NATCHEZ TRACE DAILY LOG

  Click the next button to read about my
Yo-Yo Tour

DEJA-Vu Tour

RETRACING the TRACE TOUR
and enjoy the photos below .

April 17 2008
DAY 1
  Arrived at Natchez State Park at 3:30. After I had secured a camp site drove back to the Trace. Parked at the Old Trace Exhibit Shelter,located at about 8.4 mile from start. Rode down to the start and back. Went for supper at Ryan on 61 and then back to set up camp. Set camp went and showered in luke cool water. With everthing set here I sit writing this up before it gets dark and planning tomorrows logistics.17 miles for the day,Progress North 8.4

April 18 2008
DAY 2
   Okay here's the plan will ride north 10 to 15 miles at a time depending on places to park. Figuered that way I am away with in at least a hour from the truck,this almost worked out perfectly today. Cycle odometer is capute,too much wet I guess, GPS reads .8 miles from marker to marker,so I will just use mile marker for distances.On with the Tale. Rolled out of the tent around 5:30, broke camp and waited for daybreak.Got to the Trace at 6:30 to a cloudy sky and temp around 62. Parked at the Exhibit shelter again and headed north.At mile post 17 is the Cole Creek rest area,head back for the truck. Right pass the 27 mile mark is an unnamed pull off,how nice 10 mile and darkening skies.Get back to the 25 mile marker and the sprinkles begin,stop and secure everything for rain,and of course as soon as I am on my wayagain the sprinkles stop.At mile post 18 a light rain is falling and just as I approach Cole Creek it lets loose.Under the roof of the rest rooms the Hitdog is still "The Lucky,Dry Dog". About 20 min. later the rain slows enough to load the bike and head up to 27and have my lunchable lunch,tuna and crackers.After lunch the sky lightens abit so I head up to Port Gibson at Mile 41,will my luck hold? At mile 40 the sprinkles begin,hurry to 41 and turn back. Some wherebetween 38 and 37 the rain begins , my luck has run out.One wet and cold dog arrives at the truck and heads to Port Gibson in search of dry ground.See the photos below,13 and 14.

April 19 2008
DAY 3
  Todays ride fromThe SunkenTrace parking lot just past marker41.Baby It's Cold Outside,37 degrees BRRRRRRR!!! Started at 6:30 and road to Mangum Mounds at marker 46 and back.Warmed me up but is chilly moving.From the Mounds up to Rocky Springs at 55,finally warmed up on the way back. Must not have rained as much up here yesterday because the water fall at Owens Creek isn't, photo below. Back at the Mounds load up and off to Rocky Springs to secure a camp site,first come first served.Got a site next to rest rooms and set up and had an early lunch.There are 2 options for parking north of Rocky Springs,Deans Stand which is off the road and Battle of of Raymond.I elected to go the distance and picked Battle of Raymond just past marker 78. Long day for me but the weather was nice so I went for it ,74 miles and change. Back to Rocky Springs and supper and a small fire.Met Ralph from Iowa, who was on his way back to Nashville .Tomorrow takes me through the Jackson area and it being Sunday perhaps low traffic ,we'll see. Progress North 78 miles.

April 20 2008
DAY 4
  The road today was rolling hills till the north side of Ridgeland and then clear sailing .It was a chilly 47 as I drove to parking at marker 78. At first light it had warmed to the 50's and I was on my way again. North to marker 86 and back for the truck. Next stop was Osburn Stand at 96,decided to just go up to Ridgeland before turning back. Went to intersection with 51 and headed back for the truck. Did a quick Mickey D's lunch stop and to the bike trail parking lot at 51 and the Trace by marker 103. Once past the Reservior Overlook at 106 the road flatens along The Barnett Reservior, this is one big lake. Turned around at West Flordia Boundary at 108. Was going to motel in Ridgeland , but figured I'd shoot for the camp ground at Ratliff Ferry,Ralph was staying there so whould have some company for the evening any way.While riding along the Lake noticed that it appears parking in the grassy areas by the lake is okay, so before the 115 marker went back for the truck and parked in what look like a well used spot. Went to River Bend at 123. RatLiff Ferry is about 1/2 mile further north, and 1/2 mile east of the Trace,so back for the truck. 90 miles today but 45 miles of northern progress.,By the way Ratliff Ferry pretty much lives up to it's name, it's a real RAT HOLE. but shotting the bull with Ralph made it bearable.

April 21 2008
DAY 5
   Up and packing at 5:30,temp is in 50's already Ralph is " Still' sawing logs.Drive to Upper Choctaw Boundray at 128 and go south to River Bend,back to the truck and have eat my breakfast, apple.Just as I start for Robinson Road ,Ralph shows up ,give him an apple and we ride to Robinson Road at 135.say goodbye to Ralph and head back to 128. Truck back to Robinson and head for Myrick Creek at 145 and back. Stop back at Myrick and have lunch. Next stop is Holly Hill, the road is still flat so continue on to Kosciusko at 160 my stop for today,oops got to go back for the truck. about a half mile from Myrick Creek on the return meet Rick from Vermont, who has come from San Diego, we chat for a few minutes and back on the bike,Minutes later I have the bike loaded and head back to Kosciusko.Pull on to the Trace and about 1/4 mile north there is comotion. A RV has lost it's towed vehicle. Stop to see if every one is okay and there is already apark guy there and noone is injured.Driving on for about 150 yards you can see the tire marks off the sides of the road were vehicls swerved from one side of the road to the other. All I could think of was, if I had not stopped to chat with Rick I could have been wiped out buy the Rv as I was heading back to Kosciusko. Hot and tired, motel tonight and a sit down meal. 76 mile 38 miles of Northern progress

April 22 2008
DAY 6
  Todays ride from Kosciusko to Jeff Busby. Temp is 55 with a little chill.Drove up to Hurricane Creek at 164 1/2.Rode back to 160 and waved to my truck on the way to Cole Creek at 176 ,return. The road today remains mostly flat,very slight up. Just as I am ready to head back to Cole Creek Rick goes bye and waves, I pass him a short time later and honk. The road from Cole Creek to French Camp remains flat.On my return to Cole Creek run into Rick again and chat a little.Drive back to French Camp and have lunch. After lunch head up to Jeff Busby and I mean up. As soon as you pass marker 181 there is a mile long hill. That's the end of the flat ,there are a few more hills to Busby both ways. Get to Busby at 193 and back to French Camp.Back at French Camp talk to 2 local guys about my ride.Mentioning staying at Busby they tell me bad weather is forcast.cloud had been thickening most of the afternoon. Drive up to Busby and there are only 3 large camper pull throughs available.Being the nice guy that I am I decide to drive on up to Houston and get a room (a dry dog is a happy dog).Will go back down the Trace to around 213, which is about half way between Busby and Houston. 68 miles today 33 more miles of Northern progress.

April 23 2008
DAY 7
  Got down to Line Creek pull off at marker 213 at 6:30 and headed South to Jeff Busby. This was an uneventful day just ride and get done and head home. Got to Busby turn around and back to truck Had a quick lunch at the truck and headed North to the intersection of the Trace and route 8 to Houston and back to truck..Finally done riding the Natchez Trace. Self Sag is a real pain , do not recommend it, but what ever it takes I guess. The sourtern end of The Trace is rather a boring ride in as much as the scenery is pretty much the same every day,witt the exception of area along The Barnett Reservior. That is all. .