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Natchez Trace Parkway Ride |
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The Victory Chick and I took a little ride on a small part of the Trace this past weekend and we had a blast. This was our first time on the Trace but it won’t be our last. We got on the Trace just West of Lawrenceburg, TN off of US-64 and headed North to the TN-96 exit where the Double Arch Bridge crosses. |
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View from the drivers seat! |
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Parts of the original Trace are there to hike! |
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We left Hardees, after grabbing a biscuit, about 8:30 and headed up Wall Triana Hwy and hit AL-53. From there we passed through Ardmore connecting with US-31 which took us to Pulaski. Taking a left on US-64, we made a quick stop in Lawrenceburg for a drink and then onto the Trace.
Once on the Trace we made a stop to take a break and get our bearings. After a quick look at the guide book I bought we were off. There are so many places along the Trace with, as the guide put it “Points of Interest”, that it was impossible to see them all; even only the small portion we were going to travel. So we picked out just a few that we thought were “Interesting”. |
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Our first stop was at mile 385.9 called Meriwether Lewis. This is the location of the Grinder’s Stand Inn and the burial place of Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame. His death remains a mystery but he was either shot or committed suicide at the inn. He was buried a few yards from there in the Pioneer Cemetery where a monument marks his internment. A lot of interesting reading. |
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Meriwether Lewis Monument |
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Up next, Jackson Falls. Or at least that was the plan. But, when you’re riding in scenery like this you tend to loose track of where you are as you enjoy the view. Which is a nice way to say I missed the turn. So, we were looking for a place to turn around when we came upon Baker Bluff. Man what a view!. The photograph does not do it justice. The nice breeze hitting us in the face as we sat there in the grassy shade was so nice, we both agreed that we could just stay there for the rest of the day. |
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View From Baker Bluff |
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None the less, the road awaits, so off we go again. Oh, we did go back to Jackson Falls but it was a 900 foot hike down to the falls and we decided that would be something for another time. Besides, Karen didn’t have good hiking shoes. Well, that’s our story and we’re sticking to it.
The next stop on the way was the Gordon House. The Gordon House and Ferry site can be found at 407.7 mile post along the Trace. Built in 1818 the house was the home of John and Dolly Gordon. The couple moved here from Nashville to run the ferry across the Duck River established in 1801 by troops as part of the new federal road, the Natchez Trace. It’s just a short walk from the house down to where the ferry crossed the river. No we didn’t make the short walk. Heck, when you’ve seen one river crossing you’ve seen them all, right? Or, getting older is a bitch. You decide.
For the next 30 miles or so we just enjoyed the ride. The road as well as the surrounding shoulder is well maintained which is very easy on the eyes and mind. At some point along the way, |
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The Gordon House |
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Wanna go for a bike ride? |
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for quite a distance it was nothing to see four or five deer grazing along the shoulder. Toward the end of the Trace the road really begins to wind back and forth. This is what I enjoy the most. The bike just eases through the sweeps and curves as you lean from side to side. We rode through miles of such road mixed with some of the coolest curved bridges I’ve ever seen. This is when I wished I could operate a camera and drive a bike at the same time. Every where I looked I saw photo ops. Karen managed to get a few nice shots as we rode, pointing the camera over the top of my helmet. I could easily take a week and just photograph the scenery along the trace.
As we neared the end of the trace we came to the Last “Point of Interest” of the day for our planned ride. The deep valley where TN-96 |
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takes you into Franklin, TN is hundreds of feet below you as you cross the famous Double Arch Bridge that takes you to the other side. To say the view from the bridge as well as the view of the bridge is awesome, does not cover it. The bridge, also known as the Natchez Trace Parkway Arches, is the first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge in the United States.
After a short snack stop in Franklin, we headed back. Yes we were tired. The trip back was longer than we expected and our butts and backs were barking. |
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Double Arch Bridge crossing TN-96 at Franklin, TN |
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When we left the house it was 8:00 am and by the time we got home the tripometer read 308.2 and it was 6:50 PM.
Our ride on the Trace was only a fraction of the total miles the parkway has to offer but it was a good days ride none the less. I can see a long weekend in the not too distant future in which we will pack a small bag and head out for Natchez, MS. I would love to take our time, ride the whole Trace, and enjoy all the “Points of Interest” along the way. Who knows maybe this could be an HoDVR ride! Until then, ride safe. |
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Working out the kinks! |
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By - Wendell Rogers - Aka: Rocketcitymadman |
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Click on any of the pictures to see more pictures from that day. |