Travel DAY - May 26, 2006 Left my home in Pa late last night. Arrived in Tupelo,Ms around 12:00 local time. Had lunch and checked into the AIR CONDITIONED Best Western. The last week at home had high temps in the low 50's on a good day it is 90 plus humid here in Mississippi, and I am dog tired. Arranged to leave my car here at the motel and will rest up and get a good nights sleep .will begin the tour tomorrow.
Best Western has free high speed internet
DAY 1 Saturday May 27, 2006 Started today at 6:35 from the Tupelo Visitor Center after a 2 mile ride from the motel. The temperature was in the low 70's ,but that didn't last long,by 8:00 it was 83. I must confess that I am not ready for the heat it really beat me down, along with the hills and my 50+ pound load. After 25 miles my legs began to give out, going up even the smallest grade became a chore. The temperature was up to 90 by 10:00 and I had come 35 miles. About a mile from Witch Dance on a shady picinic table a plan began to come together in my sun touched mind . Figured to stay at Witch Dance and ride back to Tupelo in the morning and SAG myself.SAG means a support vehical that carries all your stuff .After a hour rest at the shady spot made a mad dash up to Witch Dance. Looking over my maps I noticed the town of Houston is a few miles from where I am and there is a motel there. Being the domesticated Dog I am ,found a shady spot and had some lunch and a little nap, befor heading to Houston. A pool and air conditioning is just what the Dog needed. Have arranged to leave B.O.B. whith all the heavy stuff and ride back to Tupelo in the morning.
AMUSING STORY for TODAY
Befor leaving Witch Dance I was taking a picture of the sign with my bike . As I was framing the shot a woman came walking and stopped as to not get in the picture.I waved her on and continued with the shot. Got to love them southern girls,after taking 2 pictures she says to me,"Is that your bike". I said "Yes and HERE's YOUR SIGN" , at which she gave me a sheepish smiled as she got in her car.
DAY 2 Sunday May 28, 2006 Left the motel about 7 and headed back to Tuplelo. With the sun low and the Parkway shaded cruised along at 12 mph. My plan was to stop often for water break and not over excert myself.This seemed a fine idea untill around 9:00 when the sun rose above the tree line and things began to heat up. By 9:30 the temp was in the mid 80's, according to my thermometer,and by 10:00 the heat was on. With 10 miles to the Tupelo Visitor center my energy level began to drop . The last 5 miles where very hard as I would stop whenever a shady spot was available and drink, the problem from these stops was dizziness when I would rise to remount the bike .I now believe this may be from mild heat exhaustion. With one mile to the Visitor Center I sacrificed a half bottle of water to my shirt and mad a mad dash to the AIR CONDITIOND Center..Hung around inside for 20 mimutes and than finished the last 2 miles to the Best Western and my car. While driving back to HoustonI found myself almost falling asleep. On my return to the motel I rerented my room and and promptly fell asleep.Four hours later I awoke ,showered and went for a pizza. The pizza Hut doesn't deliver. Back at the room with my pizza I struggled to eat a piece,anyone that knows me could attest that struggling to eat a piece of pizza is not something that happens,then ate 1/2 of another slice. With the dizzy spells and loss of appetite I have decide to end this attemp and will return home in the morning.
DAY 3 Monday May 29, 2006 IF YOU CANN'T STAND THE HEAT STAY OUT THE MISSISSIPPI
FINALE THOUGHT When I planned this trip I understood it was going to be hot and had riden in hot weather before so was not too concerned ,seemed I over-estimated my ability to cope with high heat and humidity.With that said it seems the best time to ride The Natchez Trace is early Spring or late Fall. To be Continued Spring or Fall of 200? Well I retired last year so here I am in late April of 2008 to finish the Trace. Go to the The Southern Half
