Down South Ride

Contributer: Jukeman (01-15-2008)
Distance: 865 mi.

This ride is about 865 miles total. This track will take you down through the little towns and villages of southern most regions of the Mississippi delta. Depending on the time of year, you may see what looks like snow, but it will be cotton, as far as the eye can see. A segment of this trip will put you on the southern most leg of the Natchez Trace parkway with Spanish moss hanging from every tree. The Trace ends in Natchez, MS. You can spend a day or several days exploring historic Natchez.

From Natchez you pass into Louisiana. The dominant view becomes sugarcane. You'll experience the sweet smell of sugarcan e lingering in the air as it's being processed into sugar. As you plunge deeper southward, you enter Thibodaux (The-boo-do). Here you'll find locals with a think Cajun accent. Continuing southward still the next major stop is New Orleans. You should take time to visit the Vieux Carrer the Quarter as its calledby the locals. Youll leave New Orleans behind on I-10 where you can still see some of the devastation and ruins of what was left after Katrina. Across Lake Pontchartrain and on into Slidell and traversed eastward over the state line into the Mississippi Gulf coast area. Keep your eyes peeled for the Mississippi Welcome Center near the John Stennis Space Center and be sure to stop for a free cup of coffee and to rest a while.

Leaving the welcome center turn south on Hwy 90 and follow it down the coast line to Bay Saint Lewis. There youll cross thebay bridge. With the Gulf of Mexico on your right, youll see beautiful well-manicured beaches with fresh white sand. Some of the old oak trees and palms still show battle scars from Katrina but most are still green and growing new foliage. Welcome the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Stop and stay awhile. Enjoy the subtropical climate, the casinos and the many other great things to see and do on theCoast.

Leaving the Coast you can head East again on Hwy 90 and at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, turn north and head up to I-10 again. By the way, the BeauRivage has a fantastic buffet. This ride will continue east on I-10. Take the Hwy 57 ramp off of I-10 and head north to McLain and cut over on 98 to Hwy 15. One of the stops on this track is Myrick, Mississippi. Myrick is a tiny village just southeast of Laurel, at the intersection of Myrick Road and Forest Road. On each corner of the intersection there is one little store, one little church, the pastors home and one little fire station. Thats it. Nevertheless the area in and round Myrick is really attractive with quaint little pastoral farms nestled in a mixture of hilly forestlands and swampy bayous.

Then its on to Laurel and northward on Hwy 15. As you ride, youll pass though many little picturesque farm towns and villages. Eventually youll end up in Ackerman, MS, where 15 splits onto Hwy 9. Passing though the interesting little towns of Eupora, Belle fontaine, Slate Spring, Calhoun City and Bruce, Oxford finally comes into view again. This is a great trip that you can easily modify to suite your fancy. Remember, your invisible on your bike ride defensively.

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