Wed, April 21, 2010

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

After a long tax season, the day finally arrived… it’s roadtrip time!  As we begin this trip I have, unfortunately a bladder infection.  For some of you, this will be a case of TMI (too much information).  But please keep in mind these trip journals started out for just my close family and has grown to include many close friends, friends of my friends, co-workers of my friends etc…. you get the picture.  But the journal is mostly for those who love us and can’t wait to see the latest picture of our kids (two Australian Shepherds) and us posing in front of a National Park sign.  And my mother made me promise I would keep her informed of the status of my bladder… so just skip over the health updates if you like.

As soon as we leave town we are looking for a way to get off of the interstate.  For those of you who are new to this journal, we never have much of a travel plan except to head toward the western states usually via Texas.  We have no reservations and make our decisions on a day to day basis with just an overall thought of where and how far we want to go.  Usually we end up on the northwest coast before the trip is over because we love the Pacific coast drive.  We also drive with all the windows down if at all possible. 

As we left Meridian this morning we made one decision… to get on the Natchez Trace Parkway and make our way across Louisiana  via Natchez with eastern Texas as our destination for the night.  The Natchez Trace was as beautiful as I have ever seen it.  We have had a lot of rain and the Trace was green and sunny.  The weather was perfect… windows down… warm breezes across your face… the sun dancing in the trees… perfect. 

The first “historical” stop was at Dean’s Stand a site settled in 1823 by William & Margaret Dean who farmed and also took in travelers along the Trace.  In May, 1863 General U.S. Grant made his headquarters there after the battle of Raymond.  It was a peaceful site in the trees with only an old cemetary remaining to remind us of the folks who walked these trails before us.  After crossing the Mississippi river at Natchez we stopped at a beautiful riverside park on the Vidalia LA side for a leisurely picnic right on the banks of the river while several large barges made their way down river. 

Then it was an afternoon of doing what we love to do… driving slowly, windows down, playing with the pups,  solving all the world’s problems between conversations about the scenery and the perfect weather.  We stop tonight in Brenham, Texas just as the sun was setting… a great start to this roadtrip.

Hope you all are well. 

Peace, Hope & Love,

Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger

PS Mom the bladder was tolerable today.  No plans to go any further than Texas unless things improve dramatically.  Hoping that the Cipro will do its job by the end of the week.  Love you!