Natchez Trace – Tupelo, MS to Tusmbia, AL - Thursday, June 27, 2013

            It was a HOT day!  When Cal stopped after riding 50 miles it was 94 degrees in the shade!  With the heat coming off the pavement it was even hotter than that!  He made 40 miles with no problems, but the last 10 miles were a grind.  Too many hills, except for one section that was downhill!  He did stop after each 2 ½ miles and I did not get very far from him.  In fact the last 2 ½ miles I stayed right behind him, so if he felt he had enough, I was right there for him. 

            When we were in Port Gibson at the B & B, the gal told us about a service that will make accommodation reservations along the way.  They are primarily B & B’s that you do not know about otherwise.  So last night we looked at this service and gave him a call.  He made reservations at River Side Cottage, located 10 miles off the Trace.  So after Cal stopped I picked him up and we followed the directions to this B&B. 

Wow! What a beautiful location, overlooking the Tennessee River. Look at the photos!  AC and a shower are the most important things when riding is over.  We will enjoy the property later.  It is a cute cottage with kitchen and laundry.  The kitchen is stocked with breakfast items, so I will be making our own breakfast, plus there is fruit and water.  The cottage could sleep 4 persons.                   

Riverside B&B Cottage

Tennessee River From the B&B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Today we crossed the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.  This is a canal with a lock and dam system that connects the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico, at Mobile, Alabama via the Tombigbee River.   

Bridge over the Tenn-Tom Waterway

 

The Tenn-Tom Waterway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           We entered Alabama around noon today.  So we have conquered Louisiana and Mississippi!  Tomorrow we will exit Alabama when we enter Tennessee. 

            Along the route today there were Indian mounds plus there was a pull-out for a cave springs.  It is a small cave with a springtime spring.  Right now it is dry. At another location there was a cemetery for 13 unknown Confederate soldiers.

 

Also the wheat in the area is ready to harvest.  A field near the B&B had 3 combines harvesting this afternoon.  It appears that after the wheat is harvested the ground is worked and soybeans are planted.  We have seen soybeans just sprouting out of the ground.  The growing season must be long enough for that.

We went into the towns of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia (Quad Cities).  First we drove around checking out the towns and the campus of the University of Northern Alabama in Florence, at the same time looking for a place to eat dinner.        

At 8:30pm it is 88 degrees but feels like 94!!  We are enjoying the AC, doing laundry and relaxing.