Podcasts about Natchez Trace

It's planning season for spring and summer tours! But if you're in the US or planning a bike adventure here, there's some real question marks about our national park system. From budget cuts to layoffs and reinstatements to ever-increasing demand… is this the right year to consider a trip through Yellowstone or Shenandoah?  Pedalshift 400 Live Hold the date… Pedalshift 400 Live will be Friday April 11th at 8pm ET - 5pm PT. Check out Pedlashift on YouTube or pedalshift.net/live for more. Ask Me Anything for sure, the rest is a surprise maybe to me as well? What's Happening with US National Parks in 2025? •Brief overview of the budget situation: potential closures, service reductions, delayed seasonal openings February firing of a category of federal employees Buyout offer to some employees Just recently a court order led to reinstatement of them Still a huge gap in the staffing needed for the increasing demand •Types of services at risk: ranger programs, campground availability, road maintenance, shuttle systems, water access •Examples of parks most likely to be affected - Yosemite, Yellowstone and most of the majors that are on bike routes. Impacts on Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking •Common bike routes through or around National Parks (e.g., Skyline Drive, Natchez Trace, Blue Ridge Parkway, Yellowstone Loop, etc.) •How closures or reduced services complicate trip planning •Campgrounds unavailable or unmaintained •Fewer refill spots for water/food •Riskier road conditions due to lack of maintenance or ranger presence •Potential increase in car traffic on fewer open roads •Implications for car-free or low-impact travelers Tips for Bike Travelers Navigating These Changes •Research and plan ahead: how to track park-specific updates •Use apps and websites that reflect real-time closures (NPS.gov, iOverlander, RideWithGPS updates, ACA forums) •Be prepared for self-sufficiency: water filtration, food storage, backup shelters •Consider alternative routes: National Forests, state parks, BLM lands •Join or support advocacy efforts for bike access and funding for parks

TWR Season 4 Episode 23 of the Travels With Randy podcast is here! St Louis Baseball And The Natchez Trace Parkway Well it's been a fun week for Randy! The week started with him at Busch Stadium watching his Angels play the Cardinals.   From there, he had to dodge thunderstorms, lightning, and tornadoes as he crossed over to Memphis.  After driving a few hours east of there he found the Natchez Trace Parkway, and old Native American trail which is now managed by the Federal govt (a la The Blue Ridge Parkway for example) which meanders from just south of Nashville to Natchez, LA. After that, it wouldn't be TWR if the fellas didn't speak about bigger issues.  Tonight,  they focused on the differences between generations, how to raise men in this climate, and whether or not OnlyFans girls are justified earning their living or if they are contributing to the horrific dating/marriage/birthrate stats right now.   C'mon in - the brainwater's fine! Come join the conversation on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/travelswithrandypodcast Have a great idea for the guys?  Want to sponsor us?  Want to be a guest? Want to pay for both of us to go to Alaska?  Email bubba@travelswithrandypodcast.com

On Creature Comforts, Kevin Farrell is joined by Dr. Troy Majure, veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center in Jackson and Libby Hartfield retired director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.Conservation biologist with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Tom Mann is joining us today. We have Tom on routinely to discuss the migration of salamanders that struggle to survive crossing the Natchez Trace, but he's also added a little more studying and observation to the process which he'll share with us this hour. To submit your own question for the show, email us at animals@mpbonline.org or send us a message with the Talk To Us feature in the MPB Public Media App. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're lacing up our boots and hitting the trail with John Hardin & Keith Overbay as they talk about crewing and setting the Natchez Trace FKT. We're not just talking about the miles and the records. We dive deep into the heart and soul of these FKT attempts, exploring the meticulous preparation, the emotional rollercoasters, and the physical challenges that push runners to their limits. It's a raw and honest look at what it takes to chase those big, audacious goals. But it's not just about grit and determination. We also talk about the power of community and support in the ultra world, and how those connections can lift you up when the going gets tough. It's a reminder that we're all in this together, and that shared passion can fuel incredible achievements. So if you've ever dreamed of chasing your own FKT, or if you're simply inspired by stories of human resilience and perseverance, this episode is a must-listen. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Journey 05:39 John's Running Journey and Early Experiences 11:28 Keith's Entry into Running and Shared Experiences 13:54 The Natchez Trace FKT Attempt: Background and Preparation 18:18 Preparation and Training for the FKT 26:21 Challenges Faced During the FKT Attempt 31:24 Final Preparations and Logistics for the FKT 33:51 Preparation and Day One Overview 46:56 Day Two Challenges and Adjustments 57:22 Day Three: Injury and Mental Struggles 01:04:35 The Struggle of Endurance 01:08:31 Finding Strength in Pain 01:11:53 Mental Challenges and Breakthroughs 01:17:37 The Role of Support and Crew 01:23:57 The Final Push to the Finish Line 01:35:00 The Journey to the FKT 01:42:56 The Emotional and Mental Aspects of Running 01:48:09 Community and Connection in Trail Running 01:52:58 The Challenges of Crewing 01:56:04 Looking Ahead: Future Adventures

Wild turkeys are what biologists call an indicator species — meaning its presence in a location is indicative of a healthy ecosystem for all other species, including humans. The turkey is also a significant figure to Native cultures, both spiritually and practically. In the early 1900s, commercial hunting left the wild turkey population decimated, and it faced extinction. Hunters were the first to notice the trouble, and in the mid-1900s, efforts began to rescue and conserve them — a movement that changed the course of history for a bird that often roams our streets and neighborhoods.From East Nashville to Natchez Trace, and from Radnor Lake to Hermitage, residents often have run-ins with the weird, wonderful, wild turkey. But its significance to this country and our environment cannot be understated — and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says it needs our help to keep it thriving.This episode was produced by Leslie Eiler Thompson.GUESTS Roger Shields | Biologist; Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, Division of Wildlife and Forestry, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Windy Hamm | Hobbyist hunter Tanya Peres | Associate Professor of Anthropology (Zooarchaeology), Florida State University  Tom Kunesh | President, Tennessee Ancient Sites Conservancy

On Creature Comforts, Kevin Farrell is joined by Dr. Troy Majure, veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center in Jackson and Libby Hartfield retired director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.Kevin is out this week, so Marissa Vaughn hops in for the hour to guest-host the show. Conservation biologist with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Tom Mann is joining us today. We have Tom on routinely to discuss the migration of salamanders that struggle to survive crossing the Natchez Trace, and it's these salamanders' time of year again. We welcome him on to discuss what he does to help these amphibians. To submit your own question for the show, email us at animals@mpbonline.org or send us a message with the Talk To Us feature in the MPB Public Media App. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wild turkeys are what biologists call an indicator species — meaning its presence in a location is indicative of a healthy ecosystem for all other species, including humans. The turkey is also a significant figure to Native cultures, both spiritually and practically. In the early 1900s, commercial hunting left the wild turkey population decimated, and it faced extinction. Hunters were the first to notice the trouble, and in the mid-1900s, efforts began to rescue and conserve them — a movement that changed the course of history for a bird that often roams our streets and neighborhoods.From East Nashville to Natchez Trace, and from Radnor Lake to Hermitage, residents often have run-ins with the weird, wonderful, wild turkey. But its significance to this country and our environment cannot be understated — and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says it needs our help to keep it thriving.GUESTS Roger Shields | Biologist; Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, Division of Wildlife and Forestry, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Windy Hamm | Hobbyist hunter Tanya Peres | Associate Professor of Anthropology (Zooarchaeology), Florida State University  Tom Kunesh | President, Tennessee Ancient Sites Conservancy

A Middle Tennessee Business Podcast....subscribe/follow/rate/review at www.mmtbp.comI met Brad Meshell when I was recording podcasts at Jim Morris' Impact Effect event in October 2023. He was one of the guests who was to have an episode recorded by me. When he told me that he walks the 444 mile Natchez Trace Parkway every year to raise awareness for the parents of children with autism, I was intrigued. He gave me one of what I thought to be iconic blue 444 hats, which fit perfectly on my head….which is a rarity for me, as I have a larger than average cranium. Brad started the non-profit after he and his wife learned that their son Jacob was autistic. The reason why he wants to help other parents in similar situations? The isolation. The loneliness. The feeling of being “on your own” with coping with a new and tremendous challenge. I wanted to have Brad on to share his incredible story and hopefully encourage you to contribute. He begins his walk on April 1 and spans the entire month. From the Jacob's Audible website:“As parents, we knew Jacob was autistic by his 2nd birthday. We did not get a diagnosis until close to his 3rd birthday, which delayed getting help that much longer. I knew from raising my oldest that babies can do and say things a lot earlier than we think. Forget the milestone checklist. I knew from simply changing his diaper that Jacob was not connecting with me.The rhythm of his babble was different. The eye contact was there, but the emotional expression was not. These signs showed up early when Jacob was a baby. The checklist screenings at his well checkups did not catch this. I was told not to worry. As a parent it really wasn't about the "worry." It was about making sure my child had what he needed to thrive.This is where isolation can begin for many parents. Many start internet searching, which only funnels into longer waitlists for a diagnosis and getting your child the tools needed to develop and grow. The process and understanding of an autism diagnosis can be better.This is why Brad and I are doing this. If telling our story helps another family, I will tell it over and over again. Welcome to Jacob's Audible. We are so happy you're here. Together we can change the play.”Highlights:Walking 15 miles a day on a scenic highway. (4:25)Ultra-running sponsorship and fundraising opportunities. (17:12)Growing up in New Orleans with unique cultural experiences. (29:58)Walking a 444-mile trace and marketing strategies. (49:56)Autism acceptance and support for parents. (58:20)Follow Brad:https://www.jacobsaudible.org/__________________________________________________________________________________________________****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:www.mmtbp.comwww.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcastwww.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvosTiktok: @jimmccarthyvos __________________________________________________________Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:https://linktr.ee/mamwmwThe Dad Joke Challenge is sponsored by Ed Fox and Tradebank of Nashville, for when you have unsold inventory or services and think that barter is smarter, go to www.nashville.tradebank.com. The Dad joke challenge with Ed Fox - Author of 101 groan-tastic dad jokes available on Amazon Kindle, or you could go TikTok channel @specialedfoxdadjokes____________________________________________________________****You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip__________________________________________________________________________The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books

