Sep 20, 2012 - In the Dark

From Red Bay we traveled north about 120 miles to the Meriweather Lewis National Monument on the Natchez Trace Parkway for the night. We hadn’t left Red Bay til almost 4 in the afternoon so didn’t want to go too far, as it was it was about 6:30 before we got there. Buzz had called ahead to be sure they were open and that Otto would fit into their sites. They assured us it would be fine and there was plenty of room, and also it was a free campground which should have tipped us off to the fact that their was no electricity or water – but...

Jun 29, 2012 - Day 8

Made it to the top entrance of the Natchez Trace near Nashville TN. Many good trails to hike with waterfalls etc. Still standing early 1800's "Stands" and tobacco barns. There are quite a few "colorful" country folks in this part of Tennessee. I believe Hillbilly is too polite a word for some of these! Thousand Trails here is huge and very pretty with its own lake. You have to take a side path to get under a low bridge on the Trace. Annual sites have taken over. They had some multilevel decks built along with carports and docks. What's...

Jun 28, 2012 - Day 7

Lots of hiking trails on the Natchez Trace this day so brought Roxy & Abbey. Visited the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway. This is a 234 mile long artificial canal built by the Corps of Engineers to divert traffic to the Gulf of Mexico. It has 10 HUGE locks that drop barges up to 90 ft! It made many lakes to play in along the way. Indian burial mounds and more on the Trace. YIPPIE! Finished work on Swirley. Driving to 1000 Trails Natchez Trace in Tennessee.

May 26, 2011 - Natchez Trace Campgound in Hohenwald, TN

Arrived at a Thousand Trails campground today. This is the club we belong to. This was supposed to be an outstanding campground with beautiful lakes and lots to do. What a disappointment. The campground needs lots of work to be nice. We were going to stay her for a week, but have decided that four days is all we want here. We did find a dirt racetrack that they race sprint cars, so we will go to the track tonight. WE hope that we can get a round of golf in and wash the coach before we move on. This place turned out better than we could wish...

Nov 21, 2010 - Meriwether Lewis Site

Yesterday we made our way 36 miles from our campground on US 64 to the Meriwether Lewis Site at mile marker 385.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Definitely not a hard travel day. It took less than an hour including a stop for fuel and the 45 mph speed limit along the parkway. This is the location of Grinder Stand, the small wayside where Meriwether Lewis stopped for the night in 1809 as he was returning to Washington following his famous expedition to the Pacific coast. Lewis died here of gunshot wounds and is buried in a small pioneer...

Aug 13, 2010 - Air conditioning on the blink

We made a appointment to have our air conditioning unit (engine) looked at today thinking it just needed freon. The mechanic worked for what seemed like forever. He found a blown fuse that he replaced and tried desparatly to get the AC unit to accept the freon. Now we have 2 men working and they came to the conclusion that it is the compressor that is out and we would need a new one. They were able to adjust something so the blower is blowing cool air, just not cold. One hour later and I walk into the office to receive the bad news. He...

Aug 10, 2010 - Another Drive

We headed south on the Natchez Trace Parkway early today. It wasn't quite as exciting as going north. The colors just didn't pop. Mom and I figured that it is the way the sun reflects on the trees early in the morning. We continued the trek down to the Lawrenceburg area. These small towns all have historical significance and there existence depends on it. Lawrenceburg's claim to fame is the Davy Crockett Park. Day use in Tennessee's State Parks is free and therefore are greatly used. We were excited to find a Dairy Queen and treated...

Aug 6, 2010 - Natchez Trace Parkway

This afternoon we began our trek on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Our intentions were to only see the Meriwether Lewis Monument but the further we drove the more we liked what we saw. The parkway roads are so nice....50mph and not even a stop sign. We started in Hohenwald going north seeing more history with each mile. Before we knew it we were Nashville. I will let the pictures tell the story. All we can say is WOW ! We can't wait to continue the next section going South. We drove through Nashville and took the interstate back to Hohenwald....

Aug 5, 2010 - Thousand Trails

I usually can find something good to say about the campgrounds we stay out but this one is going to be tough. How they could let such a facility turn to ruins is beyound me. This could and should be a magnificent Preserve. The roads inside this place are absolutly horrible. Most of the campsites need repair. We drove around the park today to see where everything is at. The Rec Hall is lovely and large. Too bad that all the video games, pool tables, ping pong, ect cost money. I don't know who I feel sorrier for, the parents or the kids! The...

Aug 4, 2010 - Recovering

After our long travel day, we mostly laid around and did nothing. Yesterday I did go around the campground in search of a new campsite. The one we chose the night we came in is not satisfactory for a long stay. We are so unlevel and we look like we are on stilts! After much deliberation, we decided to move rather then continue to attempt to fix this site. We found a site down closer to the lake on the next circle that appears to be level. Once we decided to move, it didn't take long to unhook and boogie. Our new site, 100B is so much nicer....

Aug 2, 2010 - The RollerCoaster

Whats worse than a car sick cat?? Being on a long and winding 2 lane road that has more ups and downs than a roller coaster at Knotts Berry Farm and therefore unable to stop while she is puking. Our poor Jazz was so sick and there wasn't much we could do for her until I was able to find a pull out and that felt like forever. As soon as her tummy calmed and she returned to her fun loving self, we got back on the road but she immediatly let us know she was none too happy. Actually, Mom and I were not too happy with this road but it was the...

Mar 24, 2010 - Natchez Trace Parkway

When we first decided to go to the Thousand Trails on the Natchez Trace Parkway, I was wondering what in the world we would do there for two weeks. How little I knew. As we began to explore, we discovered we didn’t have nearly enough time to do it all, if we were willing to do some driving. The nearest town to the campground was Hohenwald. Everyone in town recommended the Junkyard Dog Steak House, where we had the best hamburgers we’ve had in a long time. Near Hohenwald is the site where Meriwether Lewis died and was buried. I remember...