Not All Parks Come as Advertised!


Wednesday, May 29, 2019

After a quiet evening enjoying the fireflies in David Crockett State Park, we returned to the Trace and continued southward.  When we were cycling the West Coast, we were often referred to as ‘the older Canadian couple that stop at all the pull offs.’  Well, today we continued to keep our reputation intact.  We stopped at every interpretive board and enjoyed some short hikes to see historical sites.  Progress was slow, but that is what this trip is supposed to be about.

We are surprised by the lack of people (not complaining mind you) driving the Trace.  We are obviously here before the crowds.  The Trace is the most visited National Park in the US.  (But I do believe that the Blue Ridge Parkway made the same claim!)  It is strange to have only a few cars and some cyclists to contend with.  This is a major cycling destination.  To encourage cycling they have put in some bicycle only campgrounds.  We saw 3 groups of tour cyclists today as well as some ‘roadies’.  We were glad to be sitting in our air-conditioned truck and not struggling in the 31-degree heat.

Today we traveled in 3 States.  We left Tennessee behind, went through a corner of Alabama, and are now in Mississippi.  We are staying at Trace State Park just outside of Tupelo. Not that it matters to me…but…it advertises itself as a water paradise, offering swimming, boating, and fishing.  When we checked in the lady says, “you know that the Lake has no water in it”.  We looked at her and she told us that it had been drained to work on the ‘levy’.  We have a beautiful campsite overlooking a dry grass filled Lake.  It appears that it has been a few years since it was drained as they are now mowing part of the lake bottom.  When we asked about the progress on the levy, we were told that the opposite side to our view is completed and work is to commence forthwith on the campground side.  This is probably another government project behind schedule and over budget!

Distance Traveled = 243 km.  Wildlife Sightings = Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Cardinal, Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Kestrel, Eastern Bluebird, Cliff Swallow, Fireflies, Bat, Turtle.


Sweetwater Branch - One of our hikes


Graves for 13 Unknown Confederate Soldiers buried beside the Trace


Natchez Trace Bridge over the Tennessee River in Alabama


The 'Lake' at Trace State Park as seen from our campsite

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