Natchez Trace Complete

What an enjoyable week of biking with a couple of great friends. Weather was great, a few cool days and a few days of challenging heat. Some long mileage days and some shorter days with a lot of hills. Saw the hills go from moderate to really long to steep and long. Plus we saw some really cool sites and learned a few things along the way.

Stats: 7- days of riding with a total of 485- miles. An average of 69.3- miles per day. It was more of a challenging ride than I had expected, but extremely enjoyable.

Scenic View

5- miles to go!

1812 Memorial

Honoring the soldiers buried along the Natchez Trace.

Fly General Store

Famous sandwich stop along the Trace on Fly Tennessee. Notice the old adding machine with the meat slicer beside it.

Baskets Bluff Overlook

Another nice overlook.

View from the top

Scenic view after a hard climb. Not as impressive as it should have been. 

Water Fall Leaving Fall Hollow

Part way up the big climb leaving Fall Hollow. Have me an excuse to stop and take a picture.

Fall Hollow Mascot

Pretty sure this little fellow runs things around here. Getting ready for breakfast and the pure last day on the trail. Lots of hills today.

Fall Hollow B&B

Lodging for last night on the Trace. Had a wonderful evening with the owners listening to their stories and having a wonderful Fried Catfish dinner. Not fancy, but the owners are fantastic people.

Weather Coming In

Looks like the rain. After a week of dry weather it looks like rain this evening. Good thing is we finished our ride first. 

A Little Morning Color

As we get further north starting to see some color in the trees. Still a few weeks from prime, but looking pretty nice.

Natchez Marker

I have learned that this is code for Rest Area. It is also a chance to meet up with Chris and Mark again. 

Thursday 10/8

Shorter day today, only 60- miles. Still had plenty of sun and wind. The hills got longer and for the most part steeper.

Chris was kind enough to carry us a six pack of a craft IPA for the last 30- miles. Told him he was crazy, but it is pretty tasty now.

Tennessee State Line

Let the fun begin. Now we will see if the hills are any worse.

Tennessee River

Didn't realize the Tennessee river is this big.

No Chris Don't Do It!! The hills have not been that bad!

State Line

Goodbye Mississippi!

Cave Spring

Scenic spot along the Trace.

Trail Magic

Leaving Belmont MS some fellow stopped us and gave me a couple bright fluorescent shirts so I would be more visible.

Wednesday 10/7

84 had miles today with plenty of hills, headwind, and sun. The farther north we get the bigger the hills are getting. Staying at the Belmont Hotel in Belmont MS. Pass thru Alabama tomorrow and enter Tennessee.

329 miles logged so far and about 150 hilly miles to go. Assuming my is any good.

Reward for a Hard Climb

Overlook approx 20- miles north of Tuple. Twenty more to go.

Half Way to Nashville

Days get a little shorter from here.

Must be in the South

Us northern boys don't get to see cotton very often.

Dry Creek Bed

Most places need rain badly.

Dog Trot Style Home

Col James Frame Home. Dog Trot home is a southern thing. Allowed them to add to the house as finances became available. 

Old Trace

Our route looks a lot easier. 

Lodging in Koskiosko MS

Bald Cypress Swamp

Reservoir in Jackson MS

Bucher Ingenuity

Things you do to dry your clothes over night.

View from the Saddle

Mamies Cottage

The Mighty Mississippi

1- block from our B&B. Cool morning, looks like a head wind all day (ugh)!

First Night Lodging

The Wensel House in downtown Natchez. Very nice place with wonderful hosts.

Dinner at Beer Camp

Saturday 10/3

15- hours later we arrive in Natchez, MS. Only one wrong turn, we are blaming Mark just because it was on his driving shift. That weell teach him to follow our instructions.

2015 Tour /Jim Lewis, Chris Bucher, Mark Featherston.

This year our tour will be a 7-day ride from Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN, following the Natchez Trace. We will be leaving from Natchez on Sunday, 10/4, and arriving in Nashville on Saturday, 10/10.