Over the past few years, Moondog Roop has done three major thru-skates. First in 2021, he spent 45 days on the 1,100 mile Florida Trail. In 2022, he thru-skated across the entire state of New Mexico, and in 2023 he skateboarded 444 miles on the historic Natchez Trace, a trail which passes through parts of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.Connect with Moondog: InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Cindy Whitehead - Stories From a Female Skateboarding Pioneer Thank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesCheck out:REI Re/Supply

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by David “Moondog” Roop. Moondog, alongside his buddy, has done the Natchez Trace Trail, Florida Trail, and 500 miles through New Mexico, not on foot, but instead on skateboard which he refers to as a thru-skate. We learn all about what goes into such a unique adventure, including how his gear differs relative to traditional backpacking, what terrain is skateboardable and what isn't, how sore his push muscles get over the course of a full day of skateboarding, and more. We wrap the show with the first edition of the 2023 AT thru-hiker survey results, the weirdest things we've brought home after a night out, and our triple crown of campaign promises. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer's Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off backpacks at gossamergear.com. Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with David “Moondog” Roop Moondog's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:03:01 - Reminders: Subscribe to the Trek's newsletter to hear when the Tyvek wall is available, subscribe to us on YouTube, and apply to be a 2024 blogger! 00:05:35 - Introducing Moondog 00:06:00 - Tell us about Madrid, NM 00:09:21 - How did you get your trail name? 00:11:18 - How does thru-skating work? 00:16:00 - How many miles can you normally skate in a day? 00:16:44 - What was your backpacking experience prior to starting skateboarding? 00:17:50 - What muscles get sore after a full day of skateboarding? 00:19:06 - Do you factor in the weight of the board? 00:21:00 - How hard was the learning curve? 00:22:06 - How much of the trail do you need to skate to consider it a thru-skate? 00:24:38 - Tell us some wipeout stories 00:27:08 - Do wipeouts make you consider more what you wear? 00:29:20 - Compare and contrast the Florida Trail and the Natchez Trace 00:32:00 - Discussion about skating effort and strategy 00:34:03 - How was your experience doing a full trail end to end? 00:36:00 - Discussion about wildlife on the Florida Trail 00:37:05 - Do you ever have gear malfunctions with the skateboard? 00:38:23 - Discussion about ultra skating 00:40:10 - Are there any interesting things skaters do that hikers don't? 00:42:13 - Tell us about your New Mexico thru-skate 00:45:12 - What portion was hiking versus skating? 00:46:50 - What's a standout moment you've had while thru-skating? 00:49:30 - How did you land on the Natchez Trace Trail? 00:51:12 - What's the best time of year to do it? 00:52:22 - Have you considered using a mountain board to do something more rugged? 00:53:20 - How do you protect your board? 00:55:00 - How would you design your dream board? 00:55:45 - What did you do in Puerto Rico? 00:57:26 - What thru-skates are on your bucket list? Segments Trek Propaganda: The 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 1 by Kate Richard QOTD: What's the weirdest thing you've brought home on a night out? Triple Crown of our presidential campaign promises Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Jason “Snail” Snailer, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Hailey Buckingham, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S.

Dave is on a babysitting mission in Nashville where it is way too cold. He finishes this episode with an interview he did with his grandsons during the holidays.Judith extolls the advantages of driving the back roads rather than the expressways.  The Bucks concur and Dave mentions the Natchez Trace.Judith again bails  out Del  in the latest Stump the Buck quiz. This leads to a PSA on proper behavior in the barber chair.Judith recommends the book First Friends by Gary Ginsburg. It's a story about eleven presidents and a friend each had, Dave recommends Anatomy of a Fall, starring German actress  Sandra Hüller as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband's death. Her performance is astounding, should win an oscar but probably won't. Five of five stars. See it.Del again touts roller coasters as a traffic solution. Dave remains perplexed.Several listeners wrote in applauding Paul and Buzz for their mission to Ukraine. Keep up the great work, guys.This episode's bonus track is Jackson Browne singing  a song he wrote in 1976. The lyrics take on a new meaning when you're looking back. Song starts at 1:20 for the impatient.Extra track is Rachael Price again. Just because.Give us your thoughts: BUCKSTWOOLD@GMAIL.COM Find us on XTwitter: @twooldbucks1Leave a Voice message - click HEREWHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

Show #136 – #tunamac – On this month's Trail Show special guests Moondog and Justin join us to talk about doing a kickflip, getting blue-lighted by NPS law enforcement, and their unique traverse of the Natchez Trace, POD discusses a critical trail closure and updates us on Pablo's hippos, Thanksgiving delights such as jello salad, […] The post The Trail Show #136: The Natchez Trace first appeared on The Trail Show.

Open-Door Playhouse continues to present short plays in podcast form. Its upcomingplay Willy will debut on November 21, 2023 online at  http://opendoorplayhouse.orgSuffering from PTSD, Willy continues to struggle in his day-to-day life, haunted by thepsychological trauma he suffered while serving in Vietnam, and the subsequent divorce from the love of his life, and separation from his daughter, whom he adores.Bernadette Armstrong directs Matt Ritchey, Gena Kay, and Ayla Rose Barreau.Jan Buttram is the playwright. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and is theFounding Artistic Director of Abingdon Theatre Company. Her other plays include Texas Homos, The President and Her Mistress, Private Battles, The Parker Family Circus, Backwoods, Lost on the Natchez Trace, and more. She is also an actor and director.Willy is a selection in the Open-Door Playhouse month-long Salute to Veterans inNovember, focusing on works created by veterans.Founded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What's Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.  Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, soundeffects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA. There's no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to  https://opendoorplayhouse.orgSupport the show

Tig Cross has been working on the Electrom for almost 8 years. Now in limited production he hopes to one day make his dream of a 2 wheeled light electric recumbent come true. He believes this bike has advantages that will make it a true "car replacement" option in the future. Our own Larry Seidman participated in two senior games events last month. He was excited to see some other recumbent riders at the Huntsman Senior Games in Utah and the Nevada Senior Games as well. He tells us about the events, venues and the racers involved making it clear that more of us should join in the fun. Sports Director Denny Voorhees is back with a report on a couple of interesting endurance races including the Natchez Trace 444. Our pal Larry Oslund features prominently in this report along with a few other bent racers.00:00:00  Intro00:00:50  What's on Today's Show00:02:20  Panel Introduction00:04:00  Sponsor Introduction00:06:40  Recumbent News with Honza Galla00:12:20  Electrom Light Electric 2 Wheeled Vehicle with Founder Tig Cross01:23:00  Senior Games Report from Utah and Nevada with Larry Seidman01:32:40  Sports Report on Natchez Trace 444 with Denny Voorhees01:37:00  Sponsor Thanks01:39:38  Announcements01:42:00  Goodbye to panel and crewPlease subscribe to us on YouTube (https://goo.gl/CHOOgX) and Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/laidbackbikereport/) if you haven't already done so. Lot's more info and you can also buy a hat on our website: https://www.laidbackbikereport.com/.We would love to have you as a Patreon Patron where you can support all we do for as little as $1/month. Check out how it works and the benefits you can reap here: https://www.patreon.com/laidbackbikereport*Thanks to these wonderful sponsors for making the LBR webcast possible*TerraCycle  https://t-cycle.com/  800-371-5871 or  +1-503-231-9798 (Outside N. America)Trailside Trikes  https://trailside.bike/  352-419-4809TerraTrike/Greenspeed https://wizwheelz.com/  800-945-9910Laidback Cycles https://laidbackcycles.com/   916-619-1003Connecticut Yankee Pedaller http://www.cypbikes.com/  641-774-5557Bicycle Man https://bicycleman.com/ 607-587-8835AZUB https://azub.eu/  RecumbentPDX https://recumbentpdx.com/  (503) 231-1000Eco Cycles https://www.eco-ebike.com/ (833) 693-2453*Honza's News Report Links*--Recumbent News  https://www.recumbent.news/*Guest Links*Electrom Light Electric Vehicle  https://www.electrom.ca/Huntsman World Senior Games  https://seniorgames.net/Nevada Senior Games  https://www.nevadaseniorgames.com/Natchez Trace 444  https://www.bikereg.com/57851Psycho 48  https://thepsycho48.com/Cycle-Con 2023  https://cycle-con.com/*LBR Review Team Links**LBR Crew Links*-Recumbent News-online news website by Honza Galla  https://www.recumbent.news/-BentRider/Larry Varney  http://www.bentrideronline.com/-Doug Davis Bicycle Evolution  https://www.bicycle-evolution.com/-Nina Paley's Links-Nina's blog  https://blog.ninapaley.com/-Nina's bike merchandise  http://www.palegraylabs.com/other-stuff-1/protective-bicycle-amulet-Peter Stull  https://bicycleman.com/-Josef Janning  https://www.facebook.com/josef.janning-Tim Segard https://www.bentrevolution.com/-Tray Bourgoyne  Tray@netdoor.com**The absolute best archive of early recumbent history is Recumbent Cyclist News**  Find years of publisher Bob Bryant's hard work here:  https://rcnpdf.com/**Viewer Submissions or Questions**Send to laidbackbikereport@gmail.comSupport the show

