riding the Mississioppi

[marni]

I'm sitting here on my balconey facing the river, having an iced coffee and a free day in Natchez, Mississippi after having completed 125 miles give or take in 4 days of riding. The group of ladies is settling into groups based on speed and compatability. Although still feeling the heat, the four riders from northern Europe, along with theother 15 from the northern climes of the US are starting to get used to the heat and humidity. Two fix a flat sessions later and everyone now has a spare tube, tire levers and some idea how to use them. One rider who had neither responded when asked shy not? replied "well I wasn't planning on having a flat." Needless to say she somewhat of a novice. Because we were having margaritas to celebrate a state line crossing, this comment seemed hilarious.

Tomorrow will be another long 80 miles but mostly up the Natchez Trace Parkway so hopefully the roads will be better, but the weather man says 50% chance of rain. Some of the riders got caught out on the road yesterday afternoon's sudeen rains with dramatic lightning and lots of thunder. The rest of us were getting everyone's luggage under shelter and busy hauling bikes off of the van so it could go out and pick up the storm refugees who had found shelter and were waiting.
Rouge at one lf the local southern mansions called Dunleith. The main house is very typical white, collumns, walk around porches set in lovely grounds. For wome reason all of the out buildings are tradiotional except for a vaguely castle looking theme of brick crennelations across the top.

Bebe the bike has been cleaned geared and lubbed and is resting up for the the next 350 mile 5 day stint and I am off to take a nap.

[indysteel]

Sounds like quite the adventure, marni! I hope you and your sister are having fun. I've only ridden along the northern part of the Trace, but the road surface was nice.

Stay safe!

[murielalex]

Hope you get the good side of the 50% and the sun shines for you. Would love to see some pics if you get the chance.

[Bike Writer]

I second that, yes pictures please. I am in awe of your progress. I too have had a mastectomy many years ago and recall vividly the recuperation process. Your accomplishments so far on this ride are amazing and incredible. You are one heck of a woman and I hoist one to you!

[Fredwina]

Hope you enjoy your time in Mississippi. I've never ridden the Trace, but driving it looks nice.
PS - you may want to check your spelling;) - although I don't you can change the thread title with the BB Software we have here.

[marni]

The Natchez trace is a gorgeous road. Smooth as silk paving, tall trees on either side, very little traffic, really lovely except for the soul sucking 1-3% incline which looks flat which runs the whole 64 miles of what we rode yesterday with the exceptions of a few nice and unexpected downhills. I kept wanting to get off the bike and see if my tires were flat! And those trees, tall and beautiful as they are , channel the gentlest breeze so nicely into a headwind.

In spite of milder temperatures, and cloud cover for most of the morning, it was a challenging ride because after we got off of the Trace, the next 20 miles were constant rollers of 4-6% . After our last SAG spot and the "historic cross roads country store" for which read a small building with lots of beer, pool tables, comfort version Harley Davidsons and a full front porch full of good old guys (and one or two gals) sitting and sipping and talking. I would have loved a beer, but at 20 miles still to go, opted for wisdom and treated myself to ice water instead. The youngest of our riders, an ash pale blonde, very scandanavian looking, and incredibly youthful looking from Wisconsin rode up and the good old boys were all lining up to get their picture taken with her.

Loathe to leave but hot, sunburned, saddle sore and tired, we were ready to hit the hotel which is probably why the last 20 miles seemed worse the first 64.

It's the breaks and the people and incidents like this that make this sort of long ride fun.

Below is a photo of some of the ladies riding the trace. I will try more photos later.

[Tri Girl]

Looks beautiful (even if looks are deceiving and you're battling a frustrating false flat). :)
Keep these reports coming. I'm loving hearing about your adventure!!! :)

[tulip]

In April I rode the Natchez Trace from Tupelo to Natchez, and then the Mississippi River Trail to Vicksburg. I know that store well!!

I preferred the non-Trace riding better. The MRT route goes through amazingly beautiful country. I found the Trace a bit boring after a few days, but still it was a nice ride.

We saw very few other cyclists. I guess April is a bit early for the big cycling season.

[hebe]

I'm enjoying reading your updates. That slow steady incline would bug me too. I hope you got to enjoy a beer at the hotel!

[marni]

Todays ride was through the flat, treeless Mississippi delta. Fortunately it was a bit cooler than it has been, and we had cloud cover which helped. The only excitement in the whole 60 miles was the town of Belzoni at mile 42, and the fact that Indianola, where we are staying, is the home of BB King and the self proclaimed "cross roads of the Delta blues."

65 miles today, 60 tomorrow, 92 the day after and then we are in Memphis and get a day off.

from left to right. Why Belzoni was a highlight of the day, why Belzoni was a wide spot in the road, tonight's dinner, Salmon Nicoise, mixed white bean salad, melon and carrot cake.

[hebe]

"Catfish capital of the world" :D

Hope you had a good rest and that the next few days go well.

[redrhodie]

"Catfish capital of the world" :D


And you had Salmon? They must have looked at you like you had two heads.

How you feeling?

[marni]

today's ride 65 miles of Delta wheat fields, catfish farms and rice paddies interspersed with about 7 miles of paving grooved for repaving and intermittent downpours and lighter showers for the last 20 miles. Found an American, Italian, Lebanese local restaurant in Clarksdale and had kibby, cabbage rolls, a few killer french ries and 1/2 slice chocolate pie. Fortunately the booth seats were plastic os our wet muddy jackets and soggy shorts didn't leave huge wet spots that were visible. Also passed through Rulesville, home to Fanny Lou Harms ( looke her up) and the music group the single singers. tomorrow is a long day into Memphis and then a day off to feel virtuous with 600 miles down and 1200 miles more to go.

We had salmon in Indianola because although wild caught, it was cheaper than the catfish. Go Figure.

Photos are of Delta wheat fields, rice paddies and the place where we had lunch. Owner says her grandparents ended here because they had relatives here that had come down from Ellis island and now she and her daughter run it. It was warm and delicious goodness.

[marni]

Ridng from Memphis to Covington TN brought a change of scenery- much more bucolic scenery, lots of twists and turns, trees and shade, packs of dogs- felt like a dog a mile but probably wasn't quite that bad, and some real Tennesse type hills of 10-12% who leap out at you from behind a curve in the road and yell surprise as you frantically downshift to get into the granny gear and then end up riding about half the hill standing, I want to know why after a 12% climb, there is only a 10% downhill. Seems like we should earn an equal amount of downhill. Lovely little country store with fresh baked brownies, many taxidermied turkeys and other wild animals, masses of snake skins including two anacondas- which were gifts and not from the local state forest like the other wildlife samples. We also had a hilarious discussion about conversations held and what you actually hear while riding. " where's Mary?" " she's folding her map" "what do you mean she's taking a nap?" and " the tv says John Edwards may get 30 years." "who has 30 gears?" and so on.

[Tri Girl]

We also had a hilarious discussion about conversations held and what you actually hear while riding. " where's Mary?" " she's folding her map" "what do you mean she's taking a nap?" and " the tv says John Edwards may get 30 years." "who has 30 gears?" and so on.
That's funny! Reminds me of the children's book series Amelia Bedelia. :)
Sounds like you're having the time of your life. You certainly deserve it! Thanks for the updates- I'm having fun reading along on your adventure.