We didn't make the MOOKAR trip this year because a few days before we planned to go on the trip they were calling for 103 degrees for three days on the trip. So the DAY BEFORE the trip, I sat down with Judy and we planned a NEW trip. We looked on line for routes (LOTS of websites out there, and I put a few on our Wild Hawgs website). We found one that went down the Natchez-Trace parkway and into New Orleans. We checked the weather and it didn't look too hot, so that's what we decided. So the next day we were Nashville bound. It was all interstate to Nashville, but a good ride. We stayed a Super 8 that had a hot breakfast. The next day we got on the Natchez-Trace parkway which is a Federal Park with a 45mph, no stop signs, no pot-holes, very little traffic, sweeping curves, and lots of shade. There are also a LOT of pull-offs to see a lot of historical sites (Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark died and is buried on the Natchez-Trace pkwy). We were only planning on going as far as Jackson, MS, but Judy asked if we went farther, we would have more of a Beach Day the next day (we were planning to get to Longbeach, MS). So we drove the full 444 miles of the Natchez-Trace pkwy. I'd ride that road again and again....I loved it! The next day we rode down into the Bayou, were all the houses are on blocks and the graves are all above ground. We stopped at McDonald's and the accents were awesome! We even heard some cajun on the CB. We rode to New Orlens and stopped at the HD dealer where it was 113 heat index. They could see we were very uncomfortable, and put us in a comfortable lounge, gave us soda and went far and above friendly service!!!! We purchased "Chilly Pads" that are towels you can get wet and they hold A LOT of water for a LONG time to put around our necks and they kept us very cool (Judy would put them in the cooler with the ice and sode, so when we put them on it was, "ahhhhhhh"). We then went across the 24 mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge. And then to Longbeach, MS. We put on our suits and headed to the white sandy beaches only to find the nastiest, yucky, brown slimy water you'd ever seen. Come to find out, this is NOT the gulf, but the Mississippi Sound; which is where the Mississipi river empies into the gulf. SO no beach day. The next day we headed North through Mississippi and we stayed in Arkasas and the next day home. It was a great ride with my sweetee, and I'd gladly do it again!!!!!
