Natchez Trace Ride
I recently checked this ride off my bucket list. I chose to go with
Cycle of Life Adventures. They did an excellent job of pampering the group of twelve guests.
The day before riding is a meet & greet at the starting hotel. Our first day riding started with a cold drizzle, but quickly dried up. By the time we got to the Parkway sign near the northern terminus, it was fairly pleasant.
Despite the constant
headwind the ride was enjoyable, the roads are smooth, the drivers are courteous, and the scenery is splendid. The SAG wagon leap-frogged ahead, so we had water, snacks, picnic lunch, and opportunities to rest often.
Our lodging was off the trace, ranging from less than a mile to seventeen miles off. We could elect to ride or take the shuttle van at any time, so that wasn't an issue.
South of Florence, AL near the Mississippi border, we had to detour off the Trace because of paving & rehab work. It was an opportunity to experience even
more hills and get chased by dogs, yay! This section should be opened by fall 2023, so it'll be smooth sailing then.
One minor blunder, our leader missed a turn after leaving the hotel in the morning on our way back to the Trace, so we had to take a make-shift on-ramp. This also caused us to miss a couple miles, so we can't be members of the EFI club. (Every Fun Inch)
No matter. I had been plagued by some tendinitis on one knee, forcing me to keep the power under 110 watts and by day 6 I was ready for an off day. This day 11 out of 12 chose to visit Vicksburg battlefield, either skipping all or half that day's riding.
The final day was amazing. After staying at a very nice B&B with top-notch food & service, we finally had a tail wind. After a photo op and a nice lunch, we walked around Natchez, Miss., then headed back to the start.
I would definitely consider using
COLA again for any future trips.
Here's a video montage to enjoy: