Whitten Park & Natchez Trace

Home sweet home Whitten Park

We spent our last day on the Tenn-Tom checking out Fulton, TN.  As we drove by the dam and locks on the waterway outside Fulton, we were lucky enough to get there just as three trawlers were approaching the dam to go through the locks.  Although we could not get close we were able to watch as all three entered, tethered to the side, and slowly sank from view before making their way out the other end of the lock.

After three days at James Whitten Park on the Tenn-Tom, we left this morning to travel the Natchez trail north to Nashville.  The Trace is 444 miles of history beginning in Natchez, Mississippi ending in Nashville, Tennessee.  The trace is rich in history and stories too many tell in this spot.  Natchez Trace was the lifeline through the south west of MS / TN.  Traders traveled by foot / wagon to deliver goods.  Rich tales of discoveries, ambushes, conflict and friendships help us to imagine what it must have been like to travel the Trace in 1700's.  By the early 1800's, the Natchez Trace was a heavily traveled road in the old southwest.  One of many points of interest is that as the Trace developed, several people established "stands" which were overnight inns for travelers to rest and eat before continuing their travels.  Although the sites are marked, the building are gone now, and we are left to our imagination.

 In keeping with promises we made to each to meander not rush, we drove for 40 miles stopping every so often to read road markers and enjoy the view.  We stopped for a light lunch and a nap.  Then we drove 45 more miles to set up at the Lewis Merriweather National Park.  There are no hook-ups.  Not a problem.   We are good to boon dock for at least five days if we are conservative with water use.  Besides that, the camp site is free!  Incredible view!

We will be here only one night making our way to Nashville and north tomorrow.  This is definitely a "come back to" spot.

                   

Home sweet home Lewis Merriweather National Park