Day 23...Natchez on My Mind

Today was a big day! We rode 89 miles all on The Natchez Trace Parkway from just outside of Tupelo to Kosciusko, MI. Another sunny day and temperatures in the low 80's! For the most part, the parkway roads are flat and smooth and extremely well maintained (and recently repaved)....EXCEPT for a 14 mile stretch of "old" highway which was VERY bumpy (full of expansion joints)! But we grunted through the "rough patch" and eventually hit the smooth roads that followed.

There was a very low volume of traffic, even on a Saturday and the parkway was lovely. We did come across a 10 mile stretch of road where the trees lining it were bare. This area had been hit by the tornadoes and violent storms that struck the area on April 27, 2011. Over 20 miles of trees had been destroyed and the Parkway was closed for some time. This tornado, known as 2011 Super Outbreak, devastated parts of the Southern, Midwestern and Northeastern United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_25–28,_2011_tornado_outbreak

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tornado destruction

Natchez Trace Parkway, unscathed

Since there were no gas stations to stop at en route we planned to have Jim and the RV meet us for lunch. About 45 miles into the ride, sure enough, we heard the low, steady hum of the RV approaching us. After lunch we set off again, unsure how far we would go today, but hoping to get in at least 85. Jim met up with us on his bike about 75 miles into the ride with a few cold(ish) sodas in hand. We all road back to the RV together marveling at what a gorgeous day it was.

Jim had been waved down by a nice fellow, Alan, earlier when he entered Kosciusko. Alan turned out to be the airport manager in town and offered a spot for us to park the RV right next to his house, which was next to a small hanger and a 5,000 foot runway! The four of us went out to dinner (Mexican) and in our parting conversation for the night, Alan asked if we would all like to take an airplane ride tomorrow morning. Of course! Who wouldn't want to fly the sky before getting on a bike?

The Hanger!