Surprise Visitors This Morning

WHERE ARE WE? Witches Dance, Natchez Trace near Tupelo, Mississippi

Woke up this morning to a view of the Tennessee River.  Wow!  Archie was barking at the front door and we didn't know why.  Sue got up and I had placed an empty apple pie box by the door to take to the trash in the morning.  Well there were hundreds and hundreds of fire ants swarming it and they were all around it.  One ant obviously bit Archie because he ran back to bed spitting with a look of terror in his eyes.  Good thing we had a gallon of Home Defense with us and a bit of spray around there and we got them under control.  

Spent the night here

Natives were relocated to Oklahoma

They say there are nice large mouth bass here

We took our time getting ready to go as usual, and in the meantime a couple guys came along and set up a table in the parking lot.  Of course nosey me has to find out what is going on.   They are having a fundraiser for breast cancer so this is one of the stops on their poker derby.  Apparently there will be a lot of motorcycles showing up here to pick a card so the guys said we should stick around to see it.  What the heck, we got the time.  The group are calling their ride, "Scooters for Hooters".   

We waited around for an hour or so and then we could hear the rumbling of Harley's coming across the bridge.  And they starting piling in to the parking lot.

bikes on the bridge

There were 90 of them all came at once to draw a card for their poker hand.  The nicest people you have ever met.  It was pretty impressive.  Apparently there is $500 for the best hand and another $500 for the worst hand.  Good luck to everyone, but everyone is already a winner by supporting a worthy cause.  Yes, we gave a small donation!! 

And then they were off!  Good job everyone!

That was our que to head out as well.  We were going to take it easy today.  First stop was some Indian mounds.  These were sacred mounds used for ceremonies.  Some of them were used for burial grounds as well.  There are lots of them along the Trace.

We have been in Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and now Mississippi in the last couple days.  Maybe we should slow down!!

We stopped at a Welcome Center and I watched a short video on the origins of the Trace.  Early settlers would float goods south to Natchez or New Orleans on barges.  They would then sell everything including the barges and walk back home.  The Natchez Trace was a short cut for them rather than follow the rivers.  It is now a recreational route and is the longest National Park in America.  Some 5 million tourists visit the Trace every year.

Another peaceful drive today and we are parked in a pull off for the night.  We will continue on tomorrow. 

For now we are parked up at a place called Witches Dance.  

I went out with the flashlight to find the piece of dead grass, but saw nothing.  Maybe I will look out the window in the night in hopes of seeing them.  OOOOHHHH!   Good Nite!