Planning the Ride of a Lifetime

 


We visited the southern end of the Natchez Trace back in November 2018 after hearing about it from friends Susan and John Weigly.  In the 18th & 19th centuries is was a major trade route from Nashville, TN to Natchez, MS....probably largely for cotton and maybe tobacco.  In the 20th century it became a paved national parkway of 444 miles.

We had considered biking it, but unlike the Great Allegheny Passageway from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD where little railroad towns are available for meals and accommodations to riders, the Trace options sometimes are miles out of the way.  We looked for alternatives and found this:

NATCHEZ TRACE PRIVATE TOURS

  • Are you ready to ride the Natchez Trace, but wanting to take it at your own pace?
  • Are you interested in diving a bit deeper into the rich history of the Trace and discovering some of the amazing storytelling that is possesses?
  • Would you like to mix sightseeing and amazing cuisine with your cycling experience?
  • Our private tours allow you to make the route and rules.

PRIVATE TOUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

  • Route planning
  • Transport of people, bicycles, and gear for up to seven riders
  • Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off OR shuttle back to Nashville at the end of the tour
  • Full mechanical & sag support
  • Meals, snacks, & hydration (during & post ride)
  • Side trips to historical landmarks (on and off the Natchez Trace)
  • Recommended reading lists to prepare for sites you’ll visit on your trip.
  • If you've never done a fully supported tour, this is a great opportunity.  Ride as much or as little of your route as you like, we are there to support your experience.  The only limitations are the ones that you set.  
I reached out to the owner, Philip Martindale, to inquire about dates and prices.  He offers the ride for groups of 2 to 7, with a discount for 4 or more.  He drives a Transit van so bikes and riders fit comfortably inside the van.  We checked around with our biking friends locally and no one hopped on board.  Amazingly at about the time of inception, we were visited in Midlothian by Ann's childhood friend and her husband, Ellen Hagerty and Tom Joseph.  They live on Grand Island (just next door to Niagara Falls), NY.  They were in transit to Williamsburg for a vacation.  They brought their bikes along and we did a 40 mile out and back ride on the Cap to Cap Trail.  They heard about the Trace ride and immediately expressed interest.  We had a conference call with Philip to hear more about the logistics, have him answer questions and to lock in dates.  

Ann and I orchestrated our ride along with a visit with relatives along the way.  First stopping in Florence, SC, to visit Bennie's sister and husband, Judy and Mike.  Then to Callaway Gardens, GA, where Ann's parents often visited for tennis tournaments.  And then to Baton Rouge to be with Ann's whole family.  From there we would start our trip to Nashville, the starting point of the ride, by way of Tupelo (Elvis' birthplace).  Stay on this blog for a day by day account.  The map below is the bike route...but it gives you some idea of our loop.



Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 12, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    this sounds very tiring Bennie and Ann but good for you two! Hazel I just read it to Ruth and we will check in often.

    ReplyDelete

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