Our Natchez Trace motorcycle trip: on the way
Note: this is not a "live" blog -- we have been back from our adventure.
This will be the first time in a while that we’ll be packed
up on the bike for overnights for almost a week. We’ve purchased these
waterproof bags on Amazon. Tony filled them up and took them for a test drive,
but now we’re packed up for real.
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| In the alley, heading out. |
BORLENI Motorcycle Dry Bag
Waterproof Motorcycle Luggage Bag Motorcycle Duffel Bag for Skiing Travel
Hiking Camping Boating Riding Fishing (Black Red to go with our blanket, in the
60L and 25L)
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BC9KM6R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
The 60L holds all of our clothes for the week. We stacked
the first few days on top so we can just pull and not have to repack. We’ll see
how that works out. We haven’t figured out the dirty clothes situation yet, but
added a laundry bag in the bag.
Wednesday, Tony got the trailer all back together and load
the bike for an early Thursday departure. Taboo HD in Alexandria, Louisiana, is
letting us leave the truck and trailer there (at no risk to them). https://www.tabooharley.com/
We then ride from Alexandria to Natchez, Mississippi.
The easy thing about the Natchez Trace Parkway is that you
don’t really need a map, unless you need it for stops on the way (and gas
midway through since there are no gas stations on the parkway). The hard part
about this trip was figuring out where to stay in Tennessee (we’re staying in
Franklin). And then when we meet up with Al and Eileen in Muscle Shoals,
planning the rides on Monday and Tuesday.
I “think” I plotted out two good ride days around Alabama.
The maps of the areas aren’t as easy to find as they are in TN/NC, so I had to
google map them and hope for the best. On Monday, it’s a long ride, but found
this Snake Way short ride near Scottsboro (Jackson County Road 39 to Jackson
County Road 42), and then to the Harley Davidson dealership in Huntsville, then
back to Muscle Shoals. On Tuesday have a shorter trip through the Forest. Not
sure if we’ll do the Natural Bridge – it seems pretty awesome, but it’s a mile
and a half walk round trip and not sure everyone will be up for that!
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| "Huntsville ride map" |
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| Day 2 Ride Map |
On Thursday morning, we make it out of Dallas pretty early.
It was hard to say goodbye to Abby. But, we have lots of people coming to stay with her while we’re gone. The drive to Alexandria, Louisiana, is pretty easy with only a couple of stops along the way. We get Blackie unloaded, buy a couple of t-shirts and poker chips at Taboo Harley Davidson, stash the truck and trailer in the secured area in the back.
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| Loading up Blackie at Taboo |
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| Blackie Loaded Up |
And then off we ride to Natchez, Mississippi. The ride isn’t bad – but not really interesting. 28 to 61/84, across the Mississippi and then a couple of miles to the Days Inn.
The Days Inn “kinda” looks like their website pictures. But a little tired. The rocking chair “wing” had damage and is closed. They serve supper (and breakfast). We tried their lasagna, but not much.
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| Days Inn |
And decided to see what downtown Natchez looks like. It’s a great old little area.
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| Old house (now a B&B, I think) |
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| Grand Hotel (maybe stay there if we return to Natchez) |
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| Heading down the hill! |
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| Under the Hill |
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| Of course I found a downtown map! |
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| Live music downtown. |
We stopped, walked up to the Mississippi, listened to the live music. And then we went and found the Under the Hill road we saw. Must find! We do and find a little bar (didn't even have a name on the front) – with the owners outside drinking beers and chatting away. We were told we could actually walk down to the river and put our foot in (but not advised if we have any open sores) – we decline.
It’s getting dark so we decide to head over to
the Bellmont Shake Shop (about a block from our motel - https://www.facebook.com/thebellemontshakeshop/
). This was a score – great burgers (add bacon) and fries (but they didn’t have
any ketchup that night) and shakes.
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| Next to a package store and a pool hall. |
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