NT06: Rolling Up the Trace

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Natchez Trace Tour Day #6
Kosciusko MS to Houston MS
Today: 76.4 miles   Cumulative this tour: 382.3 miles

Up and out early this morning, we found an Italian place for breakfast (one we believe is run by the same Mexican family that runs Rodeo’s from last night). Jack had a huge veggie omelet and grits, while I enjoyed French toast and eggs. The buzz all around us (from the TV and from patrons) was Mississippi State’s thrilling win against LSU last night.

Twenty-one miles to French Camp. We learned that this was formerly a Trace supply outpost owned by Louis LaFlore. Currently population is 97. We located a convenience store there but it was closed – no surprise on a Sunday morning.

Continuing north from Kosiusko in the AM
Continuing north from Kosciusko in the AM
Closed on Sunday
Closed on Sunday

Another 25 miles took us to Mathiston and a Subway, where we relished the air conditioning, and eventually a couple of 6” sandwiches and lots of beverages. After lunch I found an Ole Miss car tag and bought it, deciding it could easily fit into my pannier and didn’t weigh all that much.

The afternoon took us 30 more hot miles to Houston MS. Both of us saw more deer, turkeys, herons, egrets, and we stopped at all the Trace sites too. Along the way I texted frequently with my step sister to create plans to meet tomorrow.

It's not easy to photo these skittish deer
It’s not easy to photo these skittish deer
Beautiful small waterways everywhere
Beautiful small waterways everywhere
Typical scenery
Typical scenery

From the Trace it was 3 miles northwest on SR8 to the Holiday Terrace motel in Houston. We decided to ditch our original plans to camp tonight at Witch Dance and instead settle in to watch the Steelers-Panthers game.

Holiday Terrace Motel in Houston MS
Holiday Terrace Motel in Houston MS

SR8 is lousy bike passage, and Google Maps indicated no restaurants nearby. The motel manager kindly offered her husband to take us to a local Pizza Hut (no delivery here). In the end, Jack and I decided to make a simple roll over to a Foodway across the street for provisions.

Corn tortillas, cheese, tomatoes, ham, chips, drinks, shower, and Sunday Night Football on ESPN. A fairly glorious way to pass the evening. I passed out during the game – something for dinner did not agree with me – but periodically lifted an eyelid for a scoring event or for the infrequent fit from Jack due to a Steelers’ lapse.