October 25, 2014. Day 5 on Natchez Trace. Shopping troubles in Tupelo

CAMPGROUND:  Jeff Busby Campground, part of Natchez Parkway.  It is One of three free campgrounds along the Trace, run by the National Park Service.  Basics only...clean bathrooms with flush toilets.  No electricity or dump station.  Pump to fill up water tanks.  Woodsy.  About 25 sites.  4 stars out of 5. Camp host is interesting New Zealander.  Our neighbors are from Quebec.  We've heard that these campgrounds are popular among the Snowbirds, especially Canadians, when they make their fall treks southward, and spring treks northward.

LOCATION:  About 75 miles south of Tupelo, in central Mississippi

WEATHER:  Sunny and warmer. High about 80

The Natchez Trace is a beautiful, natural byway, with no commercial business at all.....no trucks are allowed; speed limit is 40-50mph; no businesses, no towns, no billboards.  Just placid scenery.  It is leisurely driving.  We have to get off the Trace to buy gas and groceries.

We got off in Tupelo.  Nothing went as planned.  We planned to have lunch at a brewpub.  Its website said it was open for lunch, but when we got there, it said it would open at 2:00.  Then we drove on into the city, and managed to get into the not-so-nice part, searching for a grocery.  At one point, I thought I'd have to give up my principles and go to WalMart, but we finally found a store.  We also found a guy selling Gulf shrimp and fish along the road and bought both.  We got back on the Trace, and had a picnic lunch at one if the many turn-outs.

Our total driving time today was about 100 miles.  We are at the 200-mile halfway point on the Trace.  We looked at the map to plan our route and schedule after we reach the Trace terminus, in Natchez.

We got settled in and talked with our garrulous host a bit.  George made a fire in the stand-up grill.

DINNER:  Grilled redfish.  Side was rice with roasted broccoli with pumpkin seeds.  Quite nice!