Conservation biologist with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Tom Mann is joining us today. We've had Tom on previously to discuss the migration of salamanders that struggle to survive crossing the Natchez Trace, and it's these salamanders' time of year again. We welcome him on to discuss what he does to help these amphibians.Email the show: animals@mpbonline.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonjour listeners! This week we bring you part 1 of my discussion with James Gracey and his experience at the 2023 Paris Brest Paris ride. Starting with his beginnings in Mississippi to braving the awe-inspiring 1200-kilometer cycle race, James offers us a riveting account. It's an ultimate test of endurance, perseverance, and grit, accompanied by the impressive camaraderie of the cycling community. We touch upon the importance of mental preparation, time-management, and effective strategies to conquer challenges. Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: [00:00:00]Craig Dalton (host): Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the show, I'm welcoming my friend, James Gracey to come on and talk about Perry breasts, Paris. In fact, our conversation went so long. I'm going to break it up into two episodes. Have you ever seen those riders typically on steel bikes with maybe a rack up front and certainly a bag on the front of their bars, riding the roads potentially coming home at six, 7:00 PM. As you've long shelf to your gravel bike and been doing something else. The type of rider that's been out all day. Maybe they're wearing wool clothing, but they've got a little bit of a throwback vibe. I was a little bit unfamiliar with the sport of Renda nearing. But along the way, I've actually had a couple guests. I remember Yon from Renee. Hers was a big, random. And a rider. And also Tim from Kitzbuhel. I showed up one day riding one of those bikes on a ride I was on. I never really thought too much about it and about the history of this sport, but with James signing up or attempting to sign up for Perry, Brest, Paris this year. I dug it a little bit more and learn the history of the sport. Learned that it's a hundred year old event. It's the oldest cycling event in the world. Learned a little bit about what it takes to qualify I became fascinated by both the sheer endurance challenge of this 1200 kilometer ride, but also the culture around it. Now as James will mention in our conversation, he's relatively new to the scene. I've known him for 25 years and always known him to attack many, a cycling challenge, but he wasn't part of that random air culture. Much more than six, eight months ago. But he dove right in God has qualification for Perry brass Paris. And completed. The 1200 kilometer journey. Just in a Nick of time under his 84 hour time limit that he set off for himself. I thought the story was so fascinating. I thought I would share it with you. With gravel bikes, we have a similar type setup to these random airbikes they're often. They're designed around comfort and obviously long distance performance, just like many of our gravel bikes. So the way I think about it is the Renda near community. Is the kissing cousin, the older cousin. Of the gravel cycling community so i hope you enjoy the conversation as i said i'll break it up in the middle to put it into two roughly 45 minute episodes and with that here's my conversation with james gracie James, welcome to the show. [00:03:04]James Gracey: Thanks. Thanks for having me Craig Dalton. Welcome to the kitchen. Welcome to the kitchen This is where it all happens [00:03:09]Craig Dalton: this is a little bit of a detour for the gravel ride podcast because there wasn't a lot of gravel in Paris Brest Paris, but Talking to you over the months in preparation for this and talking to you during the event It just seems too good not to capture these stories Because i've always thought after I had learned about randoneering through a couple past guests I've always felt like it's the kissing cousin of gravel and a lot of the mentality is similar to some of these gravel events. So that's a long introduction, but I want to first start off by just asking a little bit about your background. Super quickly, where'd you grow up and how'd you discover the [00:03:46]James Gracey: bike? Uh, I grew up in Mississippi, uh, which is not a super bike heavy, uh, area. And I, um, bought a bicycle. When I was 12 years old for 120 from Sears, I thought it was awesome. And I remember going, uh, my very first time that I reached another city limit sign, which was like four miles from where I lived, I was like, I just rode to another city. It was Marion, and I was like, that is awesome. I was like, I went home, I rode to another town. And then after that, for years, I would ride to another town, or ride to another town, and I thought it was incredible. And so I kept buying bicycles that were, You know, probably beyond my capacity to spend on a bike, but that's where my, that's where I wanted to spend whatever money that I had. Yeah. And did [00:04:37]Craig Dalton: you start sort of taking bigger and bigger adventures as you became older? [00:04:41]James Gracey: And yeah, yeah, yeah. So I w I would take, uh, when I was 15 or 16, I'd ridden maybe up to maybe up to a 100 miles. And, uh, when I was in college, I took some bicycle trips. I worked at a bike shop And so I got inexpensive gear there with a discount, and I would take trips either back to my home, which was, like, the first time I did that trip was 140 miles. It's 90 on the regular highway. Uh, or I would, when I was in college, I'd ridden down to Florida to see a friend on a mountain bike because I didn't have another one. And I just, I thought it was awesome. From Mississippi down to [00:05:21]Craig Dalton: Florida? Yeah. And did you, were you? It sounds like the bicycle was a mode of adventure and exploration, but were you, were you discovering racing? Were you interested in racing? Uh, I [00:05:33]James Gracey: did mostly. I rode, I raced a little bit of bikes, mostly I did triathlons. Okay. I was doing triathlons when I was, uh, 14 and 15 in Mississippi, which is some of the oldest triathlons are, are from Mississippi. Was that right? They were from the, they were from the mid to late seventies. Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama has some of the oldest ones. Super interesting. And, uh, I was a swimmer growing up. And, and I would run to swim practice, like when I was 12 and 13, which is a couple miles each way. And so I just kind of, it made sense to put them together. Yeah. And I raced triathlons for 30 years. [00:06:09]Craig Dalton: And you moved progressively into the longer distances. [00:06:12]James Gracey: Into longer distances, and I did longer trips either by myself, like I bet a friend of mine when I was 25 that I could ride the Natchez Trace in three days. I bet him 20, and I have his 20 still in my, in my closet that he signed. Uh, and it was super hard. It was really hard. It was in July. It was 100 and something degrees every day, and there's no services on the Natchez Trace. Um, Which is actually this, this pen that I have, uh, given to you is actually a challenge, going to be a challenge pen at some point in this talk about the Snatch's Trace 444 that you and I may could do together. Okay. Uh, next year. And, uh, I did, I did that ride and it, it changed, it was, that was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life. And, I really enjoyed that. It's a, it's by far the best way to see the world. You're going slow enough that you can see everything, but fast enough that you're not walking and you're not going to see the same thing over and over again for days on end. You can really, you can really move through an area or a state or even a country on a bicycle in not that much time. And it's, it's, it's hands down the best way to see the world. So I'm going to fast forward [00:07:33]Craig Dalton: maybe 30 years of time. So many, many Ironmen under your belt. You and I connected probably 20 years ago doing Ironman triathlons, but we've also had some other off road adventures together. We've done the Leadville 100 together. Um, we've gone to Europe a couple of times, road riding with a group of friends and gravel and gravel and gravel. Yes. Yeah. For the listener, James was on that Girona gravel trip in November of 2022 that I talked about on the podcast previously. So you've done a bunch of things. Cycling has always been part of your life. I've been fortunate enough to be your friend and been invited to do things with you and encouraged to do things with you. Earlier this year, the beginning of the year, you came up to me and you're like, Hey, I'm going to do Perry, Brest, Paris, you want to do it? And you said, here, there's all these things you need to do in order to do it. And I was like, dude, that's the type of invitation that I love one, but two takes me months and months and months to get my head around. So Perry, Brest, Paris is the oldest cycling race in the world. It goes from Paris to Brest, back to Paris, 1200 kilometers. Self supported and a 90 hour time limit. Is that correct? There [00:08:53]James Gracey: are, uh, there are three different time limits that are self selected. Okay. You can choose to do an 80 hour time limit, an 84 hour time limit or a 90. I chose 84. [00:09:02]Craig Dalton: Okay. So we can get into that to just set the stage because this is a gravel cycling podcast, the sport of randoneering in cycling is its own interesting thing. That's been around, obviously, since the. Yeah. But it's this concept that you've got multiple distances that are sort of official distances of Rendon air cycling. Can you just kind of talk through a little bit of your understanding of it? [00:09:29]James Gracey: Yeah. So it, uh, the reason it probably ties directly back to a gravel podcast is 130 years ago, they were, it was, it was born in gravel. It was born on either dirt roads or farm roads or whatever they had at the time. This predates almost automobiles. Uh, they had automobiles, but they didn't have roads. And, for the most part, I haven't done, I've maybe done one or two brevets that didn't have gravel in some sections. Some of them were six miles or eight miles. There was some gravel, uh, in Perry Brest. Not much, but percentage wise pretty small, but it may have been a couple of miles. And... And the idea that you're doing it on your own, especially back 130 years ago, that you're doing it on your own, self supported, likely with solid rubber tires back then, I don't remember when. They wouldn't have had a need for pneumatic tires at that point. And have to change everything and carry everything that you need to support your bike. Because you might get lucky and have a break in a town with a bike shop, and you might not. You might have a break in the middle of nowhere at three in the morning. And so, the idea behind that and self reliance is core to rent a nearing. It is core to the series that they have. It's core to just the whole idea of, I'm going to go do this thing. Whether it's a certified ACP Brevet, or whether you just want to go ride for whatever the distance is, usually they're pretty long, by yourself, and you want to be able to fix and do everything that you need. And whatever... Stumbling blocks you encounter along the way that you will be able to overcome them on your own. Yeah. Or, through the assistance of another randoneur, or, whatever, right, but that's, that's still on your own. If you were really hungry and you go ask the farmer for an apple, yeah, he gave you the apple, but you have to go get it. Got it. Uh, and so that's what, what, uh, that's, that's what the whole sport is about. That's what the whole um, uh, section of cycling is about. Yeah. And. They're on gravel all the time. Like I rode a gravel bike on this ride as did a significant amount of people. Yeah. When I wouldn't do that on a road bike. [00:11:52]Craig Dalton: When I see, you know, when I see the people in the Bay area that I consider to be randomers, they're often on steel bikes with a bat, a large bag up front. Yeah. And I would always see them and think. You know, that guy or girl is probably out for a long ride and you'd see him coming through our town of Mill Valley, going back to San Francisco at like 6pm, like having been out all day. So the, the, and the tire, I mean, the tire sizes that I often see on these road bikes were [00:12:20]James Gracey: quite big. Yeah, they're 35s or 40s. Yeah, yeah, [00:12:23]Craig Dalton: exactly. And that's, you know, I had, um, I had Jan Herne from Rene Hurst tires on at one point and he was telling me in the background of our, Conversation about the type of writing he likes to do and how gravel was nothing new for him because he'd been riding, you know, 47 seat tires tire on a road bike for many, many [00:12:44]James Gracey: years. Yeah, you have, uh, like the idea that you would do it on a, on a road bike with 23 or even 25 it's, that's pretty uncomfortable. You're on the bike for a long time and comfort is comfort is key in a gravel bike has longer wheelbase. so I don't know many other people who are so blessed with the opportunity and the journey and Well that's in the back. corrected that So it's a part [00:13:15]Craig Dalton: of my That's and sustain it while you're, because public transport done Perry Breast Paris before and introduce the idea [00:13:26]James Gracey: to you? Uh, I actually learned about Perry Breast Paris in 99 and the guy that told me was a Worked at one. It was a customer of mine in Mississippi and He told he had just come back from the 99 ride and he told me about it. I was like, I'm gonna do that That is definitely something I'm going to do. Yeah, and then when I found out how There's no brevets in Mississippi or Alabama where I lived at the time, or very few, and there was no internet, really, so you couldn't really figure out how to do it, so I back burnered it, and had thought about it for a while, and didn't, I didn't even know it was every four years until last year, I think, uh, and then, uh, one of my friends from Mill Valley, Ray Keane, had gone, uh, to the 2019, uh, Uh, addition and then he was telling me all about it and I followed him the year that he did it in 2019 and And he said it's not that hard you to join a club or you have to join a club. That is Russo the randoners of the United States Russo sponsored that they have ACP rides. So the ACP rides are brevets that are specific to qualification for Perry Brest and probably some other ones, but it has to be an ACP sanctioned event. And to get into those, you have to do four qualification rides within the prior year before Perry Brest. Uh, so they're not all over the place. And that's one of the things that made it seem so arduous, back 15 and 20 years ago, was that I don't know where any of these things are. I've never ridden overnight. I've never ridden for that long. So I was, had been a bicycle mechanic for a couple of years, but I doubt I could, you know, relace up a wheel on the fly to try to get you to the finish line. And, uh, so listening to him go through all of that, it sounded like maybe, maybe it was doable. And then when it came back around in, uh, this year for 23, but he and I started discussing it in 2022. Cause you really, some people prepare for it for four years. Most people that I spoke to prepared for it for two years, and I started, uh, training, I, I