The Minimal Travelers

It’s about 7:30am. The air doesn’t feel as damp today, but I can still feel a bit of humidity. The tiny grey birdies with white on their wings have been pleasant to watch and listen to as they find their breakfast in the trees beside us. Today is moving day. We’ve been enjoying the past five days camping at the Natchez Trace State Park in Wildersville, TN just outside Lexington, TN. It’s a beautiful small campground on the river that was designated a “premium” campsite for the views and renovations; it was definitely worth it!

This park seems to have been very popular back in the 1950s. There are five loops with full and partial hookups and cabins to stay in. There’s a big lodge with a restaurant, a recreation center, a beach area with old paddleboats, and areas for archery with a firing range. It was a very big park. We really enjoyed the picnic shelters surrounded by the water and tall pine trees. The tables were all lined up on shore, making for great views and yoga. 

Sadly, it seems like these places are neglected and don’t really get used too much. The park has definitely seen better days. You could get the vibe that it once thrived with families that spent their summers and vacations here; now it’s more for the big RV’s and retirees. I’m not sure if the country-wide closings play a part or if it’s the endon, but for us, it’s been nice and quiet with not many of camping seas folks around. 

We definitely had an experience getting to this location. It was a five-hour drive and a bit nerve-racking for us first-timers towing a 6×12 cargo trailer with our CRV. We are still feeling out and learning all the sounds and movements that come with towing. When it came to those mountain passes that were a surprise to the route, ole Bessie handled like a champ and took to those inclines at a steady pace screaming RPMs!

We started this trip off boondocking for three days at the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, which is basically a horseshoe of grassy land and a dirt road. There’s no real campsite or any fire rings, you just pick a spot and set up camp. We had quite the experience and we were the only ones there so bonus for us! It’s just before hunting season and the Ranger we spoke to said it’s usually a packed-up place. We were grateful for that since we both are not the biggest fans of hunting. There was a bit of drive-thru traffic that kicked up dust from the dirt road, but overall it was a good first experience boondocking! I also managed to pull my back when we were unloading the car, so I was pretty much useless for the length of our stay. There’s never a dull day when you’re a nomad!

Thanks for reading along.