Saturday, April 29, 2017

4/29/2017 Natchez Trace Parkway: GOD Country in the U.S. National Park: Natchez Trace Parkway

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 
Tim and Linda Bunyan

NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY (U.S. National Park Service)

Natchez, Mississippi @ Natchez State Park 4/29-4/30
We left Ponchatrain Landing and Larry and Karen in New Orleans this morning to reach the Natchez Trace Parkway that begins just north of Baton Rouge, this road is a 444-miles recreational road and scenic drive that has been preserved through three states: (Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee). 



 

We began this historic trail with delight, for an over-night in the Natchez State Park, Mississippi.  As weather station broadcast predicted, it was a day of rain and a night filled with thunder and lightning.  
Woodstock, the kitty cat was on alert with his eyes wide open.  It was a bit scary hearing the crackle of lightning and the thunder sound throughout the forest.  

We woke to lost power and pouring rain which Tim had to endure THE STORM !!!






Tim packed up the travel trailer and we set off on the
travel corridor used by American Indians, “Kaintucks”, European settlers, slave traders, and soldiers.











The storm and tornado winds from the night wreaked havoc in this National Park.  The road was littered with branches from tornado winds that blew through.  Remains of splintered forest trees blocked the road to all modern-day pioneers!



Much as our forefathers, we had to make our own way.  
Tim, and others on the parkway, had to clear the road, as the early settlers did 
to utilize this trail.
Tim used his ax and began hacking to remove the limbs from large tree trunks.  




A young man offered his 4-wheel drive truck to move trees from the roadway so that we all could pass.   He also had chains that Tim wrapped around the trees to drag off the roadway. 

Finally, a local arrived with a power chain saw. 
 In a short buzz, we were able to move on through the:
 440 miles Natchez Trace Parkway Travel Tour drive.