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Natchez Trace Parkway TN


6/2 - 06/4/2007	Our location - Franklin, TN Natchez Trace Parkway TN
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	Bell Buckle, a railroad village of preserved and restored Victorian homes and churches is nestled among the hills, farmland and Walking Horse country of Bedford County, Tennessee. The Webb School, within walking distance to down town, is a world-renowned college preparatory boarding and day school and is an integral part of this unique town.
	Established in 1852, the little town of Bell Buckle has become known far and wide for antiques, quilts, handmade crafts, country music, home-cooking and Southern hospitality. Thousands of visitors are drawn each year to visit the charming downtown with its shops and eateries and participate in the annual festivals. (Fresh Moon Pies and RC Cola...a store devoted to these!)
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	The Bell Buckle Cafe is one of those local eateries that are "must visit" when exploring very small town America. When we got there at 1:00 PM, there was a 20 minute wait! Pork chops, pork barbeque, barbeque chicken...all done Southern style..and don't forget the three sides and sweet tea!
	Every small town needs a General Store just filled with "stuff!"
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	The Harpeth River is one of the major streams of north-central Middle Tennessee and one of the major tributaries of the Cumberland River. This is where the river begins...right next to the road. To the right of this pool of water is a field. The Harpeth rises in the westernmost part of Rutherford County, Tennessee, just to the east of the community of College Grove.

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	The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates an ancient trail that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today's central Tennessee.
	The Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge is approximately 1600 feet long, spanning Highway 96 west of Franklin, TN. The roadway stands 155 feet above the valley floor and is one of the final links in the Natchez Trace Parkway.
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	The bridge's arches are designed to support the deck without evenly spaced spandrel columns, resulting in a picturesque, unencumbered appearance. The construction of the parkway's bridge during the early 1990s was a highlight in the engineering history of the parkway. It was opened to traffic in 1994. Recognized as the first American arch bridge to be constructed from segments of precast concrete and featuring a design that placed the bridge load on the double arches without the use of supporting spandrels, the Natchez Trace Parkway bridge has received many awards, including ones from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Presidential Award for Design Excellence, and the Eleventh Annual Bridge Conference, which named it the single most outstanding achievement in the bridge industry for 1994.
	View from the bridge.
	The railing could have been just a bit higher! Dale was the only brave soul to venture out to take these pictures. Mark and friends, Walt and Virginia took a pass!
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