Biking the Trace, Days 1-3

Day 1 cycling

We got off to an early start. Riding went well and we covered 43 miles. It's hot and humid here, it's like riding in a sauna! Then add the beating sun to that, just means we're going through a lot of water and gatorade/powerade. The other thing we learned is that no matter how tired your legs are, when it starts raining, you just keep going. It poured on us, there was no where to stop (and no thunder) so on we went.

Went into Natchez for dinner at The Pig Out Inn; really good pulled pork and ribs, the baked beans were smoky and the slaw on the spicy side.  Really good dinner. Then we went over to the walkway by the Mississippi River and looked over to Louisiana. That's about as close as the girls are going to get to it, they're not going to be able to check it off their list of visited states yet.

Louisiana on the left across the Mississippi River

Day 2 cycling

Seemed to be hotter and more humid today, plus there was no rain. Sarah was d.o.n.e. early but made it to the lunch stop. She and I went 33 miles, the rest of them went about 60. Most of the ride wasn't too bad, but they said towards the end it was a lot of rolling hills and overpasses and a lot more traffic as they got closer to Jackson. Most of the ride had been rather empty of cars, only a handful or two most of the time but around Jackson it was rather heavy.

Back to the campground, which was by a huge reservoir. Whitney, GE, and Bob went swimming in the pool and Sarah and I set up our tent. An early night to bed.

The reservoir that we camped near and cycled beside

the road stretching out ahead of us

Day 3 cycling

Up early again to pack up camp and head out to ride. The first five miles was in heavy traffic again (we were near Jackson, MS). I was riding sweep and thought I was going to loose my voice calling out the cars. Stopped at the reservoir overlook for a stretch, then back on the road with less traffic.

A prettier ride today through swampier land, still lots of trees and fields and mostly flat. We stopped at a cypress swamp, cypress trees as far as you could see in either direction. The roots of the trees were pretty neat. Sarah and I rode 35 miles to lunch, while the rest of them went 60. 

the cypress swamp

it stretches as far as you can see in both directions

The excitement today was getting to see the National Park Police in action. The Trace is a National Historic Trail and part of the National Park Service. The speed limit is 50 and Sarah and I saw the blue flashing lights chasing a car doing closer to 70. After telling the car to pull over (on his speaker), the police officer got out to talk to the driver. We were pointed out as the reason the speed limit was low; I assume the driver got a ticket. Got to the new campground (free, but no showers or electricity), set up, and had dinner.