Day 4, Monday
Lafayette - Natchez 141 miles / 227 km

     We hit the "Transcontinental Highway", the I-10 East, for the first 40 miles of today before getting to the "LA 77" state road. One of the highlights of today is the visit at "Parlange Antebelllum Home" in New Roads, Louisiana. We might get lucky, and have a chance to personally meet the successors of the builder of this incredible mansion of the 18th century. Mr. And Mrs. Parlange are somewhat excentric, but who wouldn't be considering their possessions! We'll cross the state line to Mississippi just a few miles north of New Roads, and from now on we'll follow the traces of all of the countless Blues artists who left Mississippi behind to find better life up north. Natchez, sitting right atop the Mississippi River is our first overnight stop. While Monday is not the busiest day in Natchez, we might get to hear some life Blues!

Day 5, Tuesday
Natchez - Vicksburg 97 miles / 156 km

     The "Natchez Trace" used to be the premier trading route of the 19th century between Nashville, Tennessee and Natchez, Mississippi. Back then Natchez was the foremost southeastern point of the USA, boarding to Napoleons Louisiane to the south, and Indian land to the west. Natchez was the trading and loading center for tons of merchandise, mainly cotton, which was loaded onto ships and floats and brought to the market in New Orleans. We'll follow the Natchez Trace Parkway, a wonderful and peaceful road towards Vicksburg, Mississippi. Vicksburg is of course most famous for the last, decisive battle between North and South. A visit to the "National Military Park" is somewhat a must do. We'll do so without getting off our bikes! Other than that, there is not all that much happening at Vicksburg. Remains to be said that this town is Willie Dixon's birthplace, and that we'll stay overnight at a most beautiful Victorian mansion.

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