilderness Road was probably originally established by centuries of bison and other herds finding paths from one part of the country to another creating trails that were further used by Native-Americans for hundreds of years.
BUCKET LIST ITEM COMPLETE!!!
One of original bucket list items was to hike or bike the Natchez Trace, with an artificial hip that goal was modified to driving the Trace. It took 4 days, an intentionally casual and insightful drive, to complete.
Beginning Mileage: 133,767 miles Todays miles: 347 YTD Miles: 714
Left Lake Grenada latter than planned and took I-55 south to Natchez. Spent part of the early afternoon driving around downtown Natchez, this place is worth a second visit with more time to explore. was pressed to get on the Natchez Trail in order to get back to Lake Grenada (campsite) before dark.
Beginning Mileage: 133,546 miles Todays miles: 221 YTD Miles: 367 Major Rivers Crossed: Big Black, Pearl, Tallahatchie, Tombigbee, Yazoo.
Day 2 was basically a travel day, destination Natchez, Mississippi with stops around Tunica, Mississippi. In doing research on Kelly’s mother’s family I discovered a distant relative that was a slave on one of the largest slave plantations in the south; The Abbay & Leatherman Plantation. Indications were that the plantation still existed and there may have been some preservation there so I was curious to visit.
The family owned plantation still exist and appears to be in operation. It is noted as a stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Unfortunately, the only trace of the plantation are large swaths of land with no trespassing signs at the gates and a preserved Plantation Office with a marker noting that the plantation was the boyhood home of bluesman Robert Johnson. The plantation and office is located along the levee of the Mississippi River, surrounded by the massive and many casinos of the Tunica Resorts.
I lost a lot of travel time driving around Tunica, the resorts, and the levees so I adjusted my agenda to seeking out a camping spot for the night. My knew plan was to get a campsite for two nights somewhere along the Natchez Trace, then in the morning leave the trailer at the campsite drive south to Natchez, visit the city and then work my way back north on the Natchez Trace to the campsite, spend the night and then break camp and continue along the rest of the Trace north to Nashville, Tennessee.
Got lucky and got a great campsite ate Grenada Lake near Granada, Mississippi between I-55 and the Natchez Trace.
