Covid really screwed up my plans to bicycle Nova Scotia. Postponing the trip given the closed board wasn’t a option. Cold weather does happen up there and I am not a big fan of freezing my behind off and using studded tires. Ok, now what? Europe was out, in fact, the whole world was out. Let’s do some research and see what the good ole US of A has to offer. Years ago I drove through Tennessee on my way to southeast Texas. The map showed some sort of scenic route. Fast forward twenty years and I looked up this route. The Natchez Trace, a ten thousand year old trail where in 1935 a congressman named Busby finagled federal funds to build a parkway for both cars and bicycles for the entire 444 miles from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez Mississippi. Online, I requested from the park service information on this parkway. I was impressed with what I read so I pulled the the trigger. First, came the timing and duration of the ride, next the booking of the flights followed by arranging airbnbs for my arrival and departure. After my pit crew, The Wayfarer Bicycle shop, thoroughly checked over my bike, I packed my gear, finished my necessary fall projects, made sure Ed had enough work to do in shop, paid bills, hauled the boat, and tied off numerous loose ends and hopped on the plane. Anxiety as always chewed away at me but my stronger side pushed through my comfort zone and now here I am in Nashville ready to start rolling in fourteen hours. Today after assembling the bike, I rode through downtown Nashville, picked up Breakfast at an upscale cafe took in a very cool car museum and had a late lunch a mile outside of the insanely mobbed historic district. An NFL game was underway across the river at the Tennessee Titan stadium. Tens of thousands of fans descend upon the city making for all consuming event. Anyways back to the Natchez Trace, I am pumped and ready to make this ride a reality.
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