Friday, March 14 to Saturday, March 15, 2014
Our next drive had us crossing into Mississippi to the city of Natchez, right on the Mississippi River. After gettting armed with info on the area, we toured one of the many antibellum (before civil war) grand homes. The Melrose home which was amazingly preserved with furnishings from the original owners. This 1849 estate owned by John McMurraN, is now maitained by the National Park Service. After deciding to spend the night at the visitor centre parking lot, we took a shuttle to the Isle de Capri Casino, a converted river boat on the river, for an all-you-can-eat fish buffet. What a treat to eat and watch the long barges go by and hear the odd chunk of wood floating down stream, hit the hull. Filled to overcapacity, we walked back to PeeWee in the dark.
Woke to an overcast morning and walked a trail along the Bluffs overlooking the water before starting our day’s drive on the famous Natchez Trace Parkway. This 444 mile road leads throught three states and 10,000 years of history. It connects Natches, Mississippi and Nashville ,Tennessee and is a wounderful, serene drive with over 100 points of interest along the way. There are no trucks or commercial vehicles allowed, no gas or lodging and where the speed limit is 50-miles per hour. The Trace crosses four distinct ecosystems and eight major watersheds. At the end of the day we left the Trace in Jackson, MS for a night at a state park. We would highly recommend this drive.
Friday, March 14
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| A great centre with very helpful staff |
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| The Melrose home finished in 1849 and inhabited until 1975 and then taken over by the Park Service in 1990. |
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| Black cherry in bloom |
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| Old barn in a field of flowers |
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| Excellent information from the ranger, but as usual, too much to sink in. |
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| Guest parlor |
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The large wooden fan called a punkah, is suspended over dining table and kept guests cool and the flies away.
A slave would pull a cord to move it back and forth. |
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| All the furnishings in the home were made in Pennsylvania. |
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| In their very modest garden. Guess they concentrated on the interior of the home which was intended to impress. |
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| Visitor Centre parking. |
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| Our little corner for the night. |
Saturday, March 15
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The Isle of Capri Casino which is a converted riverboat. Had a great buffet supper here last night. The bridge
over the Mississippi River connects Louisiana and Mississippi. |
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| Old railroad station under construction. A little way to go. |
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| Grace is trying to get some decorating ideas. |
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| One of many old estate home open for touring. |
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| Snow drops, but lucky no snow here. |
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| The start of a 444 mile stretch of peaceful driving. |
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| Over 100 points of interest were marked by this kind of sign. |
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| This shows the size of the Indian burial/ceremonial mound. |
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| On to the next marker. |
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| This is the only remaining homestead/inn of 50 on the Trace. |
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| Lodging for weary travelers |
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| The owners quarters |
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| Very inviting |
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| This is part of the original trail that was used by travelers making their way overland from the Mississippi to Nashville. |
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| At some places it was over 30-feet deep from use. |
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| Parked for the night at Lefleur's Bluff State Park, Jackson, Mississippi. |
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