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Andra Watkins

I Came. I Saw. I Stayed.

After a week of trudging along the Natchez Trace, I miss two things: home cooking and the conveniences of my own place. Eating with Dad means he pouts like a toddler if we go somewhere he thinks he won't like. Plus, there's this.....

After a week of trudging along the Natchez Trace, I miss two things: home cooking and the conveniences of my own place. Eating with Dad means he pouts like a toddler if we go somewhere he thinks he won’t like. Plus, there’s this…..

“I can’t eat greens, cause I take coumadin. You know, that blood thinner? And I can’t eat sugar, because I’m a diabetic. My blood sugar was 160 when I pricked my finger this morning. Dropped the alcohol and got blood all over the bathroom. Oh, and I can’t eat peanuts, because they aggravate my hemorrhoids.”

“Yay, Dad. I’m STARVING now.”

Sigh. (While the server flees our table and screams about the crazy man at number 13.)

The Isabella Bed & Breakfast in Port Gibson, Mississippi, accommodated Dad’s picky palate. They even made a special dinner for us after a grueling day on the Trace, meaning I didn’t have to drive all the way back to Natchez to fill up. I was sorry to leave.

Until……

We checked in at Mamie’s Cottage in Raymond, Mississippi, and I laid my knackered eyeballs on the jacuzzi tub. I think I spent as much time with those burbling jets as I did hiking the Trace……….oh, wait. I just dreamed I did that. I couldn’t luxuriate in the tub without Dad barging in to empty his bladder every 30 minutes. No, he didn’t care about my state of undress. When he’s gotta go, he’s GOTTA GO.

If I ever want to see the Trace again after hiking its 444-mile length, I’ll definitely give both these places a call.

Click here to see the best photos from Day Nine of my Natchez Trace walk: Andra Watkins Tumblr

Who doesn’t want to visit Charleston, South Carolina? Tweet, Facebook, type and review your way to Charleston, South Carolina in the To Live Forever Journey to Charleston Contest. The more you enter, the better your chance to WIN. Click here to find out more: Support My Aching Feet.

Finish the book before I’m done walking. 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.

And now, a different take on the daily Reader Question.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqam4hEZcfw&w=560&h=315]

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62 Comments

  1. Reblogged this on Poetry by Pamela and commented:
    #Toliveforever – great book, great blog, great people – download the book and read it TODAY! And best wishes to Andra as she continues her walk

    1. Thanks for the reblog, Pamela, and your ringing endorsement of the book.

  2. You only missed those two things? You didn’t miss MTM?! For shame… 😉

    1. He was with me when I wrote this post. Now, I miss him more than anything.

  3. Love the magic pants! I can attest that both of the B&B’s went out of their way to make their guests feel comfortable! They were delightful. Happy trails today.

    1. This is not Cayleigh- didn’t catch it was set up for her.

    2. As I told you earlier, I miss you. Dad really did a DAD this afternoon. I’m so mad at him I could spit.

  5. MTM waving the card before the camera cracked me up! Glad he could join you. I’ve never stayed at Mamie’s Cottage but it sounds fabulous.

  6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LhTf9d95Eo

    Just think of Roy as your fail-safe security robot. He keeps you alert and on your toes so you’re ready for anything. Or maybe he’s just Roy. Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap for your feet, by the way. A little soak will get them happy and peppy and minty and then Roy will want to pop his feet in that foot bath because he’s drawn in by the scent of peppermint (and probably has a story about that too)…

  7. Nice to see you still laughing and MTM still providing the source. Great fun.

  8. I LOVED the video Andra. I also love the fact that you have MTM there by your side providing you with support. As for Roy…. HA! Barging in on you while you are soaking your tired body. LOL That sounds like something would do I suppose. LOL

  9. I’m with John. Great to see you smiling so happily. Walking that danged road must be lonely business! Having his humor and love along / behind must have felt great.

    Roy, give a girl some privacy!

  10. This is so exciting! Just purchased the book on my Kindle. Go Andra!

  11. You two are just cute as the dickens! (In the colloquial sense not the original, of course)

  12. It’s great to put a face to MTM too. You are so blessed to have that kind of support. Happy walking!

  14. Great video today and I feel for you but I also really feel for your dad! 😉

    Blessings and safe travels!

    Jim

  15. Great video today! And I feel for your dad! 😉

    Jim

  17. Andra, I look forward to your daily posts almost as much as I did turning the pages of your book! What a great read…loved, loved, loved it. Finished it on Monday and my neighbor Judy finished it 2 days after that. I have a couple of questions: Do you get nervous walking by yourself? After reading To Live Forever, I’d never walk on that trail alone! Secondly, what time do you anticipate arriving in Nashville on the 3rd? Carry on, and know that you have a fan base back home cheering you on as you walk.

    1. I’ll save your first question for a video, Cindy. Your second one: if I stay on schedule, I only have 9 miles to walk on the 3rd. I hope to get to the big bridge at the end of the Trace between noon and 1pm on the 3rd. If you and Ed can sneak up to see your daughter, I’d love to see you there and/or at Parnassus that night.

      Thanks for sharing the book with Judy. It’s great to hear that history teachers like it. I was worried about that.

  18. Hey, being backed up by MTM os a super, smiley, happy dance sort of thing – and Roy, well, Roy is Roy and his heart is in the right place. I will remember all your stops along the way, Andra, should I ever wander the Natchez Trace.

  20. Looks like things are going well for you, Andra… I’ve not had much chance to call by lately, but I’ve been filling in the blanks between when I have popped by, your updates on my blog (especially the heat!) and my imagination. Looks like things are going well to me… enjoy your bubbles! Keep going!

  21. Hilarious. You could write another book about your trials and tribulations with Roy and the Natchez walk. Oh, and I love MTM’s northern accent. So cute. 😉

    2. I love the way MTM says ‘hundred.’

      ‘hunnerd’, just like a Wisconsinite.

      1. Ha! I’ll be self-conscious now whenever I say hundred. 🙂

  22. AN MTM APPEARANCE!

    I’m loving your pictures and your dedication to all of this. Great job

  23. Awww, that was so sweet. You make a lovely couple 🙂

  24. That was my favorite video so far… next to the one with the toilet paper. 🙂

  25. This was just THE BEST! I’m sure you’re going to wish MTM were with you every step forward. You obviously have so much fun together. Hope the VooDoo doll is holding up, too!

    1. I lost the black pin on the voodoo doll, but otherwise, he’s swell.

  26. Awwwww! So nice to see MTM, he seems like a great guy! Your pictures on Tumblr are great and so is your journey. Someday you will look fondly back on they strip with your dad !
    ( I think : )

    1. It is a gift (however trying at times) to get to spend over a month with my father near the end of his life, while he still can. I try to focus on that when I want to throttle him. Like now. When I sent him out to get me something for dinner, and he’s disappeared because he found strangers to talk to, and who knows if he’ll even remember to bring me something to eat.

  28. Your dad and my dad have A LOT in common. Also, I really like your husband’s nose, and how easily he makes you laugh. 🙂

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