January 7, 2010. Tupelo, Ms. Natchez Trace.

It sounds so romantic to drive the Natchez Trace. The road is very old and very long, running from Natchez to Nashville. Artifacts have been found that were over six thousand years old, so driving the trace reminds you that others have been along this road , many years ago. Our plan was to leave on Friday, but the weather cleared this afternoon so we decided to drive on the Trace up to Tupelo, stay overnight, then start early on the inter-state to head for home, probably staying in Virginia tomorrow night. Our drive today was lovely, with no traffic at all, so we had the road to ourselves. The forecast for today was rain and snow so most sane people stayed home, except us. We enjoyed the fifty mile an hour speed limit, arriving Tupelo at six o'clock. Elvis was born and raised here in Tupelo and celebrations are in store tomorrow.

This morning, Andrew, Kate and Mary Frances came for breakfast and to help load another piece of furniture on the truck, to be donated to Goodwill. They also wanted to see our new furniture and lights and paintings. Our condo looks comfortable and cosy and now we can read well at every chair. Ken installed towel racks and hooks and now we can function well. After breakfast, we took the furniture to Goodwill, then drove around the whole reservoir. It was a lovely drive, even in the rain. During the drive we saw more herons then we have ever seen. Also hundreds of robins . Many ducks and herring gulls, also terns. We had lunch with Christina and the girls and Andrew, to say goodbye as we had decided to get on the road. Our visit was lovely and we enjoyed our time in Mississippi.