Lissa G & Ruthie prepared a wonderful lunch. Stuffed here at Mud Island. 20 miles to go.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Friday lunch (Duh! Saturday Lunch...days running together)
Weather
Still resting from lunch. Incredible weather, especially for June. Looks like we are blessed with a tailwind.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Saturday Morning
It's amazing what 8 hours of sleep will do for the human body. Fever's gone. Still feel weak, but not sick.
73 miles to go.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Friday, June 02, 2006
Friday - Tough One
From 2am-4am, I had the Trace Trots or my upper G.I. was propelling dinner. Laurie & Jerry had similar symptoms. Beth was nauseous all day, but we finished after I hurled one more time. Thank God it was cooler and mostly flat.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Thursday, June 01, 2006
View from the Back of the Tandem
Hello everyone! I'm still with the group, Allen hasn't dumped me off the back of the bike...yet. Although there have been times on some of the hills we have climbed that he's probably thought seriously about lightening the load on the bike. I almost jumped ship after lunch today when Allen's colon came to life! Sometimes a tandem team can have way too much togetherness :).
Today was a great ride. We had 74.87 miles and no one had to pull the seat out of my rear at the end of the day. Although we are very tired, everyday seems a little bit easier. This has been a wonderful trip and great fun in a sick sort of way. Jordan and Kirby, your parents are really not crazy and we will hopefully be spending your inheritance on more trips like this in the future.
Beth R.
Today was a great ride. We had 74.87 miles and no one had to pull the seat out of my rear at the end of the day. Although we are very tired, everyday seems a little bit easier. This has been a wonderful trip and great fun in a sick sort of way. Jordan and Kirby, your parents are really not crazy and we will hopefully be spending your inheritance on more trips like this in the future.
Beth R.
290 down 160 to go
- For everyone who passed on this trip you really should consider making the next one, if we can con anyone into having a second. Kenneth & Diane did an exceptional job in coordinating this epic adventure. Everyone in this group has done incredibly well, we are all getting stronger every day. Doing this trip has made us realize how much the trace connects us to Nashville. We have encountered many cyclists on the way some coming from Natchez to Nashville and another group making the same trip as us heading to Natchez. We have two more hard days before we make it home, hope all of ya'll will come out and welcome us home Saturday afternoon. A special thanks to my posse Cara, Angie & Chris for making the miles going a little quicker and keeping us one step ahead of Tommy G. I do have to give Tommy G. a special thanks for pulling me down the trace for 18 miles when Cara's crank arm fell off. I did give it a good shot by peddling one legged but would have never made it w/out holding on to the back of Tommy's saddle. He said I looked like a one legged chipmunk peddling w/one leg. See you Saturday, Tommy S.
So far so good
Well, 290 down 160 to go. After three days I think we all are a lot stronger and a lot hungrier than we thought we would be. Seems like all we have been doing is biking, packing and eating and eating.
Can't wait to get home, but this has been a fabulous experience, something everyone should do either on a bike, on foot or in a car. Gotten to know all of the riders much better.
Every day that we have no wrecks, no dogs is a very good day.
Having a ball, too tired to type, even Teva is tired, that's a shock.
Laurie W.
Can't wait to get home, but this has been a fabulous experience, something everyone should do either on a bike, on foot or in a car. Gotten to know all of the riders much better.
Every day that we have no wrecks, no dogs is a very good day.
Having a ball, too tired to type, even Teva is tired, that's a shock.
Laurie W.
hey you guys
Hey,
Ken & I are having a great ride. Today was the best day yet! So far only one injury, & one stomach upset. Tomorrow we plan to ride 80 miles or more to shorten our Saturdeay trip. Bill if you read this how is Butter ? I've been so tired each evening I've not taken the time to check on her. Shirley P. is a great rider. She stayed with us all day and we stayed between an 18 to 20 mile clip. Hope to see all of you Saturday on the bluff. They will have lots of good food. We hope to be in around 3:30 - 4:00.
Love you all,
Mom/Dianne
Ken & I are having a great ride. Today was the best day yet! So far only one injury, & one stomach upset. Tomorrow we plan to ride 80 miles or more to shorten our Saturdeay trip. Bill if you read this how is Butter ? I've been so tired each evening I've not taken the time to check on her. Shirley P. is a great rider. She stayed with us all day and we stayed between an 18 to 20 mile clip. Hope to see all of you Saturday on the bluff. They will have lots of good food. We hope to be in around 3:30 - 4:00.
