Day Two: Saturday, Aug. 12, 2000
We start the day with a bagel or two, compliments of the hotel. My front tire has reached the point where it is causing undesirable head shake. We decide to try to find a new one at the local Honda shop we spotted on the way in last night. No luck, all they have is D207's which would not even last the trip back home. So we decide to forego the new tire and head out of Alexandria on La 28 for Natchez, Ms. Early in the morning the heat is already coming on strong. A short distance before reaching the Louisiana border, there are some roads that head south and loop back up north along the banks of the Mississippi river. I had wanted to explore these roads but we are getting pressed for time. We are supposed to be meeting Shane and Steph in Natchez by 11:00am. So we stick to the boring main road.
The ride through the Louisiana countryside is pretty non descript. The highway does double duty as a levy as well as a road. Occasionally we see areas of swamp that disappear in the the woods. La 28 and US 84 are long, straight and very flat. And did I mention hot? We finally round a curve and twin steel truss bridges loom in the sky gracefully arcing over the mighty Mississippi river. Immediately after we cross the bridge the terrain becomes rolling hills with beautiful homes perched on bluffs overlooking the river. We have reached Natchez.
I decide to stop at one of the bluffs to take a few pictures. Beth and I are overlooking the river and admiring the view. After putting away the camera, I start to pull out the cell phone to call Shane and Stephanie, the couple we are meeting, when they pull up behind us and honk their horn. It takes me a second or two to snap to who they are, then I think, "what luck!" Shane is NEVER on time!
Natchez is home to many many awesome homes built in the 1800's. It was a hotbed of cotton plantation life prior to the Civil War. Many of the homes survived and were spared the burning that so much of the south received at the hands of the Federal troops. We decide to drive around town and sight see. I should have taken lots of pictures but having to stop all the time, take off the helmet and then put it all back on each time... well you get the idea. Perhaps some day we will come back and spend the day walking around town to take pictures. In the meantime it is more convenient to just by a book with pictures by professionals hehe.
Since we are already in Natchez and are not likely to come back any time in the near future, we decide to actually visit one of the homes that is open to the public for touring. Just outside the edge of town you can find the Longwood mansion. What separates this house from all the others is that the entire floor plan is the shape of an octagon (like a stop sign). There are three floors that were intended for living space, each a whopping 10,000 square feet. However, the owners ran into a bit of bad luck, part way through the construction the Civil War started and the house was never completed. The basement was finished out and turned into the primary living areas. Bear in mind that the basement is a measly 10,000 square feet. The upper floors have never been finished to this day, nor are there any plans to do so. The family lived many years in the basement. The grounds are beautiful with stately Live Oak trees around the house. Well worth the six dollar admission price. This house was featured on the A&E series "American Castles." After the tour we hang out behind the house in the parking area and eat a picnic lunch. Then we head out of town to find the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Just outside of town on US 61, we find the exit for the Trace. Immediately the road wanders off into the woods. The entire length of the road is maintained by the park services. The speed limit is only 50mph, tough to do on such a fun road. Shane and Steph lead the way, his 1987 Yamaha VMax securely strapped in the back of his truck. The woods come right up to the road forming tunnels with shafts of sunlight shining through. This is a welcome relief from the direct sunlight bearing down on us earlier. We are headed to Jackson, Ms., and according to the signs it is only 89 miles. There is little traffic on the Parkway and we typically run around 70mph. This is one of the nicest stretches of road around. It is 89 miles of smooth even pavement with manicured shoulders. We encounter a host of other riders along the way. This is a definite ride for anyone that gets in this area with their bikes. I am sure there is loads of history associated with this road, but seeing as I am not a history buff, you'll have to research it on your own ;-)
We reach Jackson all too quickly and get checked into the hotel (Pic 1 / Pic 2). I do the chain maintenance routine on the bikes then we shower so we can head out for dinner. Once again it feels great to get out of the sweaty clothes and into something dry and non-smelly. Armed with advice from some locals we go off in search of food. Dinner is had at The Mexican Grill. The ladies decide to start off with margaritas on empty stomachs. Needless to say, the giggles start up soon thereafter as we sit waiting for our table. Then I get to laughing, can't breathe, Shane assaults me with one of his witty comments and Beth notes that this is only the second time in the ten years we have been together that she has seen me cry hehe. You just had to be there.
We head to the local Wal-Mart after dinner to pick up some Ibuprofen. I find that taking some in the evening before going to bed helps cut down on the soreness from spending a day in the saddle. Also, if I take some in the morning before getting on the bikes, it helps with soreness and stiffness during the day as well. So we head back to the hotel and call it an evening after a few beers. Time to rest up for the 300 mile ride the next day.