Left Cooksville at 06:00, taking Interstate 40 until about 25 miles from Nashville. Then we took a series highways south to avoid Nashville, followed by missed turns and wrong turns eventually putting us on the Natchez Trace Parkway just after 09:00. This parkway is a two lane, no shouldered, 50 mph scenic route with no commercial vehicles...sweet. We covered 300 plus miles this way with a completely stress free day of driving.
Trees with red leaf buds. A few daffodils along the highway. Spring is more here than it is under the snow covered place we left behind. We saw the first small trees in blossom with white blossoms near Tupelo followed by trees with red/purple plossoms (maybe red bud but are not sure). The parkway is nice, and I mean nice, the volunteers at the information centers (all older woman) are charming southern gals. At the last center the woman, said tht the white blossomed trees were pears. She observed our very pale skin and said we looked so nice. Paul had an extended conversation with her and after he had gone back outside I pointed out the interesting pants that Paul was wearing, the women just grinned and said "I like that man."
We are camping at Stony Creek campground on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is a first come, first served, no service campground. There are toilets and drinking fountains and that is it, no other running water. There is a campground host, however, so you can ask questions. There are no lights on the campground roads only in the bathroom. It is dark except for the stars above us. And best of all, it was free. Sure beats Walmat parking lots with their noise, granted we cannot go get fresh fruit in the am, but it is quiet except for the wind in the trees and if you listen hard, maybe a car along the highway. We ate dinner (drank a little wine and beer, ate sardines, cheese, bread, tomatoes) by firelight and loved every minute. The temperature is mild and it is just such a contrast to what we have left behind only on Tuesday!
One thing we picked up before we got to the parkway at a small market was a pound of Stan's slab smoked country bacon! Figured it was something from this part of the country that we should enjoy, so we will. But most likely it will be enjoyed in Texas several days down the road from how.
So for now, I am one tired puppy and have decided to go to bed early and listen to the wind in the trees. How much better does it get than that?
Oh yes, almost forgot to say that when we were getting ready for our dinner, Lilly managed to escape. Fortunately she only went under the camper and 20 minutes later we had captured her...but between the escape and the capture...it was something to behold. Adults on their bellies called to a cat, trying to tempt her with sardines, finally grapping her by the tail and pulling her out. Yes, by that big flully fail! Adventures in kitty land.
No comments:
Post a Comment