really got registered for this in January or February. And so you only have a couple of months to do all four qualification brevets. [00:15:53]Craig Dalton: And what are the, what are the distances of [00:15:55]James Gracey: those brevets? The distances for qualification are 200k, of 300k, of 400k, And [00:16:03]Craig Dalton: it's not just riding 'em. You have to ride them in a prescribed amount of hours. Right. [00:16:06]James Gracey: In a prescribed amount of hours. Yeah. So like the 600 K that I did had a 40 hour time limit, which is totally doable unless you have a problem. If you have a problem in the middle of the night, you have to wait for support or to get to a town that can help you out. You're probably not gonna, yeah, you're probably not gonna make it. As you sort [00:16:23]Craig Dalton: of said, you had a pretty intense schedule because of. The late time in which you started this pursuit. Most [00:16:29]James Gracey: people had already done one or two that allows you to preregister. Kind of at the end of 2022. And so then you can convert that to a full registration. You're almost guaranteed to get in. And I didn't, I didn't do that. And so I had one flexible date from February until the race, or until the, it's not race, until the event. That I may could have moved one thing, but I would have had, uh, Instead of driving to Sacramento to do the 600K, I would have had to fly to Southern California or Arizona to get it in. And it just happened that every one of them, like even when I started the 200K the day after spring break, I hadn't ridden a hundred miles since I was with you in Spain, which was six months before that. And I was just as worried about that as I was about the event. Because it had just been a while. And, um, and I flew in. I got back, I got home late at like midnight and left at four to go do the event. But I don't know anything about these events. And the second one, uh, that I did, there were only four people signed up. You don't know that. So I showed up and there was a guy on a motorcycle there, three other riders, and he said, Well, there's only four of you, so have a good ride. And that was it. Then we were off. There's no like start. There's no banner. There's no start gun. He's like, have a good time. But there are, there are [00:17:58]Craig Dalton: check in points that you have to get stamped or [00:18:00]James Gracey: something. There are, uh, and I did, I did, I brought my, my, um, passport, which is what you have to stamp at the ride. Uh, and so in the, in the ones that are, that are not a big event, like the one for four people, they are non, uh, there are controls that you have to stop at and you either have to purchase something And get a receipt that's time stamped. Yeah, or take a picture of yourself in front of wherever this control is so for a 300k there might be six or seven controls where you have to roll up to the grocery store or One of them was a stop sign Uh an intersection sign. There's nothing you just have to take a picture of yourself in front of it Yeah, and if you forget to do that, then you don't you don't you qualify and [00:18:47]Craig Dalton: that the Your success in these qualifiers, does it get logged somewhere? [00:18:54]James Gracey: It gets logged with RUSA and with San Francisco Randonneurs. So you joined a [00:18:58]Craig Dalton: local club and you submit the fact that you did this event and you have your control pictures [00:19:07]James Gracey: and they log it somewhere. Yeah, so you submit those either pictures or receipts. You scan all the receipts and you send them to whoever was in charge. Of the event that day. The qualification event. Yeah. And so if the event is over Sunday at midnight, you have until Tuesday afternoon at some point to get them either all of their receipts or the pictures and you know, and then they see that you have gone to all of the locations in whatever appropriate timeframe and send it into 'em. So [00:19:38]Craig Dalton: 200 kilometers, 120 miles, I can get my head around. I've done that 300 kilometers. Hundred 80 miles. Yeah. I can stretch my head right around that and say like, okay, start early in the morning. Keep plugging away. Possibly. I'll get that done. I've done, I think maybe on our coast ride, maybe we did 130 miles. Yeah. One year, which was the longest I've ever ridden. Okay. So 180, the 300 k, maybe you get it done in, in one kind of, yeah. [00:20:09]James Gracey: Fell swoop. Yeah. You don't, you don't stop for, you don't stop to like sleep. Okay. And then you don't even, you don't take naps. You just, you, you'll stop to have lunch. You just keep [00:20:17]Craig Dalton: plugging away, but obviously like you're starting in the, in the daylight and you're ending in the darkness or starting in the dark. [00:20:23]James Gracey: Yeah. That's like an 18 hour ride probably. Yeah. Uh, some, somewhere in there, you're probably 15 to 18 hours. It's been on the, depending on how much climbing you're doing. Yeah. And then [00:20:33]Craig Dalton: now bumping up to 400 K, 600 K. To me, that's just, Otherworldly like it's just the territory haven't been in [00:20:42]James Gracey: before it's definitely I had the exact same thoughts at 400k If I couldn't have done it in a different order, I couldn't have started with the 600 I would I don't know I wasn't really mentally ready for that. Yeah, and so the 400k is you're not going to bed You're gonna take a hour and a half long lunch and sit down as much as you can Um, wherever that is, do you remember the time limit for a 400 K? I don't. Okay. Uh, we came in, uh, we started at C it's either six or seven. And then we came in about 2 a. m. Okay. And you sort of, you [00:21:14]Craig Dalton: sort of implied this, that you couldn't have started out and done a 600 K right off the bat. Yeah. What did you learn? I mean, you, you did ride with some other PE people, some more experienced randomers over time. Right. I, one [00:21:26]James Gracey: of the, one of the true benefits of, of doing it in San Francisco or San or the Bay Area, including Sacramento. 'cause there's a lot of, lot of, uh, r years in Davis Yeah. In Sacramento, is that they have a lot of experience. So I would ride with them and just ask question after question after question. What do you do? I, I didn't even know there was a backdrop until we were on a. A, uh, 400 K and a guy said, yeah, well, yeah, there's a backdrop. You service you can sign up for. I thought I was gonna have to carry everything that I needed. Yeah. For three and a half days. And food, just food is a lot. Um, you know, I knew I could stop and buy things, but they also said you can't stop and go to a grocery store and get a cliff bar. It's not how it works. Like they don't have those things there. You can, you're gonna get a ham and cheese sandwich, or you're gonna get a croissant and a coffee and that's what you're getting. Yeah. And so, I was like, well, I don't know if I can make it on that. So when I learned all of these things, writing with people that had done for Perry Brass, and hearing all of their stories. One year it was 100 degrees, one year it rained, and basically got rained out at a super high DNF rate, maybe 12 years ago. And to know all of the things that could possibly happen, it was definitely a boost, because I'm learning and asking them questions for, Yeah. And that's all. It's a free, it's a free gift of, it's a free education. If you just want to do some pulling with them and wait on what one guy was sick. And so we waited, he didn't feel well. So you wait on him and make sure that they are getting the best support from you because you're going to turn around and need it from somebody else. [00:23:10]Craig Dalton: Yeah. I think it's so interesting because I mean, you know, many of us have road riding backgrounds and, Shorter distances. You're drafting You're breaking away there's the kind of push and pull of the peloton but there seems like there's more community to this because Way way into the the mileage you need people. [00:23:30]James Gracey: There there was uh, the the 300k that I did I didn't I hadn't really I didn't really meet anybody on the 200 Because I was in a hurry and had to get go pick up one of my kids And, um, so I didn't want to stay and chat and the 300k we were probably 40 miles in and I had a battery die on my shifter. I didn't have a spare battery. I just didn't even check it. And I looked for, I made four stops for batteries. It was Sunday, places are closed. They don't have this very specific battery shifter, or shifter battery. And he said, I've got one. And then he had to loan me this battery, had to loan me a screwdriver. If he hadn't done that, I wouldn't have, I would not have been able to go to Perry Brest. Because I didn't have another, didn't have any flexibility in my schedule. And when I was asking, I said, I really do appreciate this. It means a lot to me. He's like, oh no, we take care of everybody. His words were, we take care of everybody because we will need to be taken care of. And I saw that over and over and over again. And not only the, the lead up, uh, qualification brevets, but also in the event. People you don't know, you've never met. It's, it's not unlike a professional cycling event where two people are in the breakaway or four or five. They're working together for a common goal. Helping each other. And then at some point, that falls apart. But for that, for that time period, they are You're essentially on the same team. You're essentially doing things for one another. Even though you have diametrically opposed, you know, team programs. And you will eventually split apart and sprint to the finish. And you hope to crush them. Like that, that crushing part never really happens here. But, but, if you do, you know, somebody's, uh, going two or three miles an hour faster than another one. Like you're going to... It can't continue. Like, they're not there to necessarily get you to the finish line if you had just met. But there is definitely a commonality in the riders and in the community where it's, they support one another all the time. And likely someone would say that during the event I helped them significantly. And I definitely would say that I was helped significantly. It's definitely, uh, morale and, you know, People, uh, coaxing me along at, at certain points. [00:26:04]Craig Dalton: Yeah. So for the 400k and the 600k, are you sleeping during those? [00:26:10]James Gracey: Not for the 400. It's just too, it's too quick. I mean, it's, um, it was, uh, 20 something hours. Okay. I think. Um, and that was actually a pretty flat ride. The 300k was harder. It had a lot of climbing in it. And I was riding with people faster than me. Yeah. So I was struggling to keep up with them every time. And then the 600, we went to, we went to sleep on purpose because I wanted to see what it felt like to ride. Uh, we rode two, 250 or 260 miles. And I wanted to see what it felt like to sleep little and then wake up and ride again. Yeah. Did you sleep in a hotel or? We slept in a hotel. Okay. Yeah. There was not a predetermined. We just got to Winters, I think, or somewhere in, in, uh, um, kind of by Sacramento. And did you sleep [00:26:57]Craig Dalton: a considerable amount of time or just a [00:26:58]James Gracey: small amount of time? I thought it was, uh, I thought it was not very long. Yeah, we slept for like three or three and a half hours. Okay. And then people that came in after us when we went out to get breakfast, so I think we came in at, we got a room at like maybe 230. And so we went out to get breakfast in the hotel and we're like, where's, they're like, where'd you go? You're the last ones up. And I know people came in after us and they maybe laid down for like two hours, right? Crazy. Yeah. Well, it didn't make sense to me. I only slept for two hours after 260 miles. If you have plenty of time to well, that's the thing like we were not in danger of not making yeah But I think they were they were probably just using it as a training Experience. Yeah, I mean [00:27:47]Craig Dalton: and it's interesting We're recording this right on the heels of lachlan morton, uh setting the tour divide record We haven't talked about this, but he he basically committed he's like I don't want I want to sleep every single night and there'd been this trend towards Sleeping less and less and less and he's like I just need to sleep. I don't want to be miserable doing this. And he still beat the record. So it's just kind of curious to hear you say that. The other crazy thing is, so you've done, you've miraculously, in my opinion, you managed to squeeze in all the required training events, all the Brevets, you've gone up to 600 kilometers, which is insane, but the frigging event is 1200 kilometers. So, and I, yet, I mean, we can skip the, you had a busy summer. But you get on a plane, you go to France, got your bike ready, your gear ready. Now [00:28:39]James Gracey: what? Um, we were, we went to, I went to France with my family and we were there 10 days before the event. And I rode, I, I had a very, uh, busy summer with just kids stuff. And so I didn't ride. The only riding I did in the summer was basically the bourvets. To, to qualify and then occasionally paradise [00:29:05]Craig Dalton: loop with me for one day [00:29:07]James Gracey: I mean it wasn't much and I did a bike trip with one of my kids to Summer camp which is right before a trucking which was a which was a two and a half days And so I hadn't really written much and the only thing that you got from For me personally some people would probably ride more I guess, is if you just think about it a lot and you think about the position you're going to be in and you I would try to prepare mentally for what you know is going to happen. There's going to be a time in this ride where you think, What am I doing? I'm not ready for this. I don't have the legs for this. I don't have the energy for this. I've made a mistake. I gotta, I gotta quit. Yeah. You know you're going to get there. And so I think about it a lot. So even when I was on spring break and I had this like just a 200k coming up. what do you think? Or you're just sitting there and I was like, I'm thinking about a ride that I have to do in seven days that I'm nervous about, but I know that if I think about it enough, it will definitely help me during. It will definitely help me prepare. It's not a. As much as as writing itself close [00:30:15]Craig Dalton: to it, but there's, yeah, there's some, there's some great lesson there, James, and just like you can. Preview in your mind, the things that can go wrong. A [00:30:22]James Gracey: hundred percent. And you just get ready for him and you're like, all right, if this happens, what am I going to do? If this happens, what am I going to do? It's, it's just like any other training. If you know, any training you do for anything in life, whether it's professional or some personal training or athletic training, put yourself in that position. So, you know, you have that in the bank and I can go to the bank and make the withdrawal when I need, whether it's in the energy department, cause I need to keep going or mentally that, Hey, I've already been here. And I'm ready to have the answer of like, this is what I'm going to do, right? Even if it's, I'm going to chill out and sit down and I'm going to drink as much fluid as I can for 10 minutes. Even if it's just that. I'm ready for that and I'm