The Natchez Trace
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: East Central Missouri
RE: The Natchez Trace
Great pics Bug! You've got me all fired up about the Trace now! We are planning a road trip to Florida to ride the Keys next year. After reading this thread we have decided to head to Nashville to get on the Trace and ride the whole thing. Then we can head to Florida and ride the Gulf Coast. Then cross Florida on Alligator Alley and start the keys. Now I can't wait till next year.
Phil
Phil
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 18
From: Back in Beautiful Mid-Tenn
RE: The Natchez Trace
Hey Bug, those are some GREAT pics of the Trace.
It's a great road for riding. I live about 25 miles off the Trace in Columbia, TN, which is located 60 miles south of the North end of the Trace. I have ridden my Heritage several times this year on sections in the northen end, and the wife and I drove theTrace from Columbia to Natchez, MS, about 5 years ago in the Tahoe. I'd like to do it again sometime on the bike.
Somewords of warning for anyone riding the Trace - The Natchez Trace is a great road for bikes, but it's NOT like the Dragon. First off, it's best enjoyed as a long, slow ride, not a run to see how fast you can complete it. Second, it's a National Park and is well patrolled. The speed limit is 50 MPH for 98% of the Trace and riding above that will likely get you a ticket asthe Park Rangers have lots of slick hiding spots withradar.Third, as Bug noted, the Trace is home to lots of wildlife (deer, wild turkey, raccoons, foxes, vultures, etc.) that can be in the middle of the road just around the next bend, as well as cattle that occasionally escape their pastures and wander onto the Trace. And last, The Trace is a limited access highway and as such it can be a long way between fuel opportunities, so plan well on where to get off for food and fuel.
Happy riding y'all.
It's a great road for riding. I live about 25 miles off the Trace in Columbia, TN, which is located 60 miles south of the North end of the Trace. I have ridden my Heritage several times this year on sections in the northen end, and the wife and I drove theTrace from Columbia to Natchez, MS, about 5 years ago in the Tahoe. I'd like to do it again sometime on the bike.
Somewords of warning for anyone riding the Trace - The Natchez Trace is a great road for bikes, but it's NOT like the Dragon. First off, it's best enjoyed as a long, slow ride, not a run to see how fast you can complete it. Second, it's a National Park and is well patrolled. The speed limit is 50 MPH for 98% of the Trace and riding above that will likely get you a ticket asthe Park Rangers have lots of slick hiding spots withradar.Third, as Bug noted, the Trace is home to lots of wildlife (deer, wild turkey, raccoons, foxes, vultures, etc.) that can be in the middle of the road just around the next bend, as well as cattle that occasionally escape their pastures and wander onto the Trace. And last, The Trace is a limited access highway and as such it can be a long way between fuel opportunities, so plan well on where to get off for food and fuel.
Happy riding y'all.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 18
From: Back in Beautiful Mid-Tenn
RE: The Natchez Trace
ORIGINAL: annieoaklely63
Bug, those are some beautiful pictures! From someone who grew up just a few miles from the Trace in Central Mississippi, I can honestly say you did us proud with those pictures.
For anyone who's never been on the Trace.....it's a beautiful stretch of highway. There are still a lot of the Choctaw people living in the Philadelphia/Neshoba County area of Mississippi. I'm not sure what shape Ratliff's Ferry is in now, but it used to be a pretty cool place to hang out back in the day. (when I was in my teens)
I've never been end-to-end on the Trace, but hope to take that trip with my husband at the first opportunity.
Bug, those are some beautiful pictures! From someone who grew up just a few miles from the Trace in Central Mississippi, I can honestly say you did us proud with those pictures.
For anyone who's never been on the Trace.....it's a beautiful stretch of highway. There are still a lot of the Choctaw people living in the Philadelphia/Neshoba County area of Mississippi. I'm not sure what shape Ratliff's Ferry is in now, but it used to be a pretty cool place to hang out back in the day. (when I was in my teens)I've never been end-to-end on the Trace, but hope to take that trip with my husband at the first opportunity.
Give me a hollar sometime and we'll hit the Trace together on a weekend for a day ride.