Love you all,
Mom/Dianne
GRAMS AND GRAMPS
Gramps did 50 miles today and I did 61. Wanted to do the full 70 but a thunderstorm came up and you know I don't ride in thunder and lightning.
Gramps fell and has a few scratches on his arm and knee. He couldn't get out of his clips fast enough. He will probably sag tomorrow because he will be stiff.
My knees and thighs are a little sore.
We are, however, having a good time. Being a sag is fun. I've reached the 200 mile mark on the odometer. If the weather permits, I will ride some tomorrow. It is hot out there with the humidity and sun in the afternoons. Not getting much rest as we leave the motel at 6:00 A.M.
Our friends from Monterey are doing great! Even with his new knees.
Ed, you would have really enjoyed this ride. We have been so taken care of.
And no Avery it has not been all downhill. I have been introduced to butt cream. And I need a new pair of shorts. My chamis in the ones I wore today had almost no padding.
Look forward to getting into Natchez Saturday. Pigout Inn is having a big barbecue for us on arrival. Alot of people should be there.
Love you'all.
Nancy and Chuck
Gramps fell and has a few scratches on his arm and knee. He couldn't get out of his clips fast enough. He will probably sag tomorrow because he will be stiff.
My knees and thighs are a little sore.
We are, however, having a good time. Being a sag is fun. I've reached the 200 mile mark on the odometer. If the weather permits, I will ride some tomorrow. It is hot out there with the humidity and sun in the afternoons. Not getting much rest as we leave the motel at 6:00 A.M.
Our friends from Monterey are doing great! Even with his new knees.
Ed, you would have really enjoyed this ride. We have been so taken care of.
And no Avery it has not been all downhill. I have been introduced to butt cream. And I need a new pair of shorts. My chamis in the ones I wore today had almost no padding.
Look forward to getting into Natchez Saturday. Pigout Inn is having a big barbecue for us on arrival. Alot of people should be there.
Love you'all.
Nancy and Chuck
Thursday, The Short Story
Nice rolling 74 mile ride with only a few tough hills.
Started early at Witch Dance, and I did notice some brown grass spots today. Heard tree crashing in the distance before riding out; like an episode of lost.
Rolled through the Forest of Stench around mile marker 229. Did not see anything, but it smelled for at least a mile. Nice lunch at French Camp. Finished early around 2pm.
Broke another spoke, and repaired.
Dinner soon, must eat.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Hello CPC
Okay Diana, What you trying to pull? My office has never leaked. All is well here. We finished up day 4. I can't believe I have ridden this long. I have over 290 miles on my bike. My legs are killing me. Hope to see you Saturday downtown Natchez. Angie
Hello everyone from Angie
Well I made it through Hump day!!! Started out in tears but finished up okay. I feel so much better today. It is 6:30 and we are McDonalds eating a biscuit getting ready to start the day. We will ride 73 miles today. We are eating lunch at French Camp and finish at Kosciusko this afternoon. I miss all of you. Thanks for all the encouragement. Love ya'll Angie
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Metropolis of Houston; Mississippi that is
Well we have finished another day (Wednesday), 3rd day in the saddle. Shorter, earlier, easier, with a little more down time. However, it is already 9:19pm and Beth is giving me the evil eye; bed time.
Here is a quick update (not too quick, we are on dial up again).
I was able to coax a few to post their thoughts. Thanks again for all the well wishers, I am trying to pass on messages to all as I receive them on the BlackBerry. Several times today as we crested a hill, the BlackBerry started singing - New Mail.
Everybody is enjoying their trip, though James J. is fighting back pain. He plans to SAG tomorrow and give his back a rest. That will also allow Nancy, Chuck, & Jerry to ride all day if they choose. Clay is still the SAGmaster. What's for lunch Clay? Today's lunch was awesome! You don't know how good a sandwich and pasta salad taste until eating them after riding 30 or 40 miles in hot, hilly terrain. You would think we would be dropping the pounds like crazy, but the consensus is that everybody is packing them on. Eat to ride and ride to eat is my motto.
We cut off a few miles today and stopped at Witch Dance historic site. According to the marker, the area was frequented by...well read for yourself.