prepared for that. And so, uh, going into that, I did get to ride some when my family was, we were at Ile de Ré and it was, it's a bicycle friendly island. Where you just ride between these towns. And so I would do a couple of rides. I was there and I rode, I rode, uh, once in Paris trying to fix a flat. I was like, I'm just gonna go ride to every bike store. But, and they were all closed. And, so, I didn't really have time to think about it, honestly. Like, much. Until the day before the event, because I'm with my family, and we have all of these activities that we're trying to kind of squeeze in, and let the kids enjoy the area. And then, When they're getting ready to go and I'm getting ready to start was the same day So I went to pack it pick up with them so they could see all of it and I'm really glad I did. Yeah I'm glad that They got to see like the excitement of it and people are really over the top and costumes and all of the different velomobiles One guy was on an elliptical, which, I don't think he finished, he may have, I couldn't imagine, like if you think what the ride itself is hard, like being on an elliptical, and standing up for three and a half days, like I couldn't imagine, and, uh, there was a lot of excitement there, so it was really, it was awesome to get ready for it, even though you're not, there's no way to like, there's nothing to do, there's no more training you could do, and even if you did, you would just be hurting, you'd be hurting. Yeah. Putting yourself in a, in a worse position by trying to go like train, loosening up after a long flight and driving a lot like that was needed for sure. [00:32:47]Craig Dalton: Quick detour just on your equipment. So what, what were you riding? What, you know, what frame material, [00:32:51]James Gracey: what kind of riding steel? It's an Olivetti. It's a frame builder out of, uh, he was in Mill Valley and now he's in Colorado. And, um, 30 twos, I think I switched tires right before I left based on the guy at sports basement. I said, what do you think about these? And, and they were, I ended up with tubes in them, uh, at the end because I couldn't find a hole in one of them before I started. So I put a tube in it, but I changed it. I searched for four flats. [00:33:24]Craig Dalton: And then are you, what kind of bags are you using? Like where are they located on the bike? And are you preparing to. CAREY Yeah. HAYDEN [00:33:33]James Gracey: So my favorite bag is the bag that Craig Dalton let me borrow which is my top two bag that has a little magnet on it because I couldn't find it anywhere it was awesome because you can get to everything really fast. Uh, I did carry um, I carried a, like a bike packer's bag off the back, uh, that's expandable that you could get, you know, I had, uh, I had arm warmers, lots of food in there. Uh, emergency, I all emergency, like blanket. I ended up with a sleeping bag in there because I, I didn't know where we, it was supposed to rain at one point, so I grabbed a sleeping bag from my, from my, um, uh, drop bag and I had a down, and I had a top two bag. So the top two bag, all, all I had in it was pills. I've got pills for, you know, B vitamins and multivitamins and amino acid pills, and lot tons of salt. I took all the salt that I needed for the whole ride. Caffeine. Look, I'll, I'll, you've probably seen me like go through a bag of pills, like there's a bunch of different things in there. It's [00:34:41]Craig Dalton: a lot. It's a lot. Keep us [00:34:43]James Gracey: old men going. And you keep going, like, here's a lot of just, uh, vitamins that you take to make sure you're not deficient in something. And I have, even though I couldn't pinpoint, oh, if I, if I'd had more vitamin B or vitamin D or E or potassium or something. Uh, that wouldn't have happened, but I've never not finished and I usually just keep the, a steady flow of all of those things going kind of all day. Was that something [00:35:07]Craig Dalton: that's just a James Gracie, I've been an athlete for my whole life thing? Or did you, did you learn [00:35:10]James Gracey: that from others? Yeah, no, it's just what I've been doing for anything long, uh, over, over the years and either trying to prevent a cramp or, you know, or just feeling like, ah, this stinks. I really want to quit. Yeah. Like in keeping your mood elevated, like rhodiola. I did one guy, I take rhodiola pretty regularly. One person that had done four, uh, peri breasts before he said, your rhodiola is, is key. I was like, I'm taking rhodiola. What is that? It's a, it's for mental function and acute. So you like keep your mind sharp is what I would call it. That's what, how he described it too. And I was like, I do take that. And if I could pinpoint one thing to take, it's that, besides salt and potassium, magnesium. It's that I saw people, I, I would notice my mind going on a detour for sure, and I would have, I would, I would have some rodeo. And then I'd come back to like, Oh, I was just on a mental trip, mental trip that did not exist. [00:36:10]Craig Dalton: Well, we might get into, if we have time, some of the mental trips, some of your fellow riders took you on in their own journeys. So you're at the start line, as you said before, Perry Bros Paris, every four years. Very [00:36:21]James Gracey: international. Yeah, 71 countries. Uh, at some of the larger controls they had 28 interpreters. Wow. Um, and so somebody's not getting interpreted somewhere, is my guess. Yeah. Uh, but they had, um, it's a very international event that has, everybody is so excited. You don't really notice the excitement until kind of later in the ride because that's why, that's, that's literally what's keeping them going is their, a hundred percent focused on this event, and may have been focused on this event for sixteen years and never completed it. And, uh, started it and didn't finish it. I started it and didn't finish it. Most people you talk to were repeat PeriBrass, Paris, Randonneurs, and they had, uh, they had, you know, end up in the bus. There's not even a bus. I made that up. You have to figure out your way. You have to figure out your way when you stop. You have to figure out your way home. And so they all had a story of like, I was very far from finishing my first time or my second time. Yeah. Clearly the math [00:37:26]Craig Dalton: wasn't going to add up. Yeah. Yeah. So you mentioned there's multiple different start times. One of them was you could start with 90 hours. You start at night. Yeah. Sunday night. Sunday night. You elected to start 84 hours Sunday morning. Monday [00:37:40]James Gracey: morning, Monday morning, 5. 15, which [00:37:42]Craig Dalton: seemed logical when we, you and I were discussing it at one point, but then everybody, the logic get, got lost [00:37:47]James Gracey: immediately. Yeah, everybody had different, uh, rationales for whatever they picked. Obviously the 80 hour group is going to be a faster group. And so maybe there are faster riders in there and you can catch your draft wherever you need. You don't, if you're a, if you're a 16 mile an hour, like steady state rider, you don't want to ride with the 13. He's just pulling, right? It's not doing you any good. You want to ride with a 16, 17. And so, those guys also leave Sunday night. Uh, the 90 hours, which is the bulk of the, the bulk of the entire event contingent, Uh, I think there were, I think there were 5, 000 people, or 5, 500, Uh, or maybe even 6, 000 that left Sunday night. Sunday afternoon. So they start at four and they end at ten, I think is the last, the last leave time. So they're consistently sending out all of these people. And then, I didn't realize that it was broken down that way. So I left, there were only, there was only, uh, two or three groups behind me. So I'm at the end. Okay. And so, if the fast people in those two or three groups pass you, which they did very quickly, Uh, There's nobody else to like help you out because you're, [00:39:03]Craig Dalton: I mean, you're going into it. You're, you're hoping that you're going to find some Patago groups to draft, to ride, [00:39:09]James Gracey: to ride with. And the first day it was definitely like that. The first hour of the event. It was, they blasted off, like I'm hanging on barely. I'm like, what am I doing? I knew I should slow down, but I'm also don't want to be literally the last person in the entire 8, 000 riding by [00:39:29]Craig Dalton: myself for to someone the other day and I was like, I, the temptation for me to follow a wheel is just too [00:39:34]James Gracey: strong. And that's how, that's how it is at every event. You just can't, even when you think I'm going plenty slow, you're going too fast. Just slow down. Yeah. And, um, Um, and so they, they're, they took off, I don't know how fast they're going, we're, I think in my first, like in my first couple of checks, we were going 28k, something like, it was like way too fast. And there's, you know, it's all rolling hills, there's about 40, 000 feet of climbing in the whole event. No mountains, it's just rolling hills the whole way. And, the groups, the group that I left with, there was maybe 2, 000 that morning. 1, 500 of them are ahead of me. They're gone. And the fast guys of those groups are gone, gone. And there's about 500 behind me. Each group is about 250 to 300 people. I was X. There's X, there's Y, there's Z. And then there's plus. I think the plus were maybe ads. And so there's maybe 700 people behind me. And so that makes the second day... Someone did tell me if you leave in the 84 hour group, you're going to be riding by yourself a good bit. Yeah. And the second day I rode by myself almost the whole, almost the whole day. And [00:40:43]Craig Dalton: what kind of terrain are you riding on? You mentioned it's undulating. It's no big mountains, but obviously mostly paved, as you said earlier. Yeah. But are you going through little French villages? [00:40:51]James Gracey: All the time. Okay. It's, it's, uh, it's consistently small towns. Even if you got into a big town, I don't know, a big town may have been 10, 000 people. Yeah. So not that big. It may be a little touristy. And it's beautiful French countryside over and over. I mean, it's just like, it's, uh, I never got bored of it, but it, it was to say it's farms and fields and livestock and sunflowers and corn and over and over and over again. And then through this, through the small towns, they would have roadside stands for you all over the place. Where they, were [00:41:30]Craig Dalton: they at the control stations or just randomly? [00:41:32]James Gracey: At the, at the controls, they have meals. And so if you left in the 90 hour group, like Ray, my friend from Mill Valley, showed me a picture of one of his meals. Yeah. Leaving in the 90 hour group. And I said, what is that? And he said, that was my meal at the second control. What did the picture of your meal look like? You don't want to take a picture of it. It was terrible. All the good food is gone. But I'm also not having to wait in line for food or the bathroom. Yeah. Or to get your stamps. Yeah, so that that's maybe a benefit and I've maximized my my daylight riding for sure because I left at daybreak Yeah, and so those the controls are There were having some pictures of them. They're pretty big. They have a lot of support They have a lot of people there Some of them had even mechanics shops like they'd have a couple of tents and if you just needed something basic They could help you out Uh, they had food, they were in cafeterias in elementary schools and middle schools, I guess is where most of them were. So they could set up and prepare meals and we would have pasta or sandwiches or something like that. Uh, if you asked anybody, everybody that I talked to, including me, if you asked anybody what is the defining characteristic of the event, it is the people of the region, hands down. They, this is their event. This is something that a 10 year old has been watching, you know, when he was 6, and then maybe if he remembered when he was 2, with his parent. His parent was watching it with his parent, or her parent, and then also with the great grandparents. And this entire lineage of people would come out, and a great grandfather is there with his great granddaughter, and he said, I'll watch this race, this ride with my great grandfather, because I've lived in the area the whole time. That's wild. They never, I mean they were there to support you. People were past us for three days honking and cheering and just people in the region. They would come up, they would have roadside stands with either a tent or no tent. They'd have a, some kind of table or folding table or a farm table out there with, with items that they had prepared themselves. Cookies and cakes, tea, lemonade, coffee. Uh, lots of baked goods, lots of croissants, and coke. Uh, some at night they would have soup that they've made for themselves. It's all free. Uh, and then occasionally there would be a road, a big roadside tent that was set up as a fundraiser. And you would pay a dollar for a soda and, you know, or a euro and two euros for sausages that were, I don't know if they were, they were amazing at the time. They were fantastic. I was very happy to have them. And, uh, so you would then give a pin, right? So you'd give a pin to one of the kids that would come up very proudly and present you with all of the things that his, either they have prepared or their parents have prepared for you. And they would be very excited to get the pin. They'd look at their mom and dad. Yeah. [00:44:33]Craig Dalton: You were explaining to me offline that San Francisco, all the different clubs create. [00:44:39]James Gracey: Tens from [00:44:39]Craig Dalton: all over the world you have a bunch of them on your person and you give them to anybody shows you an act of kindness Yeah, [00:44:44]James Gracey: or just somebody that's cheering and or you know, and you know rooting for you Basically, yeah like at the end I was meeting with I had lunch with some of the people that I did the ride with and I was Like they were they really did. What we decided was that they really treated you like was a hero to them Like you may as well have been a two hour stage winner to them They would come up and they would be so excited especially the kids to see you and it was Amazing. It was it would bring you to tears that especially because you're in a weird mental state and you're like, this is so great And you know and them supporting you in that way day and now you could be it'd be 3 in the morning Or 5 in the morning or 10 at night and there were people out in front of their homes or opening their garage You know, that's literally on the street And they would open their garage and say, Oh, we got coffee and soup and, you know, uh, some fruits. Yeah, it was, it was awesome. [00:45:42]Craig Dalton: So, this is where we're going to take a break for part one. We'll have part two in your feed next week. I hope you're enjoying the conversation thus far. Our pal James is about halfway through Perry, Brest, Paris. And I can't wait for y'all to hear some of the stories that in see you in the next 600 kilometers. As a reminder, if you enjoy what we do here at the gravel ride podcast, ratings and reviews are hugely appreciated. Or if you're able to support the show financially, please visit buy me a coffee.com/the gravel ride. Until next time here's to finding some dirt onto your wheels     