I think the pick-up ride listedin the Muletown HOG Chapter calendarfor Saturday 8/18 will be going down the Trace on it's way to Waynesboro. Are you planning on going on that ride?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 867
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: The Natchez Trace
Yep and those federal tickets are expensive!
FYI, I just posted my blog about the whole trip. You can see more pics, video and stories here. http://lesllee.blogspot.com/
FYI, I just posted my blog about the whole trip. You can see more pics, video and stories here. http://lesllee.blogspot.com/
ORIGINAL: waterdog
Hey Bug, those are some GREAT pics of the Trace.
It's a great road for riding. I live about 25 miles off the Trace in Columbia, TN, which is located 60 miles south of the North end of the Trace. I have ridden my Heritage several times this year on sections in the northen end, and the wife and I drove theTrace from Columbia to Natchez, MS, about 5 years ago in the Tahoe. I'd like to do it again sometime on the bike.
Somewords of warning for anyone riding the Trace - The Natchez Trace is a great road for bikes, but it's NOT like the Dragon. First off, it's best enjoyed as a long, slow ride, not a run to see how fast you can complete it. Second, it's a National Park and is well patrolled. The speed limit is 50 MPH for 98% of the Trace and riding above that will likely get you a ticket asthe Park Rangers have lots of slick hiding spots withradar.Third, as Bug noted, the Trace is home to lots of wildlife (deer, wild turkey, raccoons, foxes, vultures, etc.) that can be in the middle of the road just around the next bend, as well as cattle that occasionally escape their pastures and wander onto the Trace. And last, The Trace is a limited access highway and as such it can be a long way between fuel opportunities, so plan well on where to get off for food and fuel.
Happy riding y'all.
Hey Bug, those are some GREAT pics of the Trace.
It's a great road for riding. I live about 25 miles off the Trace in Columbia, TN, which is located 60 miles south of the North end of the Trace. I have ridden my Heritage several times this year on sections in the northen end, and the wife and I drove theTrace from Columbia to Natchez, MS, about 5 years ago in the Tahoe. I'd like to do it again sometime on the bike.
Somewords of warning for anyone riding the Trace - The Natchez Trace is a great road for bikes, but it's NOT like the Dragon. First off, it's best enjoyed as a long, slow ride, not a run to see how fast you can complete it. Second, it's a National Park and is well patrolled. The speed limit is 50 MPH for 98% of the Trace and riding above that will likely get you a ticket asthe Park Rangers have lots of slick hiding spots withradar.Third, as Bug noted, the Trace is home to lots of wildlife (deer, wild turkey, raccoons, foxes, vultures, etc.) that can be in the middle of the road just around the next bend, as well as cattle that occasionally escape their pastures and wander onto the Trace. And last, The Trace is a limited access highway and as such it can be a long way between fuel opportunities, so plan well on where to get off for food and fuel.
Happy riding y'all.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 18
From: Back in Beautiful Mid-Tenn
RE: The Natchez Trace
The wife and I took a little evening ride today (Sunday) outon the Trace. We took Route 7 from Columbia out to the Trace, then North up the Trace to Highway 96, then 96 back into Franklin, and Highway 246 (Carter's Creek Pike) from Franklin back down to Columbia. A nice little 75 mile trip on a beautiful summer evening. We saw a couple deer and about 15 wild turkeys in two different groups.
It was the wife's longest ride so far since I got my Heritage in April, and it appears I need to find her a more padded seat for longer rides. Any suggestions?
It was the wife's longest ride so far since I got my Heritage in April, and it appears I need to find her a more padded seat for longer rides. Any suggestions?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 867
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: The Natchez Trace
Sounds great.
We're still using the stock seat but have been looking into options. My brother has a road zepplin but they are pretty expensive and I don't think they have them for your Heritage. The wife and I picked up a couple of gel pads in Nashville and they helped a bit but I am not sure that is the solution either. I hear that Mustang makes some good touring seats as well as corbin but I would want to try one out before shelling out the cash. There is a sponsor on HD Forums that will modify your stock seat and a lot of people swear by them. I also saw somthing called Airtechs pads that have air in them that look interesting. Good luck.
