Day 5

Much better ride today! The trace was flatter with some rolling hills and we actually had time to take some decent stops! 

First place we stopped at was 13 miles into the ride at exit 180 called French Camp. It's a little town that has a Christian academy for 1-12th grade. Ate some good food there and relaxed for over an hour! Highly recommend this stop. 

About 20 miles later we stopped at another little town called Kosciusko. There they had an information center with a little museum about the trace. I didn't realize the historic value this road contained. It is actually named an All American road. We ate at Old Trace Grill and for the second time on this trip did not buy fried food. One of the hardest parts of this trip is eating calories with substance. Most food items on the trace are fried chicken at a gas station and the body can only handle eating that for so long. Personally i like (and try) to eat healthy food, and this trip has made it very hard to keep that goal while eating enough calories to not pass out. 

After this nice break I asked Zach where are next stop was located. He replied with Holy Hill about 6 miles down the road. We discussed how terrible this hill would be to tackle since it was named Holy Hill. Little did I know the place was called Holly Hill and this was his way to play a joke/motivate me. At this stop (which wasn't on a hill) we met a girl who was biking from California to Vermot in time for her graduation (of high school....yes high school) and a guy who was making his way to North Carolina. 

Ended the trip at 135 with our savior (Zach's dad) sitting there with a car for us! Ended up changing the ride millage. Sunday afternoon we will travel from 100 to 135. Monday and Tuesday we will finish the trip! 

Until then New Orleans bound for the day! 

Day 4

75 miles in the headwind...longest day of riding but better than yesterday. 

Woke up in tupelo and due to half of downtown being not paved Sally turned in to a montain bike. Finally understand why my parents get worried when tornados are near by. Tupelo was destroyed by a tornado last week. I saw parts of gas stations and hotels ripped in half. It was extremely shocking...

There was construction today, which destroyed my back fender. Had to take it off and strap it on the back. 

"Watched"/listened to Frozen on the way, which was amazing and made the miles fly by! I recommend jamming to your favorite music/movie when cranking out many many miles in one day.

Currently camping at Jeff Busby. Beatiful day as always! 

Day 3

Worse than the hilly hundred. That is all.

...but at least slept in a hotel in tupelo! 

Day 2

Chocolate donuts are a cyclists savior! 

Woke up later than we wanted, but still getting used to this camping thing. After about 4 miles into our journey this random vehicle slowed down and wouldn't leave us alone....ready to start an argument with a local I realize it's our savior with chocolate donuts! Zachs dad has just pulled up on the trace with donuts! And that was a great way to start the morning! 

The trace was hilly during the first 2/4 and pretty straight the last bit. I discovered that when Dorothy left Kansas she really went to Tennessee because we saw fields of yellow flowers! One of my favorite spots was Holly. It's a picnic area tucked behind the road (exit 346). It wasn't on the top 30 favorites according to the website, but I thought it was amazing! We stayed at Colbert Ferry, which was beautiful! We camped right next to the river and watched the sunset for a bit. 

Good was amazing! We didn't have time to eat lunch yesterday due to beating the sunset, but today we stopped in Collinwood (exit 355) and ate the hasti mart....aka fast food at a gas station. Still amazing! 

Also crossed the state line! Never been in Alabama, but it's wonderful! So different than Chicago! During the last mile of our trip we passed the Tennessee river..,the bridge was terrible to climb...but again one of those moments that makes the trip worth it! 

Day 1 - Natchez Trace

The body hurts this morning....I wonder why? But it's worth it! Here is a quick recap of yesterday's ride. 

Hilly! (Not hilly hundred style, but hilly). We had to walk a couple of hills and there was a neat downhill around 3/4 of the trip. (398ish) I'm waiting for the trail to even out so I can ride next to Zach more often. (Due to our bikes we are not very good about riding near eachother on hills) There was a lot of head wind! Thankfully it kept the hair out of my face, but it made some the littles hills feel like going up brick walls.  

Met some people along the way. (Some bikers from Iowa that had a flat, a local man selling his coon dog, some random bikers, and Adam) Adam was a guy we met while camping who is biking from Dallas, TX and making a big circle to Seattle, Washington and coming back home. He said the trip should take 8 months. (And I thought I was riding a lot of miles). 

Allergies are terrible, but on the lucky side I found a four leaf clover and a 20$ bill on the ground! 

So beautiful out here and very different from the city life. If anyone has a chance to be on the trace (in any vehicle of your choosing) I would not pass this opportunity. 

Due to beating the sunset we didn't stop at all of the places we hoped, but the ride was still amazing! 

Should be starting day 2 in about 2 hours! First step is making my body feel alive and the second step is packing everthing! 

Starting line!

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. ~Iris Murdoch, The Red and the Green

There are two things I learned today over breakfast at Loveless Cafe (which I highly recommend) 

1) desserts spelled backwards is stressed (learned via a word search) 

2) BBQ comes wet or dry. Wet is hen the sauce is already on and cooked with it, while dry means the sauce comes on the side. 

Nashville is beautiful! I wish I could have stayed here longer! Weather is amazing with it currently 73 degrees! 

Leaving civilatation! 

Packing

It is officially one day until the trip! Bags are packed and currently containing the excitement in Columbus, IN. A short car ride later today (approximately 5 hours) is in store to get to Nashville, TN where the fun will begin! 

How does a city girl pack for this big adventure? (Especially one who is not a camper according to the general public of myself). Well honestly....I decided what was important (and yes I brought a wee brought of makeup) and attempted to travel light. 

We made an essentials list (which we did not use anyways) a couple of weeks ago. To an ordinary observer one would see that my side clearer has more items....but I promise I have only used two panniers to store eveything but the clothes on back, helmet, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad.  

It was hard to pack for the weather. Living in Indiana I am used to it being 75 degrees one day and snowing the next. Knowing that I truly dislike the feeling of dampness made this "essential" packing quite more difficult. Again....I did manage to fit all of my clothes into one (yes one) pannier. 

During our packing extravaganza (and as I am currently writing this entry) we have realized that we left the spokes for my front fender...I do have the back fender currently on Sally (my bike), but if it rains I am in a surprise! (A fender goes around the wheel and prevents dirt and water from getting onto you or the person behind you). If this is the only item we have forgotten then this will be amazing trip! (Definitely did not forget my excitement or smiles at home!)

Super excited for this trip! My goal is to post a few pictures everyday and give a short recap. Once the trip is done (and my legs do not feel like jelly) I will write a nice recap of the trip!