April 10 -11 Natchez Trace and home

Saturday, April 10

We awake to 61 degrees with a light rain, which continues for about an hour.  Back on the Trace, we stop at Jack's Branch picnic area and have breakfast overlooking a forest with lots of dogwood trees.  I love how these delicate flowers seem almost to be floating amongst the trees. They are an understory tree which shine.

We cross into Alabama and begin to see occasional downed trees and standing water from recent storms.

 Rock Spring trail, which the write-up says wonders through a tupelo tree and cypress wet area, is a short trail into a flooded swamp. 

There are quite a few historical stops, some of which we've seen previously. Colbert Ferry is the site where a ferry operated across the Tennessee River from 1800-1819.

We pass some beautiful fields of wildflowers.

 

And soon we are in Mississippi, crossing Dogwood Valley.  We stop to take a look at a bit of the "Old Trace", the actual track used by Indians, soldiers, pioneers and others. (Today's Trace roughly parallels it.) The graves of 13 unidentified confederate soldiers are nearby.

More standing water at Cole Creek Nature Trail, and we see more fallen trees. 

 There have been nasty storms and tornadoes across the area recently. Hurricane Creek stop is supposed to show the last stages of a tupelo-BaldCypress Swamp and first stages of a  hardwood forest. But it too is under water.   A sign there talks about how "plants need water much as men need money.  Some are satisfied with a little; some can not flourish unless they have a lot".  Looks like some have a bit too much now.

 We are in the Chickasaw Homeland here, where these natives lived on the land, harvesting corn and  native plants and built log framed winter homes.  There is a detour for a short while because of road-clearing and storm-damage maintenance on the Trace.  

Back on the Trace, we continue to Rocky Springs Campground at MP54.  There are many open sites but a few of them are water-filled.  We find a relatively dry one and enjoy the fresh cool air and lively night sounds of crickets and frogs.  This seems to be a popular camping site for some of the many cyclists we've seen.

 Sunday, April 11

We pull out about 8:15 and travel slowly through some heavy fog for a bit. 

 After looking at options, we decide to wind our way across Mississippi and Louisiana on smaller roads, rather than going the whole way down to I-10 which is always a bustling, busy, truck-filled road.  Instead we travel pretty nice roads with a few towns here and there.  Much more relaxing. 

We know we are in Texas when the speed limit jumps to 75 near Jasper.  At Livingston, we head south on I-69 to 99 and then - we're home about 1:30pm.  

Total: 3,469 miles.  

April 9 Cade's Cove, Loveless Cafe, Tennessee Natchez Trace

 Friday, April 9

51 degrees at 7:00 this morning.  We set out after breakfast, heading to the southern end of the Smokies and Cades Cove.   We stop for a few beautiful sites along the way.  The road follows a stream for much of the way - just beautiful.  Lots of redwood and dogwood trees blooming.

Little traffic so a pleasant drive!  At Cades Cover there is an 11 mile driving loop that we have enjoyed in the past. We have seen quite a few animals here in the past, though we are later than usual this morning.  Still, a nice drive. Lots of turkeys this trip and here we see a few solitary toms, 

 and several small groups of deer.

From here we begin to go west, further into Tennessee.  Next stop is Burgess Falls State Park for  a nice hike alongside the Falling Water River. The rushing river and several waterfalls provide a constant, soothing background sound.   Entry to the park is free, which is unusual these days!

We get back onto I-40 toward Nashville and decide to stop at the Loveless Cafe, a well known restaurant near Franklin and the start of the Natchez Trace.  They specialize in Southern Comfort food and we enjoy an artery-clogging meal of southern fried chicken, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and - oh, those biscuits! Yum! Decor is simple country with a liberal scattering of Johnny Cash and other country music stars.

From here, we hop on the Natchez Trace highway, a 440+ mile, 2 lane highway with no commercial traffic, no billboards and beautiful countryside! 

  Lewis and Clark Campground is closed, so we get off and visit the Columbia, Tennessee Walmart.  A popular hangout for local teens in their cars until 10:00 or so, then it is quiet.

Wed-Thurs. April 7-8, 2021 The Smokies

 Wednesday April 7 2021

 We arrive at Cosby Campground around lunchtime and find our campsite, a pretty nice spot!  

Most all of the sites are occupied but at least this is an older campground and sites are larger and more spread out.  We go for a walk around the campground and end up on the Storybook Trail before going to the office to "officially" check in (they were closed for lunch when we arrived). 

Beautiful moss covered rocks and gurgling streams, lots of wild violets and other early Spring flowers. And surprisingly few people!  We drink it in!

Ferns unfurling.

Some colorful fungus 

 Greg gets a nice campfire going, a perfect way to relax. We gather some fallen wood and had to drive out of the park to get some firewood.  A new (to us) twist - the National Park requires that you bring in only heat-treated firewood available at certain vendors.  This is an attempt to prevent introducing unwanted insects and/or bacteria to the forest.  No cell coverage here.  No electric, but there are flush toilets nearby and available water. 

 Thursday, April 8

We've decided to do an early hike this morning,  the 4 1/2 mile trip to Henwallow Falls.  It is a rough trail -lots of rocks and tree roots require some watching where you're going.

 

 . 

 But among the tall trees,  it is quiet and beautiful.  Lots of Mountain Laurel, but it won't bloom for another month or so.  We see only 2 other people on the trail, a couple of young girls who breeze by us.

 The Falls are lovely and we perch on some large stumps and enjoy the sights, smells and sound while having a snack and some water.

Greg notices this tree which seems to have grown a hand to grasp onto the rocky hillside.

On the hike back to camp, we pass a lot more people - easily 30 or more - so are glad we opted for the early start!  A few wear masks, but most are small family groups without.

After a brief rest and some lunch, we decide to explore a little further into the Park to find another even more remote campground named Big Creek.  The road is crazy, winding and narrow and turns from pavement to gravel!  (7 miles of non-stop up-and-down S-curves, per Greg.)  Not exactly an enjoyable drive, but at least there is no traffic! This campground seems to be popular with tenters and horses and despite the remoteness, both the camping and the hiker parking areas are full.  Probably won't opt for this one in the future. Low fog beginning to settle in some of the valleys.

We find an alternate (longer but better) road back and have to check in again since we switched campsites.

Some pretty flowers along the way and brave folks doing some rafting

 

Tonight Greg grills hamburgers for dinner and we make roasted potatoes and onions in foil packets in the coals of the fire - Yum!