We're still using the stock seat but have been looking into options. My brother has a road zepplin but they are pretty expensive and I don't think they have them for your Heritage. The wife and I picked up a couple of gel pads in Nashville and they helped a bit but I am not sure that is the solution either. I hear that Mustang makes some good touring seats as well as corbin but I would want to try one out before shelling out the cash. There is a sponsor on HD Forums that will modify your stock seat and a lot of people swear by them. I also saw somthing called Airtechs pads that have air in them that look interesting. Good luck.
ORIGINAL: waterdog
The wife and I took a little evening ride today (Sunday) outon the Trace. We took Route 7 from Columbia out to the Trace, then North up the Trace to Highway 96, then 96 back into Franklin, and Highway 246 (Carter's Creek Pike) from Franklin back down to Columbia. A nice little 75 mile trip on a beautiful summer evening. We saw a couple deer and about 15 wild turkeys in two different groups.
It was the wife's longest ride so far since I got my Heritage in April, and it appears I need to find her a more padded seat for longer rides. Any suggestions?
The wife and I took a little evening ride today (Sunday) outon the Trace. We took Route 7 from Columbia out to the Trace, then North up the Trace to Highway 96, then 96 back into Franklin, and Highway 246 (Carter's Creek Pike) from Franklin back down to Columbia. A nice little 75 mile trip on a beautiful summer evening. We saw a couple deer and about 15 wild turkeys in two different groups.
It was the wife's longest ride so far since I got my Heritage in April, and it appears I need to find her a more padded seat for longer rides. Any suggestions?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Rocket City, AL
RE: The Natchez Trace
Thankx for the info and the pics! I'm flying in to Houston Wed. AM to pick up an '07 RK Police riding it home via Natchez & the Trace. Really looking forward to the trip now that I've seen y'all's pictures.
Did you happen to stop in Lorman,MS at the Old Country Store? Has reputation of having the best Fried Chicken in the US.
-James (RedlegRK)
Did you happen to stop in Lorman,MS at the Old Country Store? Has reputation of having the best Fried Chicken in the US.
-James (RedlegRK)
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 867
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: The Natchez Trace
Cool. You'll enjoy that ride.
We didn't stop in Lorman, it was a little early in the day for lunch or gas.
I'll keep it in mind though for future trips.
I have a lot of relatives in MS so I get over there every now and then.
We didn't stop in Lorman, it was a little early in the day for lunch or gas.
I'll keep it in mind though for future trips.
I have a lot of relatives in MS so I get over there every now and then.
ORIGINAL: RedlegRK
Thankx for the info and the pics! I'm flying in to Houston Wed. AM to pick up an '07 RK Police riding it home via Natchez & the Trace. Really looking forward to the trip now that I've seen y'all's pictures.
Did you happen to stop in Lorman,MS at the Old Country Store? Has reputation of having the best Fried Chicken in the US.
-James (RedlegRK)
Thankx for the info and the pics! I'm flying in to Houston Wed. AM to pick up an '07 RK Police riding it home via Natchez & the Trace. Really looking forward to the trip now that I've seen y'all's pictures.
Did you happen to stop in Lorman,MS at the Old Country Store? Has reputation of having the best Fried Chicken in the US.
-James (RedlegRK)
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From:
RE: The Natchez Trace
A tip on a great stop on the N-Trace. Milepost 338 between AL Hwy 72 and Hwy 20. "The Wall", built of rocks from all 50 states and 143 countries. Built by Tom Hendrix in honor of his great-great-great grandmother who walked the Trail Of Tears.
http://image2.frappr.com/pix2/i/20071101/f/2/e/f2edc33ae6bac979377dc061747b0c1c0_large.jpg
http://image1.frappr.com/pix1/i/2007...bef0_large.jpg
http://image2.frappr.com/pix2/i/2007...39e0_large.jpg
http://image2.frappr.com/pix2/i/20071101/f/2/e/f2edc33ae6bac979377dc061747b0c1c0_large.jpg
http://image1.frappr.com/pix1/i/2007...bef0_large.jpg
http://image2.frappr.com/pix2/i/2007...39e0_large.jpg