Early Days - Natchez Trace

Jeff suggested I take the Natchez Trace Parkway as a starting route. 444miles of scenic road travelling through National Park most of the way on quiet roads heading almost due South West into Mississippi.

The Trace was initially a series of hunters' paths that slowly came to form a trail from the Mississippi over the low hills into the valley of Tennessee.

Good choice Jeff. Another good suggestion was the Loveless Cafe of breakfast.

And so to the Trace after carbo loading at the Loveless Cafe....

and the journey continues mile by mile...........

Night one - no tent 

The beauty of the simple things of nature....

A church group were cycling the Trace non stop to raise money for the Youth programme - everyone was so friendly and we exchanged stories.... 

Night two - again no tent but caught by a spring shower before getting the tent up, so waded across the stream and had a wonderful dry night in this amazing cave with lots of history....

Mile by mile, some ups, some downs but it is amazing how the miles just tick by....

Turkey for dinner...no, let him be.....

Deep South....going deeper.......

Bye-bye Nashville.......

Tennessee River...

Decided to strap the solar panel onto the kit to see if would charge up the battery while cycling...didn't work - I think the connection came loose.

Sunburned knees and a really sore arse....... toughen up, Buddy.

Night three - $13.00 for a camp site at Tishomingo State Park, been sleeping for free up till now, but at least got an internet connection near by..

I have to say how friendly everybody is - beef sandwich offered for lunch, most of the bikers wave, and many people have just come up to me and struck up a conversation. 

Running a bit short of grub so have to make it into Tupelo asap to stock up.

Met some other bike tourers going North - all the latest kit.

See you soon!