The original expediter road

Jack_Berry · May 17, 2010

we were in jackson ms and decided to move. gracie asked if we could go thru tupelo on the natchez trace pkwy. sure why not. signs said no commercial vehicles but i pressed on since we are essentially a cargo van.

stopped first at the ms craft center. nice place and lots of nice artisan products. envious of some. great architectural building

MSCRAFTS.org

then we started back up the trace. nice two lane. max speed 50 mph. 358 miles and no traffic lights, no big trucks and no 4 wheelers driving like they are nascar drivers.

here are a couple links to the road

http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace

used the map from the craft center. and discovered things like this....

imagine carving out a 10' wide road for 500 miles with the high tech tools of the 19th century. two man band saws, double headed axes and the ever popular team of horses pulling stumps. what this country did in its infancy with few high tech tools staggers the imagination.

Jack_Berry · May 17, 2010

its that tan road down there. couldn't get any closer across the fence.

Jack_Berry · May 17, 2010

just before we ran out of light we came to pharr mounds. these indians were identified. we have mounds in racine and the explorers that found then and the archeologists later cannot give these people a name. they are just called the mound indians.

if you get a chance to run this road you will enjoy it. there are a few travel trailers being hauled along this route. too bad we vanners cannot run it with a load it would be kinda like comin' home.

unfortunately the trace lasted only thru the early 1830s. when the first steamboat came into natchez carrying passengers and cargo the trace fell out of favor as a way to ship goods or travel.

copdsux · May 18, 2010

Thank you for sharing this with us. It is particularly nice that you included the signs that describe the "trace", and it's history. Please keep posting these "wish you were here" moments.

Mike

chefdennis · May 18, 2010

As Mike said, Thanks Jack & Gracie!!

fastman_1 · May 19, 2010

I've rode and drove the trace a few times,

guido4475 · May 19, 2010

That was awesome, Jack, and it answered many questions that I have always had regarding that.This is another reason I love being in a van so much- the freedom to do things such as this.