When to move south and how fast to do it is today’s question. Several of our friends stayed north long enough to get snowed on. That’s too late. But the far south is still hot. It’s too soon to go there.
When we were driving the Blue Ridge Parkway last week we had to run our furnace most nights because it got cold up in the mountains.
Now we are near Knoxville, Tennessee, and the temperatures are nearly perfect. Highs are in the upper 70s to lower 80s and nights cool off enough to sleep without having to run the furnace. We are in an Escapee’s park so we have full hookups for a little over $15 a night. We can stay here as long as want to without letting them know when we plan to leave until we are actually leaving. Last week the park was full. But a lot of people left yesterday and today. Yet a new neighbor is pulling in right now.
We plan to make our next destination the Natchez Trace which runs from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi. The challenge is deciding when to do that. Do any of you have advice for us?
TTYL,
Linda
We’re sitting in Fort Worth, TX, currently and the temperature is 63°F at about 10PM. Given that the Trace starts near Nashville, TN, I postulate that it’s not too soon to come across the state and start down the Trace toward Natchez, MS.
The speed limit on the Trace is higher than the Blue Ridge Parkway but that DOESN’T mean you have to rush. Again, my wife and I rode the Trace on our Goldwing (but not the same trip as the Blue Ridge) and I remember stopped in Tupelo, MS, where Elvis Presley was born (although we didn’t visit any of the historical sites). The Trace is a much more laid back drive than the Blue Ridge so slow down and smell the roses (or whatever is in bloom at this time of year 8-).
Natchez is worth a stop just for itself. Watch out for Jackson, MS, as the Trace stops on the north side of town and continues of the south side.
We enjoyed the ride down the Trace and covered parts of it later in a car. The environment is maintained as mid-eighteenth century (as best they can) and it’s a very nice drive. Again, stop at the historical sites and read the signs.
At the end of the Trace, there’s a big decision to make: continue south on the Mississippi or continue west through Louisiana. The roads in Louisiana real suck but there’s lots to see. In Mississippi, you can continue down to the Gulf of Mexico and there’s now plenty of RV parks to visit. Good luck on choosing.