The Oak Square Bed & Breakfast.

Connie on the observation tower at Grand Gulf Military Monument, a Mississippi State Park.

A portion of the original Natchez Trace, known at the "Sunken Trace" because it is so deeply cut into the ground.

Ray resting on a bridge just outside of Jackson, MS.

Distance traveled today: 92.5 km (57.5 mi)
Average speed: 20.4 km/h (12.7 mph)
Elapsed Time: 6.12.21 (hh.mm)
Max speed: 40 km/h (24.9 mph)
Staying at: Holiday Inn, Clinton, MS [tel. 601-924-0064 Rm. 128]

Distance traveled so far: 1186.1 km (737 mi)

Last Modified on 5/9/98 at 4:15:41

Day's Narrative: We had a delicious breakfast today of bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits and grits at the B & B. After breakfast we drove the van 10 miles out to Grand Gulf Military Monument, a Mississippi State Park, to see their museum and grounds. Deborah Purviance, daughter of the owner of Oak Square, is on the board of commissioners (directors) and told us about the park the night before. High ground overlooking the Mississippi River at the park was used by the South during the civil war to block Union control of the river. We got back from the park and on the road about 10:00 a.m.

This was a beautiful day. The temperature was in the 70s (F), the sky was bright blue, and the air was dry. We even had a slight tailwind most of the day. It was a great bicycling day.

As we went up the Natchez Trace Parkway we stopped at an Indian burial mound, a ford in the river, and two places where the original Natchez Trace could be seen (photo). We left the Mississippi Delta (flood plain) where the forests were very damp and dense, and went into a higher, rolling country with fewer swamps and thinner woodlands. The forests also opened up and we now were able to see farmland around us instead of continuous trees. This is interesting country, and definitely rural.

We arrived at Jackson about 5 p.m. and found Connie at the motel. Later Connie and I went out and ate catfish -- all-you-can-eat-catfish for $8.95. I suspect they lost money on me.

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