Meriwether Lewis Campground Nachez Trail Parkway Hohenwald, Tennessee

Mileage:  53,421

There was heavy morning dew clinging to the roadside weeds, glistening in the sunlight.  It was already warm as we began today’s drive.  Highway 64 is named the Trail of Tears.  In the early 1800’s Indian tribes were forced to relocate to the west of the Mississippi River.  They traveled this path.  You cannot pass through here without thinking about the way Native American peoples were treated.

The Nachez Trace Parkway started as an Indian trade route.  It is a lovely ride through dense forest and rolling hills.

Our breakfast spot…so peaceful!

The Meriwether Lewis Campground is free.  All the sites are large and wooded.

We took our bikes out for an 8 mile ride this afternoon.  We road through the campground and into the day use area.  We toured the house where Meriwether Lewis (of the Lewis and Clark Expedition) died and visited his memorial.

Then we biked out on a country road.

We met Bill Lawson.  He was selling what I thought were great big apples but were in fact dried gourds painted to look like apples.  He had lots of other things made of gourds as well.  We talked to him for quite some time.   This weekend is the harvest fest in Hohenwald.  There are yard sales all along the way.  Bill and his son are set up hoping to make some early sales.  I asked to take his picture and he put on his hat…a true southern gentleman!  He told us to be safe riding over the “hills and hollers!”

Some mushrooms and a nutshell!

We listened to Jack Johnson music, had a campfire, and grilled some Alaskan wild salmon.