Getting’ Out of The City, The Famed Natchez Trace, Slide-Out, Data Woes - Collage-ville

I slept with the window beside me open all night. Well, all morning, I opened it at midnight. It was another warm night sleeping which meant no propane used to keep us warm. That's always good! On Sunday, Mar. 24^th we woke around 6. I know we were all awake at 3 when Clemson had to go out but other than that, a great sleep. We were up out of bed at 6:30 and making things happen.

Waking to patchy clouds at the casino

I made myself some oatmeal and Bill had toast and jam. I’d forgotten to make us a sandwich last night so I did that while Bill got cleaned up. We’ll be eating lunch on the road today again and that saves some $ as well as time. 

and a pretty sunrise

After dishes, I washed as well and we focused on closing our bedroom slide together. Yes. Without us knowing it, when Bill opened it yesterday, the cable the boys replaced broke. I just happened to see the loose cable during the afternoon. Rats!

flooding waters

Name that car! Skies breaking up

We would be treating it with kid gloves from now on until at least Ohio where we stop for a few nights. We’re not sure if they can fix it again but figure a stronger cable would have been the way to go. Fingers crossed that the in and out goes smoothly from here forward. So close to home! Well, you know what I mean. We pulled out of Harrah’s Casino and Raceway at 8 and went just a hop, skip and a jump down the road to fuel up with some cheap diesel. $2.69/gal is a great price.

We were soon enough back on I-20 heading East into Mississippi. After a Rest Area, a really nice Rest Area around 9:30 for a pit stop, we continued to move east. The temperature had increased to 60F and the sun was starting to poke through the clouds. It was 11 when we crossed the bridge into Mississippi and pulled into their Welcome Centre near Vicksburg. I took some pictures of the magnificent Mississippi River and the Magnolia tree outside the building.

Nice Information Centre at Vicksburg

We received a map here, one we didn’t have from our last time through. It was in the plans to fill our fuel tanks before setting off on the Natchez Trace so at 11:30 we pulled into an Exxon and got the same great price of $2.69/gal. Yes! Hand pump in the air! Within 30 minutes, at Clinton, MS, we caught the Trace. Bill and I had never been on it before but had heard much about it from Rob and Pat and from a few others who recommended the journey.

Entering the Natchez trace parkway

The Natchez Trace is every bit as beautiful a drive as we were told and the speed is 50 mph with no transports allowed on the 2-lane paved highway. And a decent highway I might add. It runs from Natchez, MS through an area of Alabama across the Tennessee Valley to Nashville. 

Some spots were not easy to get into with a big rv

There is an Old Trace and this New Trace. The old one was a passageway for buffalo and then American Indians. In the 1800’s it was a route for traders who opted not to fight the Mississippi River currents and sold their boats in favour of walking home on the Old Trace.

Cyprus Springs

Steamboats eventually made the trek unnecessary in mid-century and the Old Trace disappeared into the forest. The new 444-mile parkway has become one of America’s most prominent examples of natural and cultural heritage. It is an unhurried trip amongst redbuds and dogwoods (blossoming at this time of year) magnolias, woods and no end to the sky-reaching cyprus trees. Trees, water, bush and road. Rare are the power lines and billboards, I don’t think I’ve seen ANY billboards, come to think of it.

Jeff Busby camping area

We stopped at a few of the historical markers, others we just passed by because of a shortage of parking space. We are not easily accommodated in the normal size pull-offs. The downfall in one way is that we are travelling the Trace on Sunday and there is much more tourist traffic taking the spaces than would normally on a week day. That can’t be helped and isn’t there always something? The traffic otherwise is lighter, on the Interstate and secondary roads. 

They aren't real campsites, just stop and park in the roadways

We eventually all tired of attempting to get ‘in’ and see things and just forged on to French Camp. Rob said it was interesting but he drove by when he noticed that it also would be a tight fit for parking. 13 miles further we found our stop for the night. Jeff Busby has campground spots and that was as far as we got. It’s too bad we didn’t know the camping area better, we could have found a nicer spot but the way things were going, we figured we better take what was right in front of us and pulled in behind Rob and Pat.

snug as bugs on rugs

The cyprus trees all around us are gorgeous and if we were staying longer than a night, we would be backing out and finding something with more sun. No point in getting our chairs out at all, since we had no room to sit by the Suite. I took Clemson for a walk at 3:15 and when I returned, Bill was still reading his book. There was a picnic table down in the gully in front of where Rob and Pat were sitting, so I took my book and something to sit on down there. It lasted about half hour but the table was dirty so I returned home.

I don't know if you can see him in the hole but this Siamese cat
seemed to be calling it home
and that made me sad

By now, Bill was snoozing and Clemson along with him. Without a data connection, I texted Suzie (Our Awesome Travels) and asked George to mention our dilemma just because this and other posts will not be published until we get free wifi. We sure don’t want people worrying unnecessarily about us. 

I warmed up homemade chili for supper and after dishes, Bill and I walked around the camping area. We chatted with a nice couple from New York for a while. It was a warm, calm night and rv’ers were out making conversation easy.

Look up, look way up

The bark of the cyprus tree is so interesting to me

Back home, I finished downloading today’s pictures and writing so I can post as soon as possible. It was another great travel day although long. We were so ready to stop when we did. From 8 am to 3:30 and our boys were very tired. I hope you had a good day as well.

And this was our supper and it was very good!