You should be able to click the picture to open a larger version for reading. I have to wonder, given the weird encounters with the locals in Houston if there is not some truth or lingering Salemesque type suspicion around here. The diners at Moore's Restaurant had "you ain't from round here" look in their eye. Same thing at the gas station. It had a whole horror movie feel to it, like we needed to get inside before dark...we did. (Moore's was delicious. What do you eat after riding 63 miles? 2 bowls of salad, 16oz ribeye-rare, stuffed potato, Texas toast, cookies and cream ice cream.)
We will pick back up at Witch Dance tomorrow for about a 73 mile day through Jeff Busby, French Camp, and ending in Kociusko.
Got to go, long day tomorrow, must sleep. I'll leave you with a pic from the day.
Here is a quick update (not too quick, we are on dial up again).
I was able to coax a few to post their thoughts. Thanks again for all the well wishers, I am trying to pass on messages to all as I receive them on the BlackBerry. Several times today as we crested a hill, the BlackBerry started singing - New Mail.
Everybody is enjoying their trip, though James J. is fighting back pain. He plans to SAG tomorrow and give his back a rest. That will also allow Nancy, Chuck, & Jerry to ride all day if they choose. Clay is still the SAGmaster. What's for lunch Clay? Today's lunch was awesome! You don't know how good a sandwich and pasta salad taste until eating them after riding 30 or 40 miles in hot, hilly terrain. You would think we would be dropping the pounds like crazy, but the consensus is that everybody is packing them on. Eat to ride and ride to eat is my motto.
We cut off a few miles today and stopped at Witch Dance historic site. According to the marker, the area was frequented by...well read for yourself.
You should be able to click the picture to open a larger version for reading. I have to wonder, given the weird encounters with the locals in Houston if there is not some truth or lingering Salemesque type suspicion around here. The diners at Moore's Restaurant had "you ain't from round here" look in their eye. Same thing at the gas station. It had a whole horror movie feel to it, like we needed to get inside before dark...we did. (Moore's was delicious. What do you eat after riding 63 miles? 2 bowls of salad, 16oz ribeye-rare, stuffed potato, Texas toast, cookies and cream ice cream.)We will pick back up at Witch Dance tomorrow for about a 73 mile day through Jeff Busby, French Camp, and ending in Kociusko.
Got to go, long day tomorrow, must sleep. I'll leave you with a pic from the day.
Team Tandem Stats
For the geeks in the audience, here are a few numbers to digest. These are the numbers for Beth and Allen on the tandem. Yes, there are much faster riders in the group.
By the way, we are looking for a name for the tandem. TTT was one thought (Two Ton Tandem).
Monday
Mileage – 76.72
Ride Time – 5:17:22
Avg speed – 14.72
Max speed – 46.0
Highlights: Steep climbs, fast descents, hot, exhilirating first day.
Tuesday
Mileage – 76.81
Ride Time – 4:50:52
Avg Speed – 16.01
Max Speed – 41.5
Highlights: Repeat of first day, not as many tough climbs.
Wednesday
Mileage – 62.58
Ride Time – 3:54:48
Avg Speed – 16.10
Max Speed – 33.7
Highlights: Rest day, not as long or as tough. Needed a break.
Thursday
Mileage – 74.87
Ride Time – 4:42:08
Avg Speed – 16.11
Max Speed – 39.1
Higlights: ???
Friday
Mileage – 89.01
Ride Time – 5:57:24
Avg Speed – 15.10
Max Speed – 28.2
Higlights: Allen sick the night before, both of us queasy all day, Allen hurled at Robinson Rd. We finished the longest day.
Saturday
Mileage – 77.72
Ride Time – 4:34:59
Avg Speed – 17.08
Max Speed – 36.6
Highlights: Feeling better after good nights sleep. Everybody can "smell the barn" and are flying home as indicated by average speed.
From the Matriarch
Hayden, Chesney, Amanda, and Marshall.
Having a great time with lots of friends to look after me.
Brother George and nephew Steve, a special thanks for your encouragement and confidence. (I only got lost once...so far.)
Shirley P.
Having a great time with lots of friends to look after me.
Brother George and nephew Steve, a special thanks for your encouragement and confidence. (I only got lost once...so far.)
