Day 26 Thumbnail

On Tuesday, April 19, 2011, we finish our drive up the Natchez Trace Parkway. We visit what I think is the most beautiful location on the parkway, the Sweetwater Branch Nature Trail. We also visit the Pioneer Cemetery in Meriwether Lewis Park, the gravesite of Meriwether Lewis who died nearby in 1809. Other stops included a visit to a typical early 1900's tobacco farm and a hike down a steep trail down to beautiful Jackson Falls. As we approached Nashville, TN, the final leg of the trip took us past the wide Water Valley in Maury County, TN and other views of the beautiful Tennessee mountains.

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We return to the parkway and continue north east into Tennessee. I finally turn on the the GPS slightly north of the state line where our track for this day starts.

[0:18] Visiting what I think is the most beautiful location on the parkway, the Sweetwater Branch Nature Trail.
[1:58] Stopping at Jacks Branch, another quite and beautiful stream near the parkway.
[2:24] Visiting the Pioneer Cemetery in Meriwether Lewis Park, in Lewis County, TN. This is the gravesite of Meriwether Lewis who died nearby in 1809. This section of the Natchez Trace evolved from the Buffalo and Indian Trails after treaties were negotiated with the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians in 1801.
[3:30] Visiting a typical early 1900's tobacco farm and another section of the Old Trace.
[3:55] Following the steep trail down to beautiful Jackson Falls.
[5:12] At an overlook with a spectacular view of the wide Water Valley in Maury County, TN. Pause the tour and zoom and pan over this beautiful terrain. Observe how the Trace tends to follow the mountain ridge lines.
[5:57] Leaving the trace for the last time and getting on I-40 heading for Nashville, TN.
[6:19] Arriving at the Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville -Vanderbilt - Elliston Place.

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