Summer Scenic Byways and Family Time

I haven’t been blogging much, but I’ve certainly been riding! The month of June was filled with a few iconic scenic byways and beautiful backroads as well as connections with family and friends. Here’s the rundown of my early summer rides.

Natchez Trace Parkway (Alabama, Mississippi & Tennessee)

I have ridden various sections of the Natchez Trace Parkway over the years, but I decided to connect them all on a single three-day ride this year. The 444-mile stretch of two-lane road, that is designated as both an All-American Road and a National Park Service Parkway, creates a greenway from the southern Appalachian foothills of TN to the bluffs of the lower Mississippi River. This natural travel corridor dates back many centuries as a footpath for Native Americans, a wagon trail for settlers and traders, a layover for forced displacement of Indians and enslaved Africans, and now as a paved parkway highlighting the area’s natural beauty and its complex history.

One of Mississippi’s highest points at 603 feet, Busby Park provides a stunning view of the surrounding area just off the predominantly flat Natchez Trace Parkway.
An overnight side trip to Vicksburg, MS included a tour of Vicksburg National Military Park (Illinois Memorial in photo), and visits to Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum and Catfish Row Museum.

Family Time

Riding scenic roads and visiting historical sites calms my restless spirit and scratches my itch for adventure, but it’s moments spent with family and friends that keep me grounded and brings me joy. My route planning usually revolves around visits with loved ones 🙂

Another side trip in MS to visit my Aunt Ruth and Paran Wayne took me to Red Bluff (aka Grand Canyon of Mississippi) near Foxworth, MS. The striking red and orange geological formation is the result of natural erosion along the Pearl River. Such a unique attraction for this area and a wonderful outing with family!
Laid back moments sipping coffee and building puzzles with my Dad, great-niece Jenney, my Mom, and sister Monica in Louisiana is time well spent. I‘ve learned to slow down to smell the roses and build the puzzle 🙂
No trip home to Louisiana is complete without a boat ride with my brother Dwayne! We spent a nostalgic afternoon riding the back bayous and lakes of Houma where we enjoyed summers growing up. My great-niece Jenney was fascinated with seeing the boat-only accessible camp where we spent our formative years and hearing stories about time spent swimming, skiing, catching and preparing seafood and simply passing time as a family.
The Navy brought Jim and Karla into my life a couple of decades ago, and now they are family. It was such a treat to hang out with them, and their daughter Katie, just outside of Memphis and to see the construction of their new house.

Ohio River Scenic Byway (Illinois, Indiana & Ohio)

The Ohio River National Scenic Byway is a 943-mile network of roads that hug the Ohio River through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. “The history of the Ohio is found both in rural landscapes and quaint river communities, covering periods from Native American habitation through western settlement, affecting transportation patterns and industrialization.” (FHA) I picked up this historic route at its western-most point and rode for a while through Illinois.

Fort Defiance Park in Cairo, IL, marks the spot of a former Civil War military fortification and the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers (Ohio River bridge in pic). It is here, in 1803, where “Lewis and Clark spent time training the other members of the Corps of Discovery how to use their navigational equipment before their journey began.” (NPS)
I traveled on roads that hugged the Ohio River from Fort Defiance Park in Cairo, IL to Metropolis, IL before crossing the river into Kentucky. As you can see, the town of Metropolis has embraced its association with the comic book hero Superman.

Red River Gorge Scenic Byway (Kentucky)

Red River Gorge National Scenic Byway runs through landscape “designated as a National Natural Landmark, a National Wild and Scenic River, and a National Geological Area.” This part of Kentucky is gorgeous and full of opportunities for scenic, natural, and recreation experiences. (FHA)

The 46-mile Red River Gorge Scenic Byway was lushly green (and very humid) when I rode it in June. The route boasts scenic overlooks and lots of unique stone formations.
Though less than a mile, the steady incline of the trail leading to Natural Bridge (with temps in the upper 90s and high humidity) made for a challenging hike.
The back porch of the cabin I stayed in at Natural Bridge Kentucky State Resort Park was the perfect place to wind down after a hot day of riding and hiking.

Highland Scenic Highway (West Virginia)

From Natural Bridge Kentucky State Resort Park, I continued westward and picked up the Highland Scenic Highway in West Virginia. This scenic 43-mile, two-lane road runs through Monongahela National Forest on rolling, mountainous terrain and through a narrow, steep-walled valley. The whole area is covered in hardwood forest with clear mountain streams running through it. A gorgeous, peaceful ride.

The scenic views along Highland Scenic Highway were stunning. This one, providing a sweeping panorama of the Williams River Valley below, is at an elevation of 4,400 feet.
June turned out to be the perfect month to catch Mountain Laurel blooming at the higher elevations.

After three weeks on the road, it was time for me to head south towards home to reset before the next ride.

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