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Post by jprestonian on Apr 7, 2008 11:25:57 GMT -5
I only went from the terminus @ Mile #444 to just past Leiper's Fork (~MM #425), but it was a fun ride. I plan to make a complete ride of it some weekend, once I figure out how to get off the danged thang to get gas, etc. :) Next time, I'll rig the video camera, too... with spare bug shields (man, you should see my visor). . |
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Post by jpn on Aug 10, 2008 19:31:14 GMT -5
If I manage to save enough pennies for an MC-54-250, I'll see how far I can ride down and back in a day. I've made a few day drives (not rides) down the trace and back, with Tupelo MS (around MM 261) being the farthest I've gone.
The first, and only, gas station on the trace is a campground store at MM 193. Other than that, you have to carry enough fuel with you, or get off the trace and find a gas station somewhere. My first day trip was in an old gas guzzling barge of a car, and I found out that there are no signs indicating where you might be able to find gas. Also, while Sunday has lighter traffic than Saturday, some gas stations in the small towns near the trace are not open on Sunday. A good map is needed to determine whether a town near the trace might be big enough to have a gas station, since the free park service map of the trace identifies everything but large cities with just a small dot.
Speed limit at the Northern end of the trace is 40mph, stepping up to 50mph at MM 429. Rest stops along the trace have restrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables. No vending machines, and no stores until you reach the camp store at MM 193. Expect to see wildlife at any time. I've had to hit the brakes for turkeys, deer, and squirrels. If you can time it right, spring offers wildflowers and fall offers colorful leaves.
Edit: Found a notice that the gas station and store at MM193 was permanently closed on June 1, 2008. The reason given was a reduced need for the facility, due to growth of similar businesses near the trace (I guess that's true, IF you can find them).
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 13, 2008 20:13:38 GMT -5
Looks like a great ride. The closest I have ever come to that is many drunkin nights at Natchez under the hill when I worked on the steamboats...lol
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Post by cheap0 on Aug 17, 2008 0:50:46 GMT -5
If I manage to save enough pennies for an MC-54-250, I'll see how far I can ride down and back in a day. I've made a few day drives (not rides) down the trace and back, with Tupelo MS (around MM 261) being the farthest I've gone. I've never gone the whole way. I think I've only been north of US-64 once, and never south of MS-25. But the part from just north of the TN line south to US-72 in AL is very familiar turf for me. BTW the speed limit in that area is 50 all the way. A recent automotive GPS unit is pretty good at helping with this. The Meriwether Lewis memorial is about 4-5 miles from Hohenwald, which has numerous gas stations. The Trace goes through Collinwood, TN, which has gas, but as I recall, there is only one exit/entrance there. Cypress Inn, TN, right at the state line, has one gas station. There's 1-2 on AL-20 within a mile or 2 of the Trace. Cloverdale, AL, on AL-157 (which isn't much out of your way since the Trace is closed from about 1 mile south of the TN line to AL-20) has one, better than Cypress Inn. (Coming south, just turn left rather than follow the detour, then turn right on AL-157 in about another half mile. Then to get back, backtrack a few hundred feet to CR-8, go left, left on CR-15, right on CR-154. County Road 154 ends at the Trace entrance ramp, turn right and see the end of the detour.) US-72 of course has gas, not right at the trace, but one is about 4 miles west (just before the MS state line) and three are about 3 miles east (Cherokee, AL.) Lastly (in my part of the Trace) there are 2 stations just north of the Trace on MS-25. Good points. Of the ones I listed, I would expect the one in Cypress Inn to be closed on Sundays. Likewise. It's a wonderful ride. Good post, thanks. |
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Post by Interceptor Rev on Sept 9, 2008 20:04:46 GMT -5
Live in Ridgeland (North of Jackson) and took my first ride on my scoot along the Trace- scenic 10 mile ride up and back along Barnett Reservoir. Cool, got a lot of low waves from Harleys...
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Post by jpn on Oct 11, 2008 12:01:39 GMT -5
The leaves are turning on the northern section of the Trace. Still a lot of green, but with patches of red and gold mixed in.
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Post by Rockin Ran on Oct 11, 2008 16:39:48 GMT -5
Man I sooooo wanna take this ride. I have a fireman friend that did the entire trip to Natchez on a 87 Honda Helix. He had a flat in Miss. and being as he was in the Honda club, they put him up in a motel and sent a tire to the local dealer to replace it at no charge ... sweet.
I have lived in Nashville since 1985 and have yet to take this ride. Let's try to put something together soon and go fer it!
Ran
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Post by jpn on Oct 11, 2008 19:18:11 GMT -5
www.nps.gov/natr/The park service's free map can be viewed on the website. The reverse side of the actual map gives a brief description of each site marked along the trace. Edit: Another trip planning resource: www.byways.org/explore/byways/2285/explore.htmlThe Trace runs through the cities of Tupelo, MS around MM260 and Jackson, MS around MM100. There's a large gas station market at the northern end of the Trace (Mile Marker 442 or so), and the southern end is in the city of Natchez, MS. Northern Terminus to Tupelo = 182 miles Tupelo to Jackson = 160 miles Jackson to Natchez = 100 miles cheapO provided several potential fuel stops near the Trace in the section north of Tupelo, and it looks like there are plenty of towns near the Trace between Tupelo and Jackson, so fuel shouldn't be as big a problem as it initially looked. Just needs a little advance planning.
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