Day 19 - Sponsored by Temple Israel, WB, MI

At long last I made it to the Natchez Trace Parkway. My usual day begins with a 6:00 am wake-up call, followed by picking- and packing-up camp, a solid breakfast, and filling-up all four water bottles, two bottles with water and two with an electrolyte mix. Also the "juice" in my iPhone has to be set for at least 80% to make it through the day, to take pictures, communicate my HeyWay application, and pilot me on and off the route. For today all of that is in order, where this is not always the case. Cycling the Parkway early in the morning is ideal, with little traffic, a cool breeze and some wildlife still visible on the side of the road. By noon the sun is beating down the open road and burns the right side of my body all to crisp! The Trace is the story of Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Indians following traditional ways of life, of French and Spanish people venturing into a world new to them, and of people building a new nation. All along the Parkway are historical markers and trails, retelling of the history along the route. The old Trace was used by travelers, merchants, messengers and adventurers, in a way I fit the bill for all four, but most importantly as a messenger for the Blue Planet Foundation.