We got pulled off at one of the historic deserted towns called Rocky Springs. All there is left is a few cisterns and a few old safes. This little town was jumping back in the late 1800's, but you can't hardly even tell there was a town there. It is about 3 miles off the road deep in the woods, but we drove the RV up into it. As it turns out, we were going the wrong way up a one way road, but this time of year we were the only ones there (luckily).
We got to the Natchez State Park, paid our $33.00 for 3 nights, which includes the $3.00 a night discount for Dennis (65 and over). We found a good spot just out of the trees for both satellite dishes, had our cocktail hour and enjoyed the quiet. This morning we got up about 7AM and did our 2 mile walk down to the lake and back. I fixed some sausage English muffins with our coffee,(I do use the oven about once every 2 weeks), and left for Historic Natchez.
We floundered around finding the Natchez Bureau of Tourism, but it has been our experience that a tourism office gives you all the "stuff" you need not to get lost or go down a once way street the wrong way (sometimes). The oldest and most historic part of Natchez is on or close to the Mississippi River. I took some pictures of a few of the antebellum homes. This one is called Rosalie and it was the Union Army Headquarters during the Civil War.
Natchez is a lovely old town and we drove around the area of many beautiful homes. There were also some very small little homes, but almost every home here, big or tiny, has pillars in front( and not the ones you sleep on). There are also some very poor sections here, as you can imagine. Here is another of the lovely old antebellum mansions.
I had been online and read about the area just down on the river called the "Under the Hill" section of Natchez...It was only one short street long, right where the riverboats would unload, and it had one saloon, one brothel, and one boarding house and one eating establishment. A lot of travelers would come in on wooden boats loaded with all of their worldly goods, and when they got to Natchez, they would sell it all, even the boats for the wood, buy a mule and wagon and head up the Trace for a new life. I am sure "under the hill" was a popular place in the 1700 and 1800's. I also read about the "Under The Hill Saloon", the oldest saloon on the Mississippi River, built in the 1830's..need I say we went in?? Here it is from the outside.
We had a couple beers,hey, it was 5 O'clock somewhere, and talked to the bartender. He was very helpful and told us alot about this area. He told us to walk into the back 2 rooms and take some photos, no problem, so we did. This one is a very old fireplace, probably circa 1830..I loved it. Unfortunately there was a fooseball table right in front of it, but they gotta please everyone.
I took a few more photos before we left. This is the kind of neat place I like to search out.
Of course I couldn't resist to have Dennis take my photo out front..If only this place could talk.
Tomorrow we are spending our last afternoon here going back up the trace a few miles, where there is an old inn I need to see. Also,just about 2 miles from our campsite is a section of the old trace you can see . I will probably blog another few photos tomorrow. Right now, it's wine O'clock...Later