Shirley P.
all's well on the natchez trace
mom dad britt reeve jamie and rest of family im all well now monday was a very hard day but i made up some miles today that i missed tuesday morning im going to do the whole thing hopefully it wont get to me miss you all hope every0one is well im having a great time now so is clay he is taking great care of us all see you saturday all my love
angela mom
angela mom
Trucking along
Suzanne, Lynellen, Lisa, Ed and all
We are having a great time. Chuck has been trying to outshine me on riding. Don't know what happened. He is riding like he has be prodded with an electric cattle prod. He never rode like this in Natchez. I did 64 miles today. Hope to do 70 tomorrow. We have been saging alot and that has been fun but now we are down to some serious riding.
Appreciate your comments and support.
Nancy & Chuck
We are having a great time. Chuck has been trying to outshine me on riding. Don't know what happened. He is riding like he has be prodded with an electric cattle prod. He never rode like this in Natchez. I did 64 miles today. Hope to do 70 tomorrow. We have been saging alot and that has been fun but now we are down to some serious riding.
Appreciate your comments and support.
Nancy & Chuck
Still Alive
Everyone we are still alive and well. Maybe a little slow but that's okay. See you on Saturday. Buddy's knee's are doing great the only probleum is his breathing and energy. Having a blast.
Pam and Buddy.
Pam and Buddy.
Wednesday EOD
Short day, but hot. 63 miles. Most are glad of the break. Sitting at Witch Dance site, resting and loading up. Clay served the best lunch today. We were SAG hogs today; lots of cold H2O.
Hope to post pics and more tonight.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Tuesday Night
We are bedding down in Iuka, MS after our second day of riding. I am on a dial-up Internet connection (24.0 kbs) so no pictures at this time.
Thanks for all the comments; I have been trying to pass around the words of encouragement as they come in. Also, several questions have been posted about the logistics and other things. I will answer a few of those tonight and give an update.
Bikes have been repaired and the ill are on the mend. We think the two toughest (hilliest) days are behind us. However, most of us are skeptical because we have had several false reports like "there are only two hills today" or "this is the last climb of the day". B.S. We have collective decided Tommy S. and Tommy G. have promising careers in politics or used car sales. Everybody is healthy and ready to ride tomorrow.
Today was tough, but not as tough as yesterday. Beautiful sights; crossing the Tennessee River, scenic over looks, and especially down hills. Terrain should be flatter overall, but the South wind is steady in your face. Recommendation: in the summer head north, and fall or spring head south with the fronts.
Logistically we blessed to have a wonderful rolling support crew headed up by Clay G. There are 22 of us, Clay is our dedicated SAG (Smiles And Groceries) guy, Jerry, Nancy, and Chuck are swapping riding and SAG'ing. With up to 20 of us on the road at a time spread out over 15 miles or so, it is a chore keeping up with every body, and having refreshments ready, and buying groceries, and putting out the lunch spread. Pretty incredible - THANKS guys! Clay thought he was going to have free time to nap and play with his GPS.
Dianne J. planned and arranged our lodging, meals, stops, etc. So this really is a cush trip. Eat, ride, eat, ride, eat, sleep....repeat. Sunday night we were at Ramada in Franklin, TN. Monday night we travel off the Trace to Clifton, TN and stayed at the Bear Inn B&B; neat place. I wish we could have spent more time there. The evening was pleasant though a too short. We were entertained by firefly's and a lightning storm.
On an earlier post I think I mentioned three guys from the Iuka area riding with us. Tom (aka Superman), Duke, and Robert rode Monday and Tuesday with us. Tom graciously opened his home on the water to us all. His home is on a cut off of the Tennessee River. BBQ chicken, North Mississippi gumbo, taco salad, and heathbar cookies out on the deck and warf. Tom gave the bugs the night off. Perfect evening! Thanks again! We hope you all can join us for the last leg on Saturday and we can return the favor. Pig Out BBQ on the bluff of the Mississippi River (bugs included).
That's where we are and where we have been. Time for sleep; breakfast is at 6AM and we roll out immediately after. SAG vehicles ferry us back and forth from the Trace to lodging and then back again in the morning. I hope we can get the smell out of the rental van. Imagine riding 75 miles in 90 degree temps, and then ride 20 minutes in a van with 15 others that have done the same. Pretty ripe.
Hopefully tomorrow night I can get some of the others to post there experiences.
Allen
Thanks for all the comments; I have been trying to pass around the words of encouragement as they come in. Also, several questions have been posted about the logistics and other things. I will answer a few of those tonight and give an update.
Bikes have been repaired and the ill are on the mend. We think the two toughest (hilliest) days are behind us. However, most of us are skeptical because we have had several false reports like "there are only two hills today" or "this is the last climb of the day". B.S. We have collective decided Tommy S. and Tommy G. have promising careers in politics or used car sales. Everybody is healthy and ready to ride tomorrow.
