Follow up - Natchez Trace - Official Paint Out Notice

(As posted earlier, we've been invited to join this group tomorrow - whenever - in the morning - PAN start time was announced for 8:15 a.m - some of them will be earlier than 9:00.)

Tennessee Watercolor Society Plein Aire Paint Out
Saturday, June 14, 2008 9am-4pm

The Natchez Trace Parkway is steeped in history. It is a 444 mile linear national park that runs from Nashville, TN to Natchez, MS. Its early origins began as a wildlife trail to the salt licks in the middle TN area. Indians soon traversed it to a great extent, then settlers heading west to new lands. It became a major route of commerce in the 1800's. Farmers and fur traders would load their goods onto flat boats in Kentucky, float down the Mississippi River to Natchez, then sell everything including the boat and work their way back north along the Trace. This led to many stories about the crime and tall tales surrounding this way of life along the Natchez Trace.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is run by the National Park Service. It is a two lane, winding road with a maximum speed of 50 mph and is patrolled by park rangers. Beware of deer and turkey along the roadside. The Garrison Creek stop is where we will be painting. The stop has restroom facilities, a creek, and we will more than likely be sharing the spot with trail riders and their mounts, as it is a staging area for horse trailers.
The Park Service asks that you keep vehicles on pavement as much as possible, and, as always, please do not leave any trash behind. Bring a sack lunch and your regular plein aire painting materials. We look forward to seeing you there!

Directions:
From West Nashville: You can take Highway 100 to the Natchez Trace Parkway near McCrory Lane. Once on the parkway, go approximately 16 miles to the Garrison Creek Stop which is at mile marker 427.6. Entrance is on the left.

From Nashville, Franklin: Take Hillsboro Rd. (Hwy 431) to Old Hillsboro Rd. (Hwy 46). Follow Hwy 46 out to Leiper's Fork (about 15 miles or so). Go through the village of Leiper's Fork, then you will see signs where Hwy 46 turns off to the right. This is Pinewood Rd. There will also be a brown Natchez Trace Parkway sign. Turn right onto Pinewood and about a mile down will be the entrance to the parkway on the left. Turn left. At the top of the hill, turn right. Go about 1.3 miles and the Garrison Creek entrance at marker 427.6 should be on the left.

From Columbia: Take Hwy 7 west to Fly. About a mile or two after Fly, there will be an entrance to the parkway on the right. Turn right. At the stop sign, turn left. Follow the parkway about 10.5 miles to the Garrison Creek entrance at marker 427.6 which will be on the right.