Stand In The Place Where You Live
Stands were places along the Natchez Trace that provided a bed and a meal for weary travelers passing through a dangerous and desolate wilderness. Spaced out all along the 444-miles of the Trace, they were usually located a day’s walk apart, every 15 – 20 miles.
When the Trace died, most of the stands did, too. Grinder’s Stand, the place Meriwether Lewis was staying when he mysteriously perished, burned to the ground years ago. All that remains is this stone step.
Mount Locust, located just north of Natchez, MS, is an original stand. Peruse the pictures to see the luxurious accommodations you missed by not being a Kaintuck 200 years ago.
On my 444-mile walk of the Natchez Trace, I stayed in the modern equivalent of stands. The bed and breakfast. Please help me give a shout-out to all the great people who have hosted me and my crazy entourage, I mean Alice, my mother-in-law, and Mom and DAD.
Hope Farm Bed & Breakfast, Natchez MS – I am determined to return to Natchez often, simply to see Miss Ethel. She is the kind of Southern woman I aspire to be. Her lodgings, her food and her company are simply delightful.
Isabella Bed & Breakfast, Port Gibson MS – When Dad balked at climbing stairs—you know, because he’s DAD—the innkeepers went out of their way to make him comfortable. When I was too knackered to go all the way back to Natchez for dinner, they made dinner for me. When we needed directions to architectural wonders of The South, they came through. Awesome people.
Mamie’s Cottage Bed & Breakfast, Raymond MS – I STILL MISS THE JACUZZI TUB. WAAAAAA!!!!! The farmhouse allowed Alice to mainline on architecture, while the innkeepers listened to Dad talk for way more than their share of time. I never lacked for comfort after a blistering day.
Maple Terrace Inn, Kosciusko MS – The claw foot soaking tub *almost* made me forget the jacuzzi. One day, I think I soaked in that tub three times. The rooms were big and roomy, too.
French Camp Bed & Breakfast, French Camp MS – Stumbling into our very own house after two consecutive weeks of rooms was like heaven. Plus, the cafe made some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. I ordered one up every day after I was done walking…….(and I wonder why I haven’t lost any weight……)
Bridges-Hall Manor Bed & Breakfast, Houston MS – I almost cried when we left Carol’s charming inn. Four days of pampering. She did my laundry. She baked goodies for me to carry in my backpack. She reset the internet a thousand times so that I could keep posting. She sold my book to every group that came in while I was there.
The Belmont Hotel, Belmont MS – It was a treat to be able to really step back in time. The Belmont Hotel harked back to an era where hotels were highly social places with multiple social spaces. The Mexican restaurant across the street was to die for.
Buffalo River Farm Studio Bed & Breakfast, Summertown, TN – I have my feet up in one of Donna’s beds as I type, after enjoying her gourmet breakfast and touring her art studio. I love to sit on her patio and watch the cows in the pasture. I know I’ll look forward to coming back here through Monday night.
Creekview Farm Retreat Bed & Breakfast, Fly, TN – When I was researching my novel, MTM and I stayed at Creekview Farm. I am so glad I will end my walk in that happy place. With my guideson and his mom. And MTM. And the peacocks.
I could not have coordinated this trip without the help of Randy Fought at Natchez Trace Travel. Randy is an encyclopedia of the Natchez Trace. He didn’t pay me a thing to give him a ringing endorsement…….I wouldn’t plan a trip to the Trace without him. natcheztracetravel.com
Click here to see the best photos from Day 30 of my Natchez Trace 444-mile walk: Andra Watkins Tumblr
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Get the book that inspired my historic 444-mile walk. To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis is available in paperback and e-book formats at these outlets: Click to Purchase To Live Forever.
Today’s Reader Question. I finally answer questions about where I’ve been staying.
The Accidental Cootchie Mama 
Amazing to think you are almost done. Soon you will be back to the mundane world of boring regular work, and traffic, and being able to sleep in your own bed.
I have missed my bed. Very much.
Sure…. you miss that guy who is in your bed!! We know you…. 😉
What a trip.
I can’t believe it’s almost over, John.
A wrap tomorrow. The last leg
Hard to believe it’s almost over, John.
