Nature's Way (6th September)

We are travelling today from Tupelo to Clinton, just outside Jackson, along the Natchez Trace parkway. A road that follows the ancient deer trail from Mississippi to Kentucky, that was then used by the Indians as a trading route and then the trappers for making their way back up north after travelling down the Mississippi River. Nobody would ever get anywhere paddling up the Mississippi!! The road has no commercial trucks, a limit of 50 mph and no bill boards! There are many historic markers along the way, showing ancient burial mounds, Indian villages, way stations that have long since vanished and natural wonders. We stop at Davis Lake, which has a number of boats out fishing. The old Natchez Trail can still be walked, through fairly thick forest. We search for wildlife that "abounds" on the Parkway, but we don't see a bear except in the information booth, we do see a deer disappearing into the forest as we pass, but there are plenty of butterflies. One of the highest points in Mississippi is on our drive .... not really high given the highest point is 806 feet. There is a Kosciusko in Mississippi, plus Ted went "au natural" in the forest to give me a wild bear picture. There are some swamps nearing the southern end of the parkway that we are travelling, and they are fascinating places. Great looking when there is dappled sunshine. We've been so very lucky these last couple of days with brillant sunshine and no afternoon thunderstorms. Not sure it will last!

Old Natchez Trail route

Davis lake

Mississippi View