We left the Quirky Canary about 9:30 a.m. and went back to Leiper's Fork Market to get some buiscuits that the lady the night before said they made every morning for breakfast. When we arrived, we discovered they were out of biscuits, which was a bummer. Sitting on the rocking chairs on the front porch of the market, we ate some fig bars we brought on the trip as supplemental food for occasions like this.
The market had a deli where they made sandwiches to order so we got two sandwiches for lunch.
With lunch strapped to the top of our rack pack, we rode onto the Trace towards Hohenwald, TN. It was sunny, but cool.
We stopped at Garrison Creek for the facilities and water, then continued to The Gordon House. Built in 1818, it is one of only two surviving historic buildings on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Gordon family operated a ferry near this house to help Natchez Trace travelers cross the Duck River.
Duck River
Our next stop was Jackson Falls. The path to the falls was fairly short but very steep in parts. We walked the bike down to near the bottom since the falls were too far from the parking area and we didn't want to leave the bike unattended. The falls were flowing nicely the day we were there, possibly from rain they had in the area the preceding week.
We spent some time taking pictures and talking to a young couple who were trying to get a picture into the sun. John was able to get them the picture they wanted and send it later via email when we got to our hotel. For much of the Trace, we did not have cell phone reception so we would often turn our phone on to Airplane Mode to help preserve battery drain from trying unsuccesfully to connect to towers.
National Park Service information at the The Old Tobacco Farm was interesting and there we got our first look at the Old Trace footpath. Some of the original Trace has been lost, some incorporated into the Parkway, and some is kept cleared by the Park Service for walkers to enjoy.
We enjoyed Fall Hollow waterfall as we rode by it while descending a steep hill on the Trace. Fall Hollow waterfall is much smaller than Jackson Falls but still nice to see.
We rode 6.5 miles off the Trace to get to Hohenwald, TN where we stayed at Meriwether's Retreat, a charming Bed and Breakfast with an equally charming host, Melissa. Melissa had all kinds of birds painted on the wall.
Melissa recommended a local Mexican restaurant, Casa Grande, where we talked with another cyclist/Meriwether guest doing the Trace. She's riding and her hubby is supporting. Jan, you're awesome!
So far, John's knee is just a little better, and we're doing fine on the ride.
We're full of Mexican food now and it's time for sleep.
