Road Trip

Howard and I just got back from a 12-day road trip.  We put about 2,400 miles on three different rental cars - we returned the first car within the first few miles because the steering wheel was shaking and we returned the second car in Houston because it was making a scary random scraping sound.

We spent the first three days driving on and exploring the Natchez Trace Parkway - all 444 miles of it, from its end near the Loveless Cafe in Nashville to its beginning in Natchez, Mississippi. 

A few days before leaving Howard found and ordered this book, which proved to be an invaluable 'tour guide'.  We had to read the book backwards since we started at the end of the trail.  It was easy to follow though because the book locates sites on 'The Trace' by the convenient mile markers.

At mile marker 438.0 (six miles into our Trace journey), we stopped to admire this double-arch bridge.  You can see how massive the bridge is when compared to the people walking across it.  It's pretty scary for pedestrians because the rails are so low.  One false move and splat - you might end up being vulture vittles, like the deer we saw below.  I'll spare you the close up.

404.7 Jackson Falls (Tennessee)
It was more like Jackson Dribbles, but we haven't had a lot of rain lately.  It was nice and cool down there though.  It reminded us of a miniature Fern Grotto, the one in Kauai.

401.4 Tobacco Farm (Tennessee)

We had to take a picture of me with the barn, since we were 'born' in the same year.  I think that I'm holding up much better than the barn - I keep my gray covered!

I wonder if this is new 'old' tobacco or old 'old' tobacco.  Near the barn there was about a mile of 'Old Trace' that we were able to drive on.  It's an unpaved road surrounded by dense forest.  You have to watch out for critters and varmints, like turtles and stuff.

Why did this turtle cross the road?  Because Howard rescued him.  After a photo shoot, he encouraged this 6-inch-ish long snapper to cross the road with a long stick.  This is actually Howard's second turtle rescue.  The first one took place on a two-lane desert road near St. George, Utah.  He got out of the car and carried that one back to where it came from.  Then we decided the turtle might try to cross again, so Howard picked him up again and carried him to other side of the road where he had been heading.  We hopefully saved his life and saved some driver from a hefty fine for smashing a turtle.  Okay, back to the Trace.

330.2 Rock Spring (Alabama)
This stop included a 20-minute nature walk.  Check out the pictures to see what was a very pleasant surprise for us.

The book says 'you might see beavers or herons, if you are lucky.'  I'm glad I'm reading that for the first time, because discovering a beaver dam (and a beaver) on your own is really cool.  Our first day on the Trace definitely was amazing and full of pleasant surprises.