Sometimes we look at sights in nature but don't really see. While hiking in the woods the other day, it became a realization that we need to open our heart and eyes to see the beauty of the simple things in nature with each season. There is so much order and purpose in His creation. God has given us awesome beauty in this world to see and enjoy... if we would but stop to see and feel it. Join us as this blog is about stopping to see the real beauty around us...to touch and feel it... "Through the Lens".

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Thursday, November 9, 2017

We're On Our Way

We picked up the Oliver at the plant around 4:30 Monday afternoon and with the skies about to unload some rain we decided to "camp" in our spot in the parking area at the Oliver Sales Office.  We made a great decision because the rains came and stayed most of the night!!  Luckily the hard rain stopped around 8:00 Tuesday morning and it just remained misty and overcast.  Mike had hooked up the Oliver Monday night so all we had to do was secure things inside and say our "see ya" to the sales staff.  I can't say enough good things for how we were treated while at the Oliver plant!!  It sure helps solidify that this is a topnotch company!!  
We pulled out of our spot at the sales office around 9:30 heading south toward Gulf Shores but this time we will take our time....no hurry!!  We decided to travel the 129 miles to Tupelo, Mississippi via the Natches Trace!!  We had done most of this section of the Trace last month but it is always nice to just relax and travel slowly on a beautiful road. Everything looks different during different seasons of the year and now we were able to enjoy the look of fall on the Natchez Trace. 
Approaching the Tennessee River

  I guess because it was Tuesday we seemed to have the Trace all to ourselves!!  Nice!!              


                                      
Tennessee-Tom Bigbee Waterway

Once we got to around mile marker 310 everything became new!  Our first stop was at Cave Spring.  This is a natural cave which was probably used by the American Indians for water and stone.  A sink hole is also forming in the area due to the limestone.  The carbon dioxide absorbed by the rainwater forms an acid which dissolves the limestone.  Any water in this cave area is unsafe to drink!!                 




From there we traveled to Pharr Mounds.  This is the site of eight burial mounds built 1,800 to 2,000 years ago.  This is the largest and most important site in northern Mississippi.  The burial mounds are dome shaped and scattered over 90 acres which is equivalent to 100 football fields.  They were built around 1 -200 A.D.  by nomadic Indian hunters and gatherers who returned here to bury their dead.  Talk about history...wow!!!                           


Notice 4 of the mounds

We drove a little further and visited the Confederate Gravesites and Old Trace.  The Old Trace had mostly been abandoned by the start of the Civil War but the war did find its way to the Natchez Trace. Many soldiers found themselves camped and fighting along portions of this historic old road.  
Gerri "walking" our dog Nick to the gravesite 
It was a nice easy 5 minute walk to the gravesites of 13 unknown Confederate soldiers.  A somber reminder of days gone by and a horrific war which produced a much stronger nation.                                                       


                       
Notice the tokens left on top of the marker...all 13 had some        
Part of the Old Trace Trail leading from the gravesites


We are staying overnight at Tombigbee State Park in Tupelo.  This park is way out...we weren't sure exactly where we would end up as we followed our GPS.  We finally saw the sign for the state park and a very beautiful lake to welcome us.  Tombigbee is a very nice recreational area with a lake, playground, boat launch, cabins and a natural trail.  The campground has 20 sites that are mostly full-hookups!!   Our site backs up to a nice wooded area with no neighbors on either side....very quiet and private!                     


                                        

             
The lake at Tombigbee State Park

We will head out in the morning on our journey back to Rainbow                     Plantation!!  






16 comments:

  1. Glad to see you are back on the road and headed back to the Plantation! Bog Daddy's awaits!

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    1. Hey, it's good to back on the road and back to the Plantation. Big Daddy's was good as usual...we left some for you when you get here.

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  2. Cave Spring is beautiful.
    We visited Pharr Mounds many many years ago. What an amazing place.

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    1. It is amazing the age of these mounds...and what they did with their dead before they came back to the mounds for burial. Thanks for your comments.

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  3. We loved Tombigbee State Park. If I remember right, it was early fall and the place was empty except for a young couple in a tent whom we discovered were homeless. We've met several people such as this in both State and COE parks. Often wonder how they are when the weather turns colder.

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    1. It is a beautiful lake there and the campground was really quiet. I can only imagine what the homeless do as the weather turns colder, it has to be very difficult. Thanks for your comments.

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  4. The pictures of the Trace in the fall are amazing. Spending time there is also humbling. Glad you got all fixed up.

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    1. While on the Trace you feel as though you are removed from the world and only enjoying the beauty of His creation. You are so very right, it is very humbling.

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  5. Fascinating. The area looks lovely in fall colors. Pardon my ignorance, but are you camping full timer just on an extended holiday?

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    1. We are blessed to be enjoying the fall colors in different areas and glad to share with those that appreciate His creation. Right now we are full-timing, and there was no ignorance in that question.

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  6. I love traveling with you via your blog. It's so interesting to see the places you visit. Cave Spring looks so interesting, as do the Indian mounds. Doug and I love to read Louis L'Amour westerns, and the Trace is often mentioned in his books.

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    1. I am not a Louis L'Amour reader, so you taught me something I was unaware. The Trace is beautiful with interesting places along the way.

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  7. Another super "History Tour" and more magnificent photo's...I see a coffee table Book in the making! Glad that all went well with Oliver...they do have a well deserved reputation. Safe Travels and a enjoy Veterans Day weekend..Remember our Troops...past and present.. Horst sends

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  8. Yes, we remember our troops...past present and future. It is because of them that we have the freedoms we have. Oliver Company did an incredible service to and for us and totally stood behind their product. Thanks for your comments Horst...

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  9. I like to visit historic tours like that. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. When I was in Hohenwald at the Oliver office, I went a few miles on that historic trail, up to the Lewis Meriwether Historic Site. Such a beautiful area and trail, definitely made me add it to the list of trips to take, trails to follow, history to explore.

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