Home at last!

Sun., Sept. 23, 2012

We didn't leave Natchez particularly early because we figured we would go as far as we could and stop wherever that may be.  We went home a different, more direct route, mostly through new territory.  We headed out of Natchez due east on Hwy. 84, through Brookhaven, Collins, Laurel and Waynesboro.  This is mostly 4 lane, divided state highway with little traffic, few big trucks and no billboards, through rural Mississippi.  We stopped for gas in Laurel at a station named Alliance Energy.  Very interesting pumps - there are 5 or 6 choices and you can choose depending on the level of ethanol.  It may also be divided by grade, but can't remember, I just went for the 1% ethanol (the lowest amount).  It may have been Reg. (11%), midgrade (6%), midgrade (4%), premium(2%) and premium(1%).  You paid a few cents more for each successive grade with less ethanol.  I thought it was great!  We were looking for a locally owned place to eat but all we saw were chains, so we went on to Waynesboro.  Our GPS said there was a place called the Dinner Bell Cafe there so we decided to try that, since it sounded like a local place.  When we got to the small town of Waynesboro, we passed McDonalds, Sonic, Hardees, Subway, etc. until we came to the Dinner Bell.  The parking lot was full.  It must be good!  So, we went in and I thought the sign on the door was great - see picture!  It looked like the place to eat in Waynesboro on Sunday as it was quite busy. 

Turns out it is a buffet (at least when we were there) with a variety of vegetables, meats, dessert and a salad bar.  And, the food was delicious.  And, it was all fresh because they were frequently refilling the different food containers.  After we ate, we continued on Hwy. 45 north to Meridian where we got on Hwy. 80 which goes all across Alabama, passing through Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, Tuskeegee and Phenix City.  We stopped to eat at one of our favorite locally owned cafes, Inell's, in Ladonia, just outside Phenix City.  We thought we had plenty of time, since it was in Alabama and they are on CST.  But, all Alabama must not be on CST, as they were getting ready to close.  We went through the buffet line and they put the food in take home boxes, and we sat down to eat.  Well, it turns out they were getting ready to close, it must have been an hour later than we thought.  So, we packed up what's left of our dinner to finish outside and when I go to pay, the guy says don't worry about it, its on the house.  So, we took it across the street and finished at the McDonald's!!   I got a coffee from them and we were on a roll, so we decided to continue on.  It was getting cooler and much more pleasant to drive.  We then entered Georgia and with the GPS' help, continued through Waverly Hall, Warm Springs, Woodbury, Zebulon, Griffin, Hampton and McDonough, where we stopped at a QT for gas and a cappuccino.   Then on to Conyers and finally home.  It was a very long day, but it sure was nice getting into our own bed!!

total miles today:  639
total trip miles:  1362
ave. MPG:  36

Brits on the Bluff

After breakfast and a quick clean-up of the car, we headed about 4 blocks downtown to the car show.  The venue was very nice, on a small grassy park, with some nice trees for shade, on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.  It was also right next to another historic home - Rosalie - that we toured during the show.
There were 43 cars on the field, and I don't know why this show is not more popular as it is a nice venue and a nice part of town, right next to downtown with many shops and restaurants.  The shade from the large trees was nice, as it got pretty hot. 

Kat went shopping while I looked at cars and talked to the other British car nuts.  When she returned, we ate lunch then went to Rosalie for a tour.  It was another magnificent home, built in 1820, with many original pieces, including furniture, large, gilded mirrors and lots of china.  There were three old pianos in the home, including a Chickering, circa 1880.  The tour guide asked if anyone played the piano and a girl raised her hand and was allowed to play this piano so we could hear the sound, which sounded very nice.  Considering that you usually are not allowed to touch anything in the houses, that was pretty special to be allowed to play one of the old pianos.  All of the walls are solid brick, 16" thick, covered with plaster and most of the wood, including floors is cypress.  It is no wonder that these houses are still standing!  After the tour, we walked back to the car show.  Shortly after, awards were given out, where we won the longest distance award!  We visited for a little while then returned to the hotel to rest before dinner.  Tomorrow, we'll start for home and plan on going a different way to see some different parts of Mississippi and Alabama.

Rosalie

View of the Mississippi River from the show site

Cars on display

Exploring Natchez

Friday, Sept. 21, 2012

This morning, we did the touristy thing and looked around Natchez.  The first stop was Stanton Hall, one of the magnificent mansions that brings busloads of tourists to Natchez for the annual tour of homes known as the Pilgrimage.  It was built in 1857 by cotton magnate Frederick Stanton.  It is quite extravagant by today's standards, back then it must have been really over the top.  The first floor ceilings are 17 feet high!  There are many original pieces present, including 4 huge mirrors, two of which measure 7' X 14'!  Pictures are not allowed indoors, but I did get one outside.  The size and opulence, esp. for 150 years ago is mind-boggling.  By the way, pictures are not allowed inside any of the finished parts of the homes.  I guess they are afraid we will make souvenir postcards and sell them!  So, I only have pictures of the outsides.  

Stanton Hall
(pictures are not allowed inside any of the homes)

After leaving Stanton Hall, we drove to the Natchez City Cemetery.  This is an old cemetery, established in 1822, with some very interesting old graves.  For some reason, its interesting to see some of the very old tombstones, many surrounded by elaborate wrought iron fences.  There is a grave for a child that was the only casualty of the naval bombardment of Natchez during the civil war.