Today was tough, but not as tough as yesterday. Beautiful sights; crossing the Tennessee River, scenic over looks, and especially down hills. Terrain should be flatter overall, but the South wind is steady in your face. Recommendation: in the summer head north, and fall or spring head south with the fronts.
Logistically we blessed to have a wonderful rolling support crew headed up by Clay G. There are 22 of us, Clay is our dedicated SAG (Smiles And Groceries) guy, Jerry, Nancy, and Chuck are swapping riding and SAG'ing. With up to 20 of us on the road at a time spread out over 15 miles or so, it is a chore keeping up with every body, and having refreshments ready, and buying groceries, and putting out the lunch spread. Pretty incredible - THANKS guys! Clay thought he was going to have free time to nap and play with his GPS.
Dianne J. planned and arranged our lodging, meals, stops, etc. So this really is a cush trip. Eat, ride, eat, ride, eat, sleep....repeat. Sunday night we were at Ramada in Franklin, TN. Monday night we travel off the Trace to Clifton, TN and stayed at the Bear Inn B&B; neat place. I wish we could have spent more time there. The evening was pleasant though a too short. We were entertained by firefly's and a lightning storm.
On an earlier post I think I mentioned three guys from the Iuka area riding with us. Tom (aka Superman), Duke, and Robert rode Monday and Tuesday with us. Tom graciously opened his home on the water to us all. His home is on a cut off of the Tennessee River. BBQ chicken, North Mississippi gumbo, taco salad, and heathbar cookies out on the deck and warf. Tom gave the bugs the night off. Perfect evening! Thanks again! We hope you all can join us for the last leg on Saturday and we can return the favor. Pig Out BBQ on the bluff of the Mississippi River (bugs included).
That's where we are and where we have been. Time for sleep; breakfast is at 6AM and we roll out immediately after. SAG vehicles ferry us back and forth from the Trace to lodging and then back again in the morning. I hope we can get the smell out of the rental van. Imagine riding 75 miles in 90 degree temps, and then ride 20 minutes in a van with 15 others that have done the same. Pretty ripe.
Hopefully tomorrow night I can get some of the others to post there experiences.
Allen
Lunch - Tuesday
Tuesday, eating lunch on the bank of the Tennessee River, 42 miles into the day, 30 more to go.
Angela G was sick, not Angie P. However, angela is better and riding, Tommy G is sick and Cara has bike problems.
Spirits are good all around. Beth is bugging me to get going.
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Monday
Internet access from Clifton, TN does not exist, but I can send a short note from th BB.
1st day of riding was tough, but not as tough as our imaginations had made it. Heat was the biggest factor, and that we were all vertically challenged today. Highlights: 1st hill is officially dubbed "breakfast hill" because breakfast was in your throat when you climbed. The A team rode in record time, and we played tourist. Angela is sick, but finished most of the day. Shirley got lost. Everybody tired and happy to finish first day.
More detail and pictures later.
Allen
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Monday, May 29, 2006
Breakfast
Last minute change. We found out that it is tradition to have breakfast at Loveless Cafe, especially biscuits.; which are OK. Not as good as Mary B,s. Neat place. Waiting line for breakfast on a Monday morning!
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Sunday
I am looking forward to riding my bike tomorrow and not riding in the van. Way too long in the van today.
Phrase most often heard today, "We're descending!!!!" Which means we have to ascend tomorrow. Today seemed all downlhill, tomorrow should be brutal on the bike, but in a fun way.
Most interesting sight today, the MONSTER cane pole in the picture. Displayed at French Camp, MS. That's a manly pole.
Tomorrow we climb!
Allen
Are we there yet?
I think it will be faster on the bike than driving. Having lunch in Houston at Hardees; Houston, MS that is. The kids are getting restless. We need to get there.
Allen
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Allen via BlackBerry Wireless
Trip to nashville
After meeting this morning to load up, we hit the road in three vehicles, includung kenneth's truck, the Fretter's and the 15 passenger van. No last minute dropouts, which was good. Everyone dressed in shorts and flipflops, except Shirley. Louis Vuitton blouse and Seven jean. Enough to make Daisy Mae (mooo) jealous. I'm getting a headache riding shotgun in the van writing this. More later. JJ
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James
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