First off, I would like to wish all you fathers out there a Happy Father’s Day. Being a dad is no small undertaking and a lifelong responsibility. I think a lot of what needs fixing these days can be attributed to absentee parents. I would like to thank my father for, among other things, teaching me independence – a character trait sadly lacking in today’s society.
Another great morning for a bike ride – overcast with no chance of rain. Hwy 84 through Mississippi is 65 mph the whole way and just about nobody is going any slower than 75. I avoid the slab but it’s not because I’m more comfortable going slower, I’m good at just about any speed as long as the road is smooth enough to handle it – many aren’t. I avoid the slab because I don’t like having to try to anticipate what every brain dead idiot is going to do next. This morning on 84 was good – 75+ and virtually alone most of the day.
One thing I’ve noticed out here, starting in about Texas and going east, there are a lot of Dodge trucks doing what you see a lot of Ford trucks doing west of there. I asked someone about it and they didn’t know the real answer. This guy and the 4 guys with horse trailers following him were all driving Dodge trucks. Woulda liked to meet the Rodeo clown/bull fighter, Dodge probably sponsors him or something.I was looking for a place to eat in Natchez, MS where I could see the river and I lucked into the Magnolia Grill. Right down on the water, great motorcycle parking, and better food. I was there when they opened at 11:00 and it’s a good thing I was. After I sat down, they started putting reserved signs on all the tables and were turning away anyone without reservations – Father’s Day I’m sure and they no doubt figured I’d be out of there pretty quick. I thoroughly enjoyed my Magnolia shrimp but I wasn’t there more than 35 minutes.I don’t know how long this building has been here but that last pane of glass on the right has the flaws (waves and bubbles) in it that glass made back in the 1800’s used to have. I would have asked but my waitress couldn’t figure out how to get the front door unlocked and it was actually starting to get really busy with the Fahter’s Day crowd.Natchez, MS is the beginning of the Natchez Trace. A 440 mile trail through the forest that ends in Nashville, TN. It also links the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Mississippi Rivers. The reason for the foot traffic is that before the steam engine was invented, Natchez was the farthest north that anyone could get on the Mississippi River. Today the route is commemorated by the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway and Bridge, which follows the approximate path of the Trace. Think I’ll add that road to my list of roads I’d like to ride someday, looks like a good one.
One of the reasons for making this a sort day is so I could watch the final round of the US Open. Congratulations to DJ for getting his first major – he is due for sure. I was personally rooting for either guy in the last group; a fat redheaded Irish man, and a kid, who if he won, would have been a bigger story than Phil winning – none of that happened. Oh, and I heard there was a basketball game of some kind today as well. Until tomorrow…
Happy Fathers Day to you as well! Looks like you’re enjoying it!