Brandon, Mississippi

Natchez Trace, part 2.

We’re in site N8 at Timberland Campground in Brandon (Let’s Go), Mississippi, just northeast of Jackson, the state capitol. Lake Ross Barnett is a huge water reservoir with a couple of campgrounds on its shore. The campsites have concrete pads, and if you’re lucky you can score a site near the water with lots of dog useful grass!

The boat ramp is very close to the boat ramp, which is fun to watch. A family pulled into an adjacent site with a motorhome, a Jeep, a Porsche, and a boat near the size of our trailer. It was quite an organizational nightmare!

The big ski boat that came in with the motorhome was launched Friday afternoon with its attendant Jeep, and was deep in the water by Saturday morning! Seems that someone forgot to replace the bilge plug after the last outing, so twin 250’s and the cabin were completely flooded.

Quite a lot of excitement! People came from near and far to watch, and a dozen or so reservoir law enforcerment personnel had the opportunity to roll 10-97 code 3.

We left Brandon and headed north on the second section (for us) of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It threads it way north along the west side of Ross Barnett lake, wher we stopped at an overlook to catch a different view of the 50 square mile reservoir.

The drive north on the Trace was spectacular, if you like green stuff!

We stopped for a picnic lunch ar Jeff Busby park. Named after a state senator that advocated for preservation of the Trace, it’s located on one of the highest mountains in Mississippi at 604 feet above sea level.

The highlight of this section was the Old Trace. A section of the original Natchez Trace has been preserved and it’s an awesome feeling to know that the very ground you’re standing on was trod by generations of people!

At the hamlet of Mathiston, 110 miles north, we left the Trace, found MS15 and headed back toward Jackson on a series of two lane country roads. Quiet, late afternoon traffic made it a relaxing drive.

We couldn’t leave the heart of soul food country without having a taste. Mama Hamil’s Southern Cookin’ and BBQ Buffet fit the bill, so we drove the eight miles into Madison, Mississippi to try it out!

Smoked chicken, ribs, dressing, fried chicken and fried catfish served buffet style with a sharp-eyed young man running to and fro refilling drink glasses! Two trips through the line followed by a serving of peach cobbler, ice cream, and banana pie just about put us over the edge! We were happy to have eaten long before bedtime!

We didn’t get to explore the city of Jackson, but we may be back! As our stay ends, the storm clouds are rolling in and the wind is picking up. The forecast is for rain and t-storms. Time to bring in the outdoor furniture!

Edit:

The storm arrived as ecpected, just as we were about to grill dinner! 1/2” of rain in 1/2 hour, and the temp never strayed below 80. Welcome to a (not the western US) kind of weather!