TEXAS 2023
 
 

Day 06

March 11

  
   
   
  I have a great plan to start my day - get a good breakfast at the nearby Cracker Barrel.  
 
But this one has decided not to open until 8 am - which means I would not be on the road until past 9 given the way they work. As I am getting ready to leave, numerous people walk up to try the door. I count at least a half a dozen customers they have already lost this morning because of their 'opening' time change. So I head for Trace and figure I'll stop in Tupelo for some chicken tenders.  
 
Once again I enjoy the lovely view of Lake Barnett as I pass by it.  
 

I am amazed at what a few days difference can make on the flowering trees on the Trace. Now I see the beautiful dogwoods are out in bloom in several places. They always remind me of the 'Legend of the Dogwood' -

In early years the dogwood lacked its distinct fruits and flowers, but it was still impressive, rising taller than any oak or cedar. Its wood was strong, hard, fine-grained, and easy to work with. It had no equal, and it was constantly in demand.

Pink flowers on the Dogwood branches while green leaves begin to emerge
During this time, a simple carpenter was declared King of the Jews and was sentenced to death. The method of execution? Crucifixion. And the tree used to fashion the iconic wooden cross? A dogwood.

According to the legend, the dogwood felt great sorrow for the role it played in Jesus Christ’s death. While on the cross, Jesus sensed the tree’s anguish, and he decided to transform it so that it could never again be used in crucifixion. From that point on, the dogwood was no longer a tall, stately forest tree. Rather, it became a small and shrub-like tree with thin and twisted limbs.

Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. Three days later, he rose from the dead. At the same time, the dogwoods in the forest burst into bloom, and they continue to do so right around Easter in what is believed to be a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

While the dogwood tree never again took part in an execution, it’s still said to carry the marks of Jesus’ crucifixion. Its four large petals represent the cross he died upon, and each petal displays four red-tinged notches that are said to represent four nail holes. And in the center of each flower is a green cluster that is symbolic of Jesus’ crown of thorns.

 

  
 
And once again I enjoy the majestic isolation of the Trace with its lovely forest borders and a lack of traffic.  
 
Since breakfast is nonexistent up to this point, I stop at my Tupelo chicken tenders place for gas and food. I notice they have biscuits this morning so I go for a steak,egg, and cheese biscuit and a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. They are some of the best biscuits I ever stuck between my teeth and almost make my tongue beat my brains out they are so good.  
 
But I've got to get to the Holler today, so it's back to the Trace in short order.  
 
Before long I am at the Trace detour again, but it does not take long to get through it since I know the way now.  
 
It's a good, peaceful run back to the Holler as traffic is really minimal today.  
 
Soon I am at the north end of the Trace with its nice sweepers.  
 
I pull into my beloved Holler once more, thankful that I could take a few days off just to reset, rethink, and refresh. Sometimes a feller just needs to sit still, be quiet and listen to the ocean.