Reading Time 4 minutes

Next leg: Tuscaloosa to Natchez Mississippi

I got up early and quietly exited the room, not wanting to wake my wife. I took the elevator down to the breakfast area and picked out a good spot where I wouldn’t be distracted by too many people or the TV. I got a cup of coffee and started writing in my Day One journal about the day yesterday. Writing in my journal each day is a hard and fast rule. I haven’t missed a day in over 5 years.

After I finished I went back to the room and me and my better half went back down to eat breakfast. We needed to get on the road early today so that we could arrive at Natchez by lunch time, or at least close to lunch time.

The Natchez Parkway

We planned to go most of the way to Natchez on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile stretch of highway running from Nashville Tennessee all the way to Natchez Mississippi. It has been designated a National Scenic Byway. Basically it follows an ancient route used by Native Indians for commerce and travel in the late 18th century and early 19th century.

We got off the Interstate and filled up with gas at Clinton, which was a good thing, since there are no gas stations on the Parkway.

There was very little traffic on the Parkway. Commercial vehicles are not allowed on it. As far as being scenic, there wasn’t much to see; just pastures and the occasional farm house. We didn’t stop at any points of interest or trailheads since we need to get to Natchez by lunchtime. And the speed limit is only 50 mph; a lot different and slower than the interstate. But the roads are in good shape and it’s easy to drive on.

Bluff Park

We didn’t get to Natchez till around 2 PM. We found a spot to park on the road by the Bluff Park overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. Off to the left we could see one of the many bridges that cross this famous river. Called the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge, it connects Natchez to Vidalia Louisiana. The Bluff Park is so named because it sits high above the river. Below, in the lower portion near the waters edge are shops and restaurants. To the right of the park in this lower region sits the Magnolia Bluffs Casino, featuring gaming and two restaurants.

Bowie’s Rabbit Hole

We didn’t linger long at the park. Just one block away was Bowie’s Rabbit Hole Restaurant, where we planned to have our much anticipated lunch. We walked in the side entrance off the parking lot into a spacious very old space with a long bar and tables lining the wall. Our server who was also the bartender, came over and explained the menu to us. We ordered our drinks and then our main dishes. My wife had the BLT with fried green tomatoes, and I tried their famous Andouille sausage Po-boy. When I saw this I could tell we were entering the deep South.

After lunch we walked along the park and took some photos of the river and area below the bluff. It was a beautiful day and the weather was near perfect. After we had walked off a little of our lunch we headed to one of the few hotels in the city – the Hampton Inn & Suites. The hotel has been recently renovated. The staff was very friendly and soon we were headed up to the 3rd floor with all our luggage.

Sign at Bluff Park – One of Five Markers on the Mississippi Blues Trail

EALEY BROTHERS

The Ealey family of Sibley has produced some of the most talented musicians to emerge from the Natchez area. Brothers Theodis, YZ, and Melwyn Ealey performed together locally in the band YZ Ealey and the Merry Makers in the early 1960s.

They later became recording artists, as did their older brother, David (Bubba”) Ealey. Theodis developed a captivating blend of traditional blues and modern funk and soul music to achieve national prominence after leaving Mississippi.

Natchez Musical History

Natchez has a lot of history which I’ll go into on the next post. I would be amiss not to mention the plethora of musical talent that had its origins here. Among some of the famous musicians from the area are Jimmy “Soul Man Lee” Anderson, Papa George Lightfoot, Mickey Gilleym Glen Ballard, and rising star Bishop Gunn.

Tomorrow we will take a tour of the town, review it’s amazing history and why those stories and buildings have prevailed, lunch in a famous bank building, and then we’ll head to New Orleans.

1. Tuscaloosa
2. Natchez Mississippi – Part 1
3. Natchez Mississippi – Part 2