After a hotel breakfast we loaded our non-biking gear into the van, gathered our lunch and snacks , and pedaled a mile and a half though Natchez to the start of the Trace.
It was chilly and I wore multiple layers. I was overdressed and stopped three times in the first two hours to de-layer.
The road surface on the Natchez Trace Highway is perfect. The terrain went from level to gentle up- and down-slopes.
After 13 miles we left the Trace for a mile to check out Emerald Mound, the second largest Indian mound in the country dating from 1300 to 1600. It features two tiers and is enormous.
Back on the Trace we cruised along for another 20 miles. There we left the Trace to check out Windsor Ruins. These columns are what remains of a massive plantation house that burned to the ground in 1890 when a party guest dropped a lit cigarette.
This side trip was hillier and bumpier than the main route. We were ducking wind until the descent into Port Gibson where we raided a small grocery store (that was once a Piggly Wiggly).
After snacks and drinks we continued on for another 17 miles to Rocky Springs campground. We were expecting pit toilets but were happy to see actual restrooms (with no showers and no potable water).
We’ve been stopping at nearly every historical sign, most of which seem to describe Grant’s grind toward nearby Vicksburg.
Dinner was a feast cooked by Jeff and Beth Ann our tour leaders. No complaints from my tummy.
I neglected to mention The Mule hit 79,000 miles recently.
Miles today: 73.5 Tour miles: 86.5
A Few Spokes Shy of a Wheel 
Looks like the first riding day went well! 🙂 Hope you stayed warm at night in your tent? I had seen the Windsor Ruins also – they are cool. Didn’t know it burned down because of a dropped cigarette!
It wasn’t too bad. Temps were in the 40s. It’ll be warmer in the overnights from now on.