As was said, the best part of the Trace is between Tupelo and Nashville. To get thissaway (i live in Memphis) from Nashville, I would recommend taking Hwy 100 from Nashville to Hwy 18 which is 15 miles west of Henderson to Bolivar, Tn. Run hwy 18 west into Mississippi where it changes to Hwy 7 at the stateline. Stay on hwy 7 till you get to Holly Springs, MS. where you pick up hwy 4 and head west till you get to hwy 61 and the 7 or 8 casinos there.

If you want to come to Memphis, then just take hwy 100 from Nashville, and it will change to Hwy 64 at Whiteville, just takew hwy 64 right on into Memphis, and then run hwy 61 south.

Hwy 100 is a good road to ride, if you aint in a hurry. Hwy 72 out of Corinth is like an interstate, so if you want that then just blast to Memphis on I-40, aint much difference.

If you want to bypass the casinos, then run hwy 7 out of Holy Springs to Oxford. In Oxford, pick up hwy 6/278 west to Clarksdale, MS and pick up hwy 61 there. Personally I would take hwy 322 west to Sherard from Clarksdale, and jump on hwy 1 and head south, to keep off the 4 lane of hwy 61. Both will take you to Vicksburg.

 

btw...some places you may want to check out along the way.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Over...spx?RefID=2399

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=203

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Over...spx?RefID=1305

http://www.groundzerobluesclub.com/home.php

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=206

http://www.houstonculture.org/terra/delta.html

Yeah, I like to eat good food when out riding.

 

Well, I think you just have to make a choice on how to get to Memphis from Nashville. Suggestion for Vicksburg, if you plan to tour the battleground (which I suggest) make time for this, I would allow at least 4 hours. The battleground is very large and will take some time, depending on how much you want to see and how many stops you make (you will be riding through the battleground and will have to stop and park if you want to see/read more. Did your friend suggest the buffet near the Winsor Ruins? It is an old store converted to a buffet and is famous for it's fried chicken. The owner usually comes out and sings for the customers and autographs his advertisements. We make a few day runs there every year, you will enjoy. Right before you get there, you can stop by the Winsor Ruins, not far off of hwy61. Take care.

 

Well the trip is now final. We are leaving Wed afternoon arriving in Natchez to visit the area . Two days for the Trace stopping in Tupelo for the nite. Called the loveless today to inquire about lodging there but that is out, seems the motel has been closed for some time the gal suggested the Fairfeild inn. Depending how we feel Sat morning we will take 100 to 18 to Holly Springs or I40 to 18 then try to reach Clarksdale (is this doable in 1 day) to catch some blues at ground zero. Sunday to Vicksburg via 61 to Hwy 1.

BlackOak thanks for ride info and links we will try to catch them all. If you have some time Sat or Sun depending on travel time we could met up for lunch (my treat) somewhere along the route near you, Holly springs might be OK. Pm me if interested

Andouille The fried chicken joint is the same one they were talking about I did not remember the town. We go to Baton Rouge often perhaps we could meet at the Harley Shop. We have been wanting to go back to Gulfport for the week end, we are not casino people just like the ride out there and the water. There is a steak house called Captain Al's which is located near the power plant, dam good eating, steaks are cooked on a wood grill. Pm me if interested.

 

Yeah, its doable in a day. Nashville to Clarksdale. You may want to check out the Shackup Inn in Clarksdale for an overnighter. http://www.shackupinn.com/main.html
Its a prety kewl place to see. They have a decent video on their site.

I will be on the road this weekend, hopefully up around Branson, Mo if all goes well. Will take a raincheck on the free chow though.

 

All packed and ready to go, got ipod, zumo, camera and flashlight all charged up, waiting on OL to leave work. Thanks to all for help on this trip, will try to upload pics as we go.

Tim

 

Well we made it back, thanks to all for the links. The Trace was done in 2 days with an overniter in Tupleo Ms. The Northen route above Tupelo was the best, we saw several wild turkeys and vultures but no deer. We made it to the Lovless cafe around 3 that day and I made a mistake of taking my BH into the store next door for hats, T-shrits etc $$$$. Our plans were to stay in Nashville that nite but the weather was calling for rain the next day so we so we ran down I40 at a fast clip till Jackson Tn as luck would have it we pulled into a motel next to the Casey Jones complex, that was the first time I ever saw a real cabbose mounted in the air as a sign. Left there next morning in a mist and travelled to Holly Springs to the Phillips cafe if anyone is in that area the burgers are really good, it's an old time store next to a railroad I needed the Zumo to find it as it is somewhat hard to find. Again as luck would have it I met an older gentleman who grew up near Lewis's grave site. I showed him pig iron slag I found at a site and we talked about other sites in the area we stopped at. We next went to Oxford Ms. to find Taylor's Grocery, I had input into the Zumo where the place was, but as luck would have it we were in the middle of nowhere with no sevice on our phones, we decided to keep driving for a while until we would see somebody we saw an old guy siiting on the back of his truck and asked if Taylor's Grocery was near here he pointed to the road and said we would run into it. Sure enough up comes this old store out of some moive with dogs laying around and this old gas pump that does not have a hose on it. Stayed there for about an hour talked to the owner took some pictures and left. Pulled into Clarksdale and again as luck would have it we were in the middle of The Juke Joint Festival, Morgan Freeman's place Ground Zero is a must see, people were playing the Blues in front of joints, on the sidewalks, on the side of buildings and generally where ever they could set up, realy wanted to spent the nite there but no rooms available. Left there in the rain and drove as far as Clevland Ms. We had to wait the next day until 9 or so because it was still raining. Stopped in Vicksburg to visit the war sites wished we had more time so many things to see but not enough time.While going down 61 I see a sign which says Windsor Ruins and I'm trying to think why that is important, then I remember ,fried chicken buffet, we pull into this old building which looks like an old abandoned store to ask directions and again as luck would have it we meet Aruthur Davis the owner of the Ole Country Store yep this is the fried chicken place. What a treat, this man can cook some damm good chicken btw it is right off the Trace Lorman Ms. about 30 miles above Natchez. All in all rain included we had a damm good time have some pictures to show but don't know how to input. Without the links, trip would have been alright but stopping at these places made for a trip to remember.