Thank you for stopping by!

Moving on, New Sticker, Casino-docking

On Saturday, Mar. 23^rd we felt the moving itch early. Bill and I were awake around 6 and even Clemson was restless for a while. We got up soon after and made our hot drinks. I finished loading pictures into my post and got it published. It was a very warm night for sleeping and that is a real treat! Almost the warmest we’ve had at 64F. We read a few blogs but didn’t catch them all. A lot of friends moved locations yesterday as we all slowly make our way home so it was nice to see where they ended up.

Nice start to our day but it didn't last

Nutrition for the road

Bill had toast and jam and I had a bowl of oatmeal and a piece of rye toast for breakfast. It isn’t because I was hungry but I knew I would be soon after getting on the road so it hit the spot and filled it. We were ready to pull out around 8:15 and I gave one glance back at this wonderful park. No doubt we will return. I really enjoyed it. It was sad that we didn't meet Tom and Cindy until our last day. It seemed like a nice connection and it would have been nice to spend more time with them.

Getting hooked up and ready to roll
they can cut the grass now that has grown a lot in 2 weeks

Great staff here made us all feel welcome

A glance back to say goodbye to a nice park

Turning right out of the park onto Cty Rd. 312 and then catching US-67, it was a cloudy start to our run. There were patches of blue before too long and a warm 63F gave us hope. In approximately 60 miles, we were exiting onto I-20E near Lancaster, Tx. Funny, as we drove on the upper of an overpass, looking down to the streets and businesses below us, the parking lots were proof of a recent downpour. Our route was dry.

Just a few things along the route today that I snapped pictures of

About 5 minutes of light rain spatters cleaned our already washed windshield and then it was more clear skies hovering over us. Yay! We needed a pit stop and since there were no rest areas closer than 58 miles, we pulled off into a travel centre. We all bought a coffee and took a piddle break, Clemson included. He got a nice walk with Pat and a drink of water too. Diesel was over $3/gal there and Rob wanted to fuel up so not too much further, we pulled off again to a TA station to better the price. At that point we topped up with another 12 gallons as well.

Looks like the sun is only poking through to draw up water

Everywhere you look, there are water towers, all the same shape but every once in a while, I see one worth snapping a picture of. 

This was right alongside the highway begging to be photographed
Such a big fat tower but I liked the tree in the name Cedar Hill

When I took the picture of the Lindale water tower, with the grapes, there was also a sign that said “Home of Miranda Lambert”. I didn’t know that about the c/w singer. It was 12:45 when we entered Louisiana. Arm pump! This is the first time, ever, for Bill and I in this state and we were impressed when we stopped near Greenwood at their Information Centre.

Lindale's tower - Miranda's hometown
Now, maybe they aren't grapes, maybe they are black berries

Bill went in first while I got our sandwiches out of the fridge. He signed their book and when he mentioned we were from Canada, the staffer offered him a state pin and a map. Thank you! How nice, we collect the pins. 

after the few spatters of rain

And he sleeps on Momma's hoody

Still not sure about the sky but it was warming up nicely

so much red earth this winter

I don't recall seeing so much of it previous years, other than Utah

It wasn’t much farther and we were making the exit off I-20 to the by-pass of 220 and soon enough turning into the parking lot of Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack. It is a large area for parking and a separate area for trucks and rv’s. We pulled up alongside the grass area rather than in the row parking and this was approved from a staff inside the casino. Works for them, works for us! 

This oversize load had a problem and we all just wanted to get by
before a tire blew - Phewy, burnt rubber in the nostrils = unpleasant

This is the interstate I-20E and a very pretty drive in some sections

Yay!

A new state for us!

We all decided to meet at 5:30 and go to the casino for supper. Until then, we sat, dozed and moved outside with our chairs and read our books. It was so warm in the shade that after returning from Clemson’s ‘ritual’ walk at 3, I joined Bill there instead of in the sun. Soon enough, the wind drove me to the back of the Suite for another 15 minutes of Vitamin D. We got cleaned up and walked back to Harrah’s. After getting a player’s card each, we walked, looking for the restaurant of which there really wasn’t one.

This was a huge waterpark that Chelsea, Olivia and Nathan would love
Well, maybe even the older grandsons too (Carter and Zach?)

For not being rush hour or a weekday,  Shreveport was busy enough

We parked as far away as we could

With grass for Clemson to piddle on

And he kind of loved it

What do you think?

It must have felt great on his feet or something
He was just bouncing all over

Fuddruckers (I dare ya to say that 5 times fast!) was the best choice, which consisted of fast food basically, as the only other option of a deli didn’t appeal to any of us. Other than the cost for the burgers, and fries, that was a humdinger of a meal. I had fish and chips with catfish and wedge fries and Bill had a bacon cheeseburger with fries. We both had a milkshake rather than a soda. It was all very good. We each donated a bit of cash at the machines but had no desire to spend a lot of money or time.

good food

We walked our suppers off crossing the parking lot to our homes and said goodnight. It was 7:30 when I changed into my ‘jammies’ and sat to finish my post. I’m hoping to get a few more chapters read in my book before my eyelids take over. This was a great travel day and we have arrived safely for the night. 

walking back at 7:30

We're such night owls

But we're settled for the night
My eyes are blurry, I must be tired
LOL - sorry for the picture being a blur

good night from Bossier City, Louisiana

Thank you all for stopping by!