Biking Elvis Country...

Back to
the Natchez
ride...

June 8, 2011


We're
on
our way
to
Tupelo...

Birthplace
of
The King!

We've
biked
many
places
together...

Lusk,
Wyoming

Wall Drug Store,
South
Dakota.

Niagara
Falls...

but
nothing
we
saw
during
the Ride
Across
America....

could
quite
prepare
us
for...

the kitch of....


Tupelo,
Mississippi!

It's
another
early
start...

to
beat
the
Mississippi
heat.

Drivin'
to
the
Natchez
Trace...

60 miles
of
Mississippi
to bike
today.

But
at the
Trace -

bad
news.

Joe
is
bummed.

Unload
those
bikes!

Al
is
ready
to
go!

Road
signs
don't stop
these
bikers!

Misty
Trace
Morning...

What's
that?

It's
a
wild
cotton
plant....

complete
with
boll
weevil!

This is
the
real
South!

Back
on
the road,
Rod!

We
need to
do our
miles
before
the heat
of the
day!

But
who's
this?

The
Alabamboo?

They're
biking
from
Alabama
to
California....

on
bikes
they
built
of
bamboo!

They're
sustainable!

Photo by National Geographic Traveller

My
next
bike
will have
to be
bamboo!

Let's
get
going,
Mom!

Al
is
biking
with me
today.

Usually
she's
up there
with the
fast
boys.

Stop,
Al!!

This
is why
the road
was
closed!

Never-
seen-
before
tornados
hit the
South
just a
few weeks
ago!

324
people
were
killed.

Weather
scares
me
these
days!

Speaking
of
which...

It's
getting
hotter!

Blazing
sun...

Shadows
sharp.

Need
some
ice?

It's a
long
hot
morning
ride...

to
Aila
and
Karen...

at
our
SAG
stop.

Al
rests
her
bike
against
a handy tree...

Should
we
tell
her....?

about
poison
ivy?

Wipe off
that
seat,
Al!

I'll
take
the
car keys
now,
Karen!

You
and
Aila
go
explore!

I'll
SAG
the
rest
of the
day.














I
don't
mind....

it
gives
me
time
to visit
flowers....

and
rescue
turtles...

I think
he's
shy.

Besides
it gives
Alex
the chance
to go
fast!

Biking
with
her
friends...

on
the
beautiful
Natchez
Trace...

We
have
206
miles to go
to
Nashville...

But
what's
this?!

I've seen
that
van
before!

I've seen
that
van
in
the high desert
of
Oregon...

crossing
the
Continental
Divide....

and
at that
epic
crossing
into
Canada...





It's
our
leaders
from...

our
2010
Ride
Across
America!

Quick,
Joe!

Call
the
others!

We
need
to
get
together!

These
are
friends
you'll
never
forget....

The friends
you make
biking
across
the
country.

And
what
about
your friends
on
the
Natchez?

With
them
you
do
laundry.

Hurry up.
Rod!

We
have
'splorin'
to do!

Gotta
hit
the
bike
shop!

Wanna
buy
a
bike
jersey?

How about
a
saddle?




We have
Mamma Bear
Pappa Bear
and
Baby Bear
versions.

No,
thanks.

We've
got
a
date...

with
the
King!

You
can't
be
in
Tupelo...

without
visiting
the
birthplace.

It's
almost
a
religious
experience...

in
the
Elvis
chapel.

There's
a
reverent
hush...

as
you
enter
Tupelo
Hardware...

where
Mother

Gladys

bought

him....

that
famed
first
guitar....

"and
history
was
made"

The tale
told
by
the grandson
of the very Bobo
who sold
that
guitar...

and
recorded
for
posterity
by
the
Swedish
tourists.

You know,
you
can't
visit
Tupelo...



















without
feeling
some
of
the
mystique...













at
the
birthplace...

of
The
King!