As nice as you have been treated, I’m sure nothing will feel as good as your own bed next to MTM. It won’t be long now though
MTM will be here on Wednesday. Can’t wait for that.
I’m glad you’re staying in a nice, clean, safe place. So glad you’re on this journey. It’s so inspiring for the rest of us!
You’ve been such an inspiration to me, Linda. I’ve heard from you and several others almost every day. Thank you for that.
There’s nothing like your own bed. But a jacuzzi tub in your home away from home never hurts.
True. Or a foot bath, like I’m using right now.
All good things must come to an end, but others will surely follow; and, the opportunity to stand where you live and pamper your tootsies a bit will be among them. 🙂
I don’t know, Karen. I’ve done everything I can to push the snowball up the hill. It may roll back over on me in the end and bury me instead of rolling downhill. We’ll see.
Ooh a shout out! I really didn’t think for one nanosecond that you were camping along the trail, especially with Roy in tow. I hope your next few days are as beautiful as they are forecast to be here. Was the wind terrible yesterday? Did it snow on you? I finally finished the book. I held out as long as I could to make it last until your journey ended but just couldn’t stand the suspense. So beautifully written and I am so proud to call you my friend when I tell others about this amazing novel and journey.
Today was hotter but still pretty. Tomorrow’s supposed to be the same. Very little wind. Glad you’re finally getting some pretty weather. It’s been too long.
Southern Hospitality at its best! You don’t get up here in the northeast, people are too cold to be nice. What great memories you will have, Andra.
I’ve met plenty of nice people traveling in the Northeast. One of my favorite places to hike around. 🙂
Sounds like, despite your tired and worn feet, you are building memories to last a lifetime. 🙂
The best memories come from some hardship, I think.
Bed and Breakfast people are a class unto themselves. They do hospitality proud. I bet in the south it’s even better. Anxious as you are to be done, don’t forget to enjoy these last few days on the Trace.
One can still find some duds here and there, but Southern hospitality is grand.
I’m really not anxious to be done at this point, Lisa. I’m enjoying these final days very, very much.
What wonderful hosts they have been to you and everyone in your tow. Thanks for giving me Stand (REM) I really needed to hear that today to get my day kicked. And now here is one back to you. ROAM from the B52s. http://youtu.be/iNwC0sp-uA4 You have certainly Roamed far as have your characters. You are an amazing woman! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise and not for a moment should you believe or admit anything to the contrary into your thoughts for EVER.
I still have my moments of doubt, Cheryl. I wish I didn’t have ambition sometimes. Thanks for your words, and for everything you’ve done for me.
Hugs
I knew you would be well taken care of, Andra, but, not how much so. I’d love to stay at any of these “stands”. You know, you are doing quite a bit for tourism on the Trace, don’t you?
Ha. I plan to put together a To Live Forever itinerary at the end of this, Penny. I hope a few people will do it.
A small brochure, perhaps, or a pamphlet? An itinerary would be lovely and easier than saving your posts to Evernote 🙂
Let’s blow this popsicle stand! 😉
I’ll blow it Thursday. 39 miles to go.
Piece of cake!
What a cozy looking room!
This place has been sensational, Phillip. Donna has been such a gracious host. Her Buffalo River Farm has been featured on HGTV, and it’s well-deserved.
Ha! And here I was, thinking you’d be roughing it in the deep woods with NATURE! Then again, hmmmm… the mutated bears that have been drinking that nasty tainted water around some spots would probably have had their way with you already:
Eep!
My doctor gave me some pills in case I had to drink nasty, tainted water. I’m glad I haven’t had to. 🙂
wow, it is all coming true for you –
You are phenomenal, Andra! I can’t believe you are almost done. Thanks for answering my question. 🙂
I have been so very curious about where you have been staying. Because where we stay matters. I didn’t think “stands” were still around, and I hoped you wouldn’t be camping bc I don’t know if the Natchez is set up for through campers. There is another book in this walk, yes?
I love B&B’s. Glad to know you had as much comfort as possible when you were off your feet.
I would love to visit these wonderful B & B’s, and it’s interesting that although I knew about the stands along the Trace, it never occurred to me that the B & B’s were the modern day equivalent. I’m going to enjoy that image!