Cycling Natchez Trace Part 1

I published an article in Alabama Living about my Natchez Trace bike trip: PUT 'CYCLING THE NATCHEZ TRACE' ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

land acknowledgement

The Natchez Trace is located on Natchez; Chahta Yakni (Choctaw); S’atsoyaha (Yuchi); Chikashsha Yaki (Chickasaw); Cherokee, East; Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) ancestral lands.

Source: native-land.ca

Part 1 of 2

I've been wanting to bike the Natchez Trace for a few years and the timing finally worked out to do it now. I've got my road bike here, the time, and my dad has the time to give me road support since he's retired now. The Natchez Trace is a 440-mile National Scenic Trail (just like the Appalachian Trail) that goes through Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. The Trace has great historical relevance; before the Trace became a national scenic trail and paved it was used by Native Americans (such as the Choctaw and Chickasaw before being forced to move to Oklahoma in the 1830s), settlers, and as a postal/trade route. All along the trail there are historical signs informing the public of the area. I've driven on the Trace many times and it seemed to be a perfect road to bike cause it's mostly flat.

I hitched a ride down to Mississippi with my friend Mary who was going down to visit her sister Becky in Clinton, MS. So it all worked out to bike and to visit with Becky and her husband Victor.

Tuesday October 6:

My dad picked me up at Becky's and we drove down to Natchez, MS, to start at Mile 0. I stopped often at signs but it was slow going. I had expected to bike a certain amount of miles a day and I was coming to terms that it wasn't going to happen. I was harshly reminded of being out of shape and not used to road biking. My quads were burning, my neck was screaming from craning upwards to look at the road, and my sit-bones were tender from sitting on a hard seat for hours. [I also don't think giving blood just 4 days prior was a good idea]. Needless to say I did not reach my goal and stopped after 41 miles. I went back to Becky's for the night.

The Start!

One of many signs along the Trace

The Beauty of the Trace

Wednesday October 7:

Dad picked me up at Becky's and we drove to mile 72 where I started biking South to where I stopped the day before. Once I got to mile 41 we drove back up to mile 72 and then I biked North. [in trail terms: a flip-flop] I stopped at the 100 mile mark. 60 miles that day. My quads didn't hurt that day but my neck and butt were still in pain.

Start of Day 2

The only picture I took this day

Thursday October 8:

Traffic was heavy early in the morning at mile 100 due to being close to Jackson so I took a trail to bypass the traffic. For the record, cyclists don't like it when you pass them while being in the same lane as them (at least I don't). There should be at least 3 feet between a car and a cyclist-that's the law. Lots of people bike the Trace now and I see cyclists everyday.

I took some Aleve to relieve my neck pain and that worked, and I started using a towel for extra padding on my seat that helped a bit. I started enjoying the ride more and getting used to putting in big miles. I also got to bike beside a reservoir for awhile and it felt like biking in Florida. I was planning on doing 70 miles but it started raining so I stopped after biking 65. We stayed in Kosciusko that night.

By the Ross Barnett Reservoir

The trusty bike

View from the captain's seat

Bald Cypress Trees

Rear view mirror

Friday October 9:

I started biking at 7:10AM. It was still chilly and muggy from the rain the night before. I was making good time and biked 30 miles by 10. I stopped for the day at the halfway point-mile 220. Then we drove back home so I could go to Chrissy and Nick's wedding in Georgia the next day.