Scott had a chance to interview Phil Parsons the day before he embarks on the 444 mile Natchez Trace effort. The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile stretch of road that begins in Nashville and ends in Natchez, MS. To date, no one holds the record for the fastest known time (FKT), Natchez-trace-parkway-FKT completing the southbound journey on foot. This adventure is exactly what I am going to do this September — Suicide Awareness Month — to bring awareness to the issues of mental health and suicide among Veterans.  His story is one that is too commonly ended with a less positive outcome.  We have to love on our veterans and share what is bringing them together!  Running is often the answer, or a piece of it.  Hope you enjoy the show!

It's a huge challenge in September, Suicide Awareness Month. My guest for this episode of "Run The Race" knows how pain and failure can make you feel like giving up on life, but he wants to provide hope, in part through his upcoming longest run ever. (3:20) Phil Parsons, a combat infantry veteran and ultra runner and husband/dad, is planning to go 444 miles on foot, running or walking that distance over the course of 11 days, all to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention, especially among vets: https://pledgeit.org/natr. What's his training been like for the 444 that will happen September 20-30 from TN to MS on the Natchez Trace? How about his emotions? He's also doing this to change the narrative of his life. (11:25) Phil joined the Army not too long before the September 11 attacks, ending up on deployments to Iraq, seeing horrible things that did not bother him until he came back home. He talks about being angry, losing his marriage, being emotionless. (18:05) This veteran tried to kill himself several times, the last suicide attempt being a gun to his head 16 years ago, in September - this 444 mile challenge being around the anniversary of that. He describes why he almost ended it all and why he didn't go through with it. (24:30) Through all the pain, he found running...starting with a marathon in GA, moving up to a 50K, then the Pinhoti 100. At first, he was often running angry, but found something different on the trails: the feeling of being a kid again, getting to be himself - without a mask. Now, he GETS to run and also helps other veterans on his job as a social worker. He loves helping fellow troops, but had to take care of himself first. (31:49) For his upcoming 444 miles, Phil discusses the logistics (40 miles per day), support(getting help from running group "Band of Brothers"), and nutrition/hydration that will be central to his week-and-a-half journey. Think electrolytes, PB&Js, Chex Mix, and more. Meantime, his triathlete wife is no slouch, training for an Ironman. You can learn more about the 444 here: https://unbridledrunning.com/the-four-forty-four/ Part of his journey is also being a (42:48) cult survivor, just going along as he grew up, but being terrified to break free, and finally being able to question things in life. (47:07) Phil also has a life-saving message for anyone, especially former/current military, that involves a story about a bridge on the Natchez Trace that has seen too much tragedy. The takeaway: Sit with the pain and discomfort in life or running, and it will get better, things will turn around. Stay in motion and do something! After our chat, I close the pod in prayer. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast, which I hope you'll subscribe to! Share it with your friends. Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and listen to any previous episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Join Scotty and Phil Parsons to discuss his upcoming journey on the Natchez Trace (444 mile) Trail, his history in the military, battling PTSD issues and suicide prevention.  A great fundraiser for a great cause.  This event also brings attention to issues that desperately need it. Please consider donating a nickel a mile or more here:https://pledgeit.org/natr Phil's Page: https://unbridledrunning.com/the-four-forty-four/?fbclid=IwAR1rR2ZGLzMFz9qO0FNlteYzJUmMJqvrp_5By2pMD7GDAk6rEF2LH36NIwk Prior interview with Phil and others in the military about PTSD: https://tenjunkmiles.libsyn.com/website/band-of-runners-special-ptsd More about Band of Runners here: https://www.bandofrunners.org/ Website: http://www.tenjunkmiles.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tenjunkmiles Twitter: https://twitter.com/tenjunkmiles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenjunkmiles/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenJunkMiles/  

