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FALL 2017 ISSUE 02 / VOL. 02
The old drying barn is part of a restored tobacco farm. Duck behind the barn for a two-mile ride on the original Trace.
and take a short tour of a reconstructed tobacco farm, then continue your ride on a narrow, two-mile section of the original Trace.
Several miles south of the northern gate, I passed over the Natchez Trace Parkway Arches. The structure rises 155 feet above the valley. Downshift a gear and feel free to gawk at the incredible view. Stop at the viewing area just north of the bridge and pause to reflect on this beautiful piece of engineering. The double-arch span is a unique design that was honored as the“ single most outstanding bridge-building achievement of 1994.” So ended my Natchez Trace odyssey. Rod Serling was right; I did enter another dimension. I particularly enjoyed the scenery along the Trace— two days immersed in a thousand shades of green. I loved puttering along at 50 mph for most of two days. It led to a peaceful, mental calm. And I really enjoyed meeting my fellow Trace travelers, like the Quebec bicyclist who averaged 70 miles a day. And George, the Honda-riding sheriff’ s deputy from Florida. Or the gang from Detroit I met at the Best Western in Tupelo. And the Iron Butt rider from California. And the Alabama bicyclist who borrowed my toolkit to fix his ride.
You can travel the same road and have a totally different experience. Spend more time studying history. Take in more of the abundant wildlife. Spend a night camping. The rich environment of the Trace allows one to custom tailor a unique experience. Isn’ t that what life on the road is all about?