(turn your audio down so you don't hear the wind noise)

From the City Cemetery, we had lunch at a cafe downtown then went to see another old house - Longwood.
This is the largest octagonal house in America.  It was started by Haller Nutt, another cotton planter, in 1860.  Unfortunately, his craftsmen were from Philadelphia and when the Civil War started, they all fled back north.  Nutt finished the basement with local workers so the family would have living space.  He died in 1864 and the house was never finished beyond the basement.  The outside walls and inner structure still stand and are quite impressive even unfinished.  There is a central foyer that rises 5 floors to a glass observation dome.
The house is on about 60 acres of land.

Longwood

Main entrance to Longwood

View upward toward dome

Original construction equipment

After touring Longwood, we headed back to the hotel to rest and cleanup before a get together for the car show participants at a local tavern downtown.  The show will be tomorrow on a downtown bluff above the Mississippi River.  Should be a beautiful day. 

From Tupelo to Natchez

Thurs., Sept. 20, 2012

We left Tupelo this morning, jumped on the Trace and headed to Natchez with a stop for lunch in Jackson.
The Natchez Trace is a federally maintained parkway that follows an old Indian trail.  It is a two lane road with no commercial vehicles allowed, and there are no billboards, no gas stations, no fast food restaurants, no convenience stores, no houses and very little traffic at all.  It's like a road cut through a forest, with trees about 20 feet from the road with a grassy strip between road and trees.  In some areas the trees open up to grassy fields and pastures.  There are occasional turn-offs to nearby towns, historical markers and camping and hiking trails and there are a few restrooms along the way.  We passed deer and turkeys along the roadway.  Oh, and the speed limit is 50.  I was told it is strictly enforced, so I pushed it only to 55, but we saw no police the whole way.

  

(turn your audio down so you don't hear the wind noise)

We stopped in Jackson and had lunch with my brother and sister-in-law, who live only a few miles from the Trace.  We then got back on the trace and continued on to Natchez.  After checking in our hotel, we walked to downtown Natchez where we found a great place to eat - Cotton Alley Cafe.  It was very good and when we found out the lunch special tomorrow was crawfish etouffee, we decided to go back tomorrow!
Friday we will have a full day to look around Natchez before the car show on Saturday.
Miles today:  284
Total miles:  723

On the way to Natchez...

Wed., Sept. 19 - Early

Our first day is a long one, so we decided to leave early to avoid the crush of Atlanta rush hour.  We got an early start and got all the way through Atlanta with very little traffic.  It was quite cool, but no rain in the forecast, so we put on several layers, wrapped Kat in her electric blanket and headed to Birmingham.  We usually never take the Interstates, but  because of our route today, decided it was best to take I-20 straight to Birmingham.  We gained an hour in Alabama and stopped in Oxford, AL for breakfast, then continued on to Leeds, AL where we planned on stopping at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum.  But, because of the early hour and gaining an hour, we might get there too early.  Fortunately, luck was on our side.  A couple of miles from the exit in Leeds, there was an accident that stopped traffic on the Interstate for what seemed like an hour.  We slowly crept  along, or stopped, for quite a while.  We finally got through and made it to the museum and because of the traffic jam, were only 15 minutes early.  We probably would not have waited if we got there an hour early.   But, was it ever worth the wait!!  Mr. Barber started collecting motorcycles and it sort of got out of hand.  The collection is housed in a beautiful new five story building.  The floors are connected by ramps so you can easily go from floor to floor.  There are over 1000 bikes in the collection, but only about 670 on display at any one time.  The collection included makes and models from all over the world and from the late 1800's to present.  When you enter, its sensory overload, you just can't take in the enormity of the displays.  Every motorcycle has been restored to like new condition and there is a restoration shop on the premises.  We spent over an hour but could have spent all day.  It's well worth a visit!

Motorcycles on Display

Another Display

   

After leaving the Barber Museum, we headed through Birmingham and onto Hwy. 78 toward Tupelo, MS.  We were on our way to our next much anticipated destination.  All of you that saw the movie Sweet Home Alabama are familiar with scene in the Coon Dog Cemetery.  Well, there is a real coon dog cemetery and its located in deepest northwest Alabama, about 12 miles south of Tuscumbia.  After passing through Hamilton we arrived in Russelville.  This appeared to be the last of civilization until after the cemetery, so we stopped and filled up with gas and ate lunch at the "Frosty Mug - since 1960"!  We had a couple of burgers and root beer, but alas, the root beer is no longer served in frosty mugs!  We then turned onto a smaller highway and drove until we got to Coon Dog Cemetery Road, which was a paved road, but just barely!  After a few more miles we then arrived at the cemetery.  It was started in 1937 by Key Underwood who buried his loyal companion, Troup, in the place he loved hunting 'coons the most - the Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area.  Others soon followed and there are now about 180 dogs buried there. 

See:    coon dog cemetery

It was a somber place containing the final resting places of many faithful companions, such as Troup, Black Ranger, Felix and Doctor Doom.  After paying our respects and signing the guest book, we continued on to Tupelo where we would spend the night.

After leaving the coon dog cemetery, we continued on for several miles down a road where we wondered how long it would be, if we broke down, before anyone would find us.  But, eventually, we reached Hwy. 72 near Cherokee, AL and drove a short distance to the entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway.  We then had a nice cruise down the Parkway to Tupelo where we stopped by the birthplace of Elvis.  We then got something to eat and then on to our hotel.  We'll get a good night's sleep before continuing to Natchez tomorrow.

Elvis' birthplace

Total miles today:  439

                           

 

  It's about time for more Midget Travels!  We'll be leaving soon on our way to Natchez, MS. via the Natchez Trace with some interesting stops along the way.  Hope you enjoy the trip with us!