History's Hook's hosts, Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb welcome Tony Turnbow, author of “The Natchez Trace in the War of 1812” which was published in The Journal of Mississippi History and most recently, the full length book published by Time Tunnel Media titled, Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson's Life.  The Natchez Trace is a 444 mile route between Nashville, Tennessee and Natchez, Mississippi.  The road has been the backdrop to some incredible history including military campaigns, economic expansion in the West, and even the murder of explorer Meriwether Lewis!

In this episode, we host Josh Foreman from MSU's Department of Communication and his longtime friend and coauthor Ryan Starrett, to discuss their "Hidden Histories" book series and take a deep dive into one of the books in the series, titled Death Along the Natchez Trace

Eric carries more than two decades of experience in the healthcare advisory space and leading teams at Southwind and The Advisory Board Company. His background in financial operations, mergers and acquisitions, technology innovation, and traditional consulting services sets the foundation for creative and bold solutions. Here is what we discussed: -      Why 'curiosity meets clarity' is important to the DNA of the business. -      Insights into working with physicians and administrators and other key individuals to design better outcomes. -      Why understanding data compared to the perception of data is so important when working with people and systems to find opportunities for an optimal future. -      Why looking at data analytics alone without having the right subject matter expertise will cause failure and why you must have all the key stakeholders and players in the room. -      How boldly walking away from a corporate job with a young family to start his own business ended up being the right equation for success, even with its challenges, but how the support of family made all the difference. -      The growth journey for the company, from working his own network to becoming a recognized brand and why it is key that you do not try to make your business all things to all people. Eric's passion for answering the “up-at-night” questions led him to build our company from the ground up. As a creative and strategic thinker, Eric leads his team to live outside the box to build innovative and sustainable solutions for our clients. When not sporting a colorful shirt or crazy socks around the office, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids, and their dog, CC. He loves biking the Natchez Trace with old and new friends, as well as “working” from the Cape in the summer. Connect with Eric: Website: https://www.ancorehealth.com/ Connect with Allison: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO    #futurist #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #founderstory #business #businesspodcast #podcast               Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Links from the show:* William Levi Dawson: American Music Educator* Never miss an episode* Rate the showAbout my guest:Mark Hugh Malone has taught in Mississippi at Pearl River Community College, William Carey University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and other institutions during his forty-six-year career in education. As curriculum designer for the Mississippi Arts Commission, he has created numerous arts-integrated curricula focused on the Mississippi Blues Trail, Mississippi's bicentennial, and the Natchez Trace. Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

A destination in its own right with its vibrant, downtown shops and restaurants must see attractions and great hotels. The charming Delta town of Cleveland, Mississippi is just over 100 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. A city of 12,000 named after President Grover Cleveland, the town began formation in 1869 as people moved inland from the Mississippi River. Join us as we explore the adventures we had in Cleveland, Mississippi. We stayed at The Cotton House - Located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Cotton House sits in historic Cleveland, just down the road from the Mississippi Blues Trail, at the doorstep of The GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi. Located in the lobby, James Beard Award nominated Chef Cole Ellis brings Delta Meat Market to the Cotton House Hotel: both a premium grocer of specialty meat, cheese and artisan goods; and a casual, full-service restaurant serving internationally influenced dishes deeply rooted in the Southern culinary traditions of the Mississippi Delta.   Previous Episodes mentioned:  Mississippi Delta Episode - https://bit.ly/3nUTgIh Delta Tamales - https://bit.ly/43iOEvU The Delta Blues - https://bit.ly/3KsGd8M   Places of interest mentioned:  Cotton House - https://www.cottonhousecleveland.com/ Zoe Coffee Co. - https://www.zoecoffeeco.com/ Airport Grocery - https://www.airportgrocerycleveland.com/ The GRAMMY Museum - https://www.grammymuseumms.org/ Jackson Day Trip to Eudora Welty's house and garden - https://welty.mdah.ms.gov/ Spotify Playlist “Driving the Natchez Trace” - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JAvK3dCuQAj33gUJ5qJc6    Would you share and/or support this show? Text a friend with a link to the show https://pod.link/1442852139 Financially support us by visiting https://tr.ee/9NKBLc2fYD

Welcome back to the Off Trail Podcast and welcome back the man, myth and legend himself, Star Lord. Star Lord returns to unpack all he has been up to since we last chatted. We catch up with him shortly after his completion of the Natchez Trace Trail and dive deep into his journey and the trail itself. We through weirdness and story telling give an audio guide to the trail. We discuss all things camping related and the reality that almost every night not spent in a motel, will be spent stealth camping in the woods. We chat the Mississippi brown water and the never ending sweet embrace held within it. We chat water being and issue and carrying upwards of thirty miles between man made sources called water fountains. We chat roads, roads, and never ending roads. We learn about the "no car, no stay" hotel rule that was completely made up on the spot. We learn about the loose grip on sanity found within those yellow lines and the benefit of hiking with a companion can keep you from insanity. We talk about the posts that define every mile and the break from the peaceful mind found in movement and the harsh reality of knowing every one of your time splits. We chat the Star Lord's pursuit of the 11 National Scenic Trails and the goal found along the way. We chat being fueled by goals, and as he so eloquently states, to walk is better than not walking. We dive deeper into the pursuit mentality and unpack what it means for him. We tell stories of the Natchez Trace Trail, define its reality, and get lost within its lunacy. We unpack the definition of National Scenic Trails themselves, and theorize on to what it actually means. We ramble, we get lost, and we virtually walk along a road. Another great chat with Star Lord, thank you for another weird one! To learn more about Star Lord: Instagram: @chandlerstrailstories To learn more about who we are click below: ⁠Website: www.ElevenSkys.com

In this episode, I reconnect with friends in Tupelo, Mississippi, whom I first met in May of 2000 while backpacking the Natchez Trace. The Natchez Trace was just a small segment of my walk from San Diego, CA, to Calais, ME. We reminisce about our time together and attending the Passion OneDay 2000 conference in Memphis, TN. Matt Robinson, who owns Change Skateboard Shop in Tupelo, Also shares about the Change Tupelo Festival, which he organizes each year. Ron and Heather Brandon share about their life on their farm, rental unit construction, prison ministry, and homeschooling. Links mentioned in Episode Change Skateboard Shop in Tupelo https://changetupelo.com/ Kairos Prison Ministry https://www.kairosprisonministry.org/ Passion One Day https://passionconferences.com/about/ Reclaim Arts Academy https://redeemingthearts.org/  

In this episode of my 16-month walk across America, I cross into Louisiana from Texas and then make it to the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. Meeting wonderful people who show me the meaning of hospitality every step of the way.    

No Agenda Episode 1517 - "Satchel of Richards" "Satchel of Richards" Executive Producers: Sir Onymous of Dogpatch and Lower Sobbovia sir Nacho Alcatraz Dame TJ Of the Side Eye Grant Nelson Sir StonksTrader Kimberly Caillouet Scott Horton Baron S Carl Schneider Associate Executive Producers: Sir Tin Death Douglas Murray Rita Harrington Pastor Mike Christopher Dale Become a member of the 1518 Club, support the show here Boost us with with Podcasting 2.0 Certified apps: Podfriend - Breez - Sphinx - Podstation - Curiocaster - Fountain Title Changes Sir PinderNET of the Lucky 13 > Dame Chrissi X Sir Brett Ferrell > Viscount of The Seven Hills of Cincinnati Sir Steven Schneider > Baron S Carl Schneider Knights & Dames Daron > Sir Daron, Black Knight, Shredder of the Six Strings. Anonymous > Sir Recoil, black knight near the Natchez Trace in middle Tennessee Elizabeth Ferrell> Dame Elizabeth Ferrell TJ > Dame TJ Of the Side Eye Art By: MountainJay End of Show Mixes: Mr. Information Engineering, Stream Management & Wizardry Mark van Dijk - Systems Master Ryan Bemrose - Program Director Back Office Aric Mackey Chapters: Dreb Scott Clip Custodian: Neal Jones NEW: and soon on Netflix: Animated No Agenda No Agenda Social Registration Sign Up for the newsletter No Agenda Peerage ShowNotes Archive of links and Assets (clips etc) 1517.noagendanotes.com New: Directory Archive of Shownotes (includes all audio and video assets used) archive.noagendanotes.com RSS Podcast Feed Full Summaries in PDF No Agenda Lite in opus format NoAgendaTorrents.com has an RSS feed or show torrents Last Modified 01/01/2023 16:30:30This page created with the FreedomController Last Modified 01/01/2023 16:30:30 by Freedom Controller

Today on the program we take a look at some of the cold blooded animals that can be found in Mississippi with two longtime friends of the show. Our favorite backyard biologist, Joe Magee joins to talk about some of the frogs he is seeing and hearing this time of year Also we will hear from Tom Mann and get an update about his work with salamanders on the Natchez Trace. As always, Dr. Troy Majure, DVM, with the Animal Medical Center, is here if you have any concerns about your furry friends or general wildlife experiences email the show: animals@mpbonline.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On October 11, 1809, the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis dies under mysterious circumstances in the early hours of the morning after stopping for the night at Grinder's Tavern along the Natchez Trace in Tennessee.

How much do you know about America's first documented serial killers, The Bloody Harpes? Micajah and Wiley Harpe went on a crazy murder spree out on the western American frontier, starting in late 1798. The murdered men, women, children, and even babies. And they'd been bad, murderous men long before their final year of terror. They'd ran with a gang of river pirates, they'd been members of a Tory rape gang during the Revolutionary War. They went on raids with a band of Cherokee warriors. They LOVED to try and split a skull in two with a tomahawk. Their entire crazy true crime story told this week.  Bad Magic Productions Monthly Patreon Donation: This month we donated $15,029 to Guide Dogs for the Blind, with an additional $1,669 added to our Scholarship Fund! Guide Dogs for the Blind believes in connecting people, dogs, and communities to transform the lives of individuals with visual impairments.For more info - or to donate more yourself - please go to guidedogs.comGet tour tickets at dancummins.tv Get Scared to Death LIVE tickets at badmagicmerch.com  October  27th, 6P PST/9PM EST. True Tales of Hallow's Eve Horror TWO! Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QmXlFXFUkyoMerch: https://www.badmagicmerch.comDiscord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard?  Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcastSign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits.

