Originally published in Motorcycles On The Road Again, May 2007.
The "Deep South" brings up images of beautiful southern girls in their long frilly gowns strolling among the majestic live oaks in front of huge white houses with columns. Images that come straight from Gone With The Wind.
Today the Deep South is different; it is bustling cities that have become some of the financial centers of the nation. It is people who have come here to work or retire — from all areas of the country.
But it is still the South.
Get out in the country and you will find that southern charm and hospitality are still very much alive in the friendliness and the helpfulness of the local people.
It is a land of magnolias and pine forests, of lakes and lazy rivers, country stores, and real honest-to-goodness ice cream counters in local drug stores.
In the coming issues we will follow the Natchez Trace Parkway as it meanders from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. The names sound like something straight out of a country song — and sometimes they are. This is the land of "Tupe- Io" and "Choctaw Ridge" and "Billie Joe MacAllister" and the "Tallahatchie Bridge". It is also hills, curves and some real fine motorcycle riding roads. It is the best pork bbq in the world and bbq ribs that are too just die for.
Most of all it is a wonderful trip, a fun area to visit and to get to know and a big change from city life. Places like Tupelo are 200 miles and 50 years from the modern cities — and that is why they are worth the trip. This is America as it was, a series of living Norman Rockwell scenes.
May 25 – 28 Fire On The Mountain Eureka Springs, AR
May 31 to Jun 3 Republic Of Texas Rally, Austin, TX
June 30 -July 5 Ride The Rockies with the Motorcycles: On The Road Again staff and Turkey Creek Tours
June 4 to June 9 Americade, Lake George, NY
June 20 to June 24 Honda Hoot, Knoxville, TN
June 21 to July 6 Route 66 Dream Tour
July 6 to July 8 Hollister Motorcycle Rally, Hollister, CA
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