We drove along part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and stopped to look at several historic points, including a sunken section of the trace and the only remaining inn along the route, where for 25 cents you could get a hot meal and a spot on the porch for your bedroll.
The Trace is most famous for being the route that river men used to walk back to Tennessee after floating a barge of goods down to Natchez or New Orleans.
Quotation from plaque in Rocky Springs campground:
“This is the Natchez Trace. For many years it served man well, but as with many things when its usefulness passed, it was abandoned.
Over the years, this time worn path has been a silent witness to honor and dishonor. It bears the prints of countless men.
Walk down the shaded trail – leave your prints in the dust, not for others to see, but for the road to remember.”
After our time on the Parkway, we headed south to Lake Lincoln State Park. It is a bit out of the way. In fact you might think you’re going to end up lost in the woods. You will be rewarded at the end with a very nice park with a large lake (mostly used for power boats and fishing). Three campground loops all with sites with some lake views and most are full hookups. Showers are a bit dated but clean and lots of hot water. Some sites have broken concrete pads. Barely useable Verizon voice service that came and went numerous times. No data at all without cell booster. No Wi-Fi. No TV. Lack of cell service continued for at least 15 miles to the southeast on the way out.