Day 8 – Tupelo, MS to Natchez, MS

Day 8 – Tupelo, MS to Natchez, MS

Friday, August 19

Day 2 of the Natchez Trace Parkway

Well today was shopping day at Best Buy, I needed some technology and a new point and shoot camera for all the action on the Trace, so as a result we departed around 11am, and have 287miles in front of us before reaching Natchez.

Ken on the "Trace"

First stop is the National Park Headquarters for the NTP, to purchase some patches and post cards, etc.  [http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm]

We decided to reduce the number of stops for pictures, but then because of the heat we had to add a water stop every 45 minutes. I also had a Euclid rescue (that is a turtle if you didn't already know), he was smack in the middle to the NTP, and by the time I got turned around and back to were he was he had changed directions a again and had took off for the grass.

I scooped him up, no fuss, he and 2” long yellow nails, and this might be the Euclids that can climb trees, anyway he was going back into the big lake – so I pushed him into the water, mission accomplished another Euclid was saved.

Ken resting from the heat

By around 4pm we are in Jackson and only about 70 miles from the end of NTP in Natchez, MS. But the heat index is now 45c and the air temperature is 41c, so we are stopping a bit more, still NO traffic on the parkway, in fact there are 20 minute periods that we see no other vehicles at all.

At 6:40pm we are in Natchez, having completed all 444 miles of the famous Natchez Trace Parkway. It is something that I will do again, much like my 8 trips on Route 66, the Trace draws one back – it is magical in someway.

We are staying at the Natchez Grand, right downtown, and by the time we are checked in and get a celebratory drink at the bar, we need to find somewhere to eat fast, restaurants in these parts close at 9pm.

So we found a great spot call the Pearl Street Pasta Cafe at 105 S Pearl Street (601) 442-9284.

So ends a most enjoyable time on the Trace, tomorrow we will explore the other New Orleans – Natchez (as it is called).