In this episode, Nikki has special guest, Tiffany from Thrive Market at The Farm at Natchez Trace. They break down 8 myths that are found around canine nutrition. Should you feed your dog human food? Does kibble really clean your dog's teeth? Are all expensive foods equal? Don't miss out on this eye-opening episode!www.thrivemarket.bizthrive@thefarmatnatcheztrace.com We are excited to announce our Reactive Dog Workshop Sept. 30th-Oct. 2nd in Franklin, TN. We have working and auditor spots although space is limited. Find out more at www.dogspeak101.com/events. Support the show

On this episode on Common Mystics Jennifer and Jill give voice to the notorious Samuel "Wolfman" Mason. Born in Virginia in 1739 to a distinguished family, Samuel's life would take a dark turn. By the end of the 18th century he and his clan of brigands would control the routes through the lawless West and terrorize travelers on the Natchez Trace. But while his underlings were robbing and murdering innocents, Samuel sought acceptance into polite society. Today, he seeks it still... in spirit. Listen in as the sisters use their psychic impressions to unravel the legend of this controversial figure, and yes, give him a voice. Support us on Patreon and get exclusive bonus content and monthly video calls with Jen & Jill!!! https://www.patreon.com/commonmystics

Construction begins and fence materials have been selected for the Natchez Trace Bridge. Ever wanted to fish on Tennessee waters but didn't want to pay for a fishing license? Well..on Saturday you can fish for free! Plus, updated details get released for the entertainment district of the Nashville Yards.Take a Tour With Us! Use code NASH for 20% off - https://www.xplrnash.com/toursToday's Sponsors: Brad Reynolds  https://thinkbrad.com/Bowtie Barber Clubhttps://www.bowtiebarberclub.com/Nash NewsConstruction begins on Natchez Trace bridge safety barrierhttps://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/construction-begins-on-natchez-trace-bridge-safety-barrier/Tennesseans Can Fish For Free This Saturday https://fox17.com/news/local/tennesseans-can-fish-for-free-this-saturday-06-06-2022Nashville Development NewsWedgewood-Houston's Track One building sells to local developer https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2022/05/31/track-one-building.htmlFactory At Franklin Update https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2022/05/31/factory-at-franklin-update.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMFB_NA&csrc=6398Notes: Permits issued for Nashville Yards entertainment segment https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/notes-permits-issued-for-nashville-yards-entertainment-segment/article_6380dab6-e29b-11ec-a8d2-77477d80c692.htmlNashville Daily Artist of the Day Playlist   https://open.spotify.com/playlist/51eNcUWPg7qtj8KECrbuwx?si=nEfxeOgmTv6rFUyhVUJY9AFollow us @ XPLR NASH   Website -  https://nashvilledailypodcast.com/   YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/xplrnash   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xplr.nash/   Twitter - https://twitter.com/xplr_nash   NASHVILLE & XPLR MERCH - https://www.xplrnash.com/shopMedia and other inquiries please email hello@xplr.life

Along the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi, you'll find a sign at mile marker 233.2 that reads Witch Dance. Let's learn more about the history of the parkway and the lore surrounding this place! Our Tuesday episodes are usually shorter than our Friday episodes, focusing on topics we didn't think we could do a full episode on, and often sent in by you guys! Thanks for sending us this one, Amy! THERE'S NEW MERCH, GUYS! Check out the store, and don't forget if you're in the Body of a Goddess and The Janets levels of the Patreon, you have a discount code to use. https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-store.myshopify.com There's bonus content, ad-free episodes, and other perks on our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/witchesmagicmurdermystery Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WitchesMagicMurderMysteryPodcast Sources: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-witchdance/ https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/mississippi/unexplained-natural-phenomena-in-ms/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/mississippi/witch-dance-haunted-campground-in-ms/ https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-natcheztrace/ https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-moundbuilders/#Bynum%20Mounds%20and%20Village All Witches, Magic, Murder, & Mystery episodes are a mix of Kara and Megan's personal thoughts and opinions in response to the information that is publicly available at the time of recording, as well as, in some cases, personal accounts provided by listeners. In regard to these self-reported personal accounts, there can be no assurance that the information provided is 100% accurate. If you love the Trash Witch art (see our Patreon or the Podcast store), Tiffini Scherbing of Scherbing Arts created her. Find her art page on Facebook! Check out @witchesmagicmurdermystery on Instagram, or find our Facebook group by searching “Witches, Magic, Murder, & Mystery Podcast Discussion Group.” Email every single weird story you've got to witchesmagicmurdermystery@gmail.com. Get to know us better: Kara: @atoakandmain Megan: @meganmakesjokes on TikTok Theme music: Chloe's Lullaby by Robert Austin. Available on Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/witchesmagicmurder/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/witchesmagicmurder/support

This week on Dirt Talk, Alex and Aaron talk about traveling to Starkville, MS via the Natchez Trace and the increase in trucks due to e-commerce. They also discuss the challenges of greatly increasing the rail system in the United States. Later, they further investigate the American infrastructure life-cycle before broaching the (sometimes) complicated topic of oil and natural gas and its difficult PR relationship with the typical person. Then, they answer a question about the need for "operator classes" in community colleges, and the broader challenges and opportunities related to that. Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app. To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to DirtTalk@buildwitt.com. Stay Dirty!

Listen in as we explore the bizarre circumstances surrounding one half of the most famous American exploration duo in history, Meriwether Lewis. What happened to him at Grinder's Stand on the Natchez Trace? Did he commit suicide, as the popular theories say? Was it an illness or overdose? Or was Governor Lewis murdered? Listen in and decide what you think happened.

We're back after our week off! In this episode we touch on our vacation driving the Natchez Trace, and then proceed briskly to the career of Samuel Argall - Pocahontas's kidnapper - in the service of the Virginia Company and himself. Most importantly, we look at the hilariously devious ruse that Argall deployed in 1613 to "displant" the French colony on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. Twitter: @TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook: The History of the Americans Podcast Selected references for this episode Seymour V. Connor, "Sir Samuel Argall: A Biographical Sketch," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, April 1951. Casablanca (Your papers please) Pierre Biard Natchez Trace

Welcome to episode 68 Mississippi - First up is the dark tale of the Mississippi section of the Natchez Trace. Then we get into the weird yet fascinating tale of the Pascagoula alien abductions of 1973.All audio by White Bat AudioResearch:https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/pascagoula-river-watershed/https://osr.org/blog/kids/pascagoula-ufo-encounter/https://countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/people-places/the-pascagoula-abduction/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/historical-marker-erected-in-mississippi-to-commemorate-alleged-alien-abductionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascagoula_AbductionSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/state-of-fear-podcast4647/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

There's something for everyone in today's episode. If you plan to check Mississippi off of your travel list, this episode has some awesome ideas for you. We visit the Natchez Trace itself, a 444 mile scenic drive that almost no one knows about - Rocky Springs - a ghost town that you can visit to this day, Windsor Mansion - today known as Windsor Ruins (for a reason) and the very mysterious place known as Witches Dance. The organization we are highlighting this episode is: Fuller Center Bike Adventure - building a better world one house at a time. They host a bike race where participants bike all 444 miles of the Natchez Trace! Organization Website: https://www.fullercenterbikeadventure.org/natchez/ BECOME A PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/vivaamerica Our sources for this episode are: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-windsorruins/ https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-witchdance/

* Today's story may not be appropriate for younger listeners, so don't say I didn't warn you. * This episode is about the first serial killers in America, Big and Little Harpe. They began killing men, women, and children after the Revolutionary War and continued for many, many years. They were constantly on the move between North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois. The latter part of their lives were spent near Natchez Trace. Transcript / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Dosu Kinuta! An episode diving into the feelings of living a life on trail. Multiple times throughout our chat we went back to unpacking the mentality on what it means to live a life for trail, on trail, and what it means when this is not just a temporary moment, but an entire way of living. Dosu began hiking back in 2014 and hasn't stopped since. Accumulating many miles and many memories along the way, he is now setting himself up to complete all 11 National Scenic Trails in the hiking season of 2022. An aggressive itinerary to be sure with the Natchez Trace, Potomac Heritage Trail, New England Trail, Ice Age Trail, and North Country Trail. Yet, one that he looks forward to with much optimism and excitement. When you can find fuel in the "everyday" you will always have energy. When its not a specific trail you are after, but instead just living your life, the way ahead remains clear. Reaching this "goal" for him is just the natural progression of hiking. Stay tuned as we talk about what his "goal" is for this life that he lives, and the time that he spends living life on trail and off. It was a wonderful answer to hear and unpack. FAVORITE QUOTES: "Age 33 I started the AT, and found my first home" "It is a privilege to do what we do and not be scared of it" To learn more about Dosu Kinuta check out the link below: Instagram: @thedosukinuta To learn more about who we are click the link below: ElevenSkys

In this Episode:A common concern for alcoholics is how to deal with the things that trigger them to drink. In fact, many relapses happen at the start of a trigger. Familiar environments, people, or events launch a thought in the alcoholic's brain that says, “let's deal with this by drinking” and often, the alcoholic follows the routine without even realizing they are doing it. In this episode of Back Porch Chats, Vince and Jeanna talk about the things that trigger them, how they become habits, and what you can do about them.  Highlights in this Episode Include:·       Vince compares the Natchez Trace, a historic trail worn down since prehistoric times making it the easiest path from Tennessee to Mississippi, to a habit.·       Why habits are necessary.·       The impulses that start the habit process.·       The neurological loop, Charles Duhigg's explanation of habits as cues, routines, and rewards.·       How understanding cues, routines, and rewards can help change the drinking habit.·       Trauma memories and pain as triggers.·       Becoming self-aware to identify the true trigger.Get More from Back Porch Chats: Visit the Back Porch Chats website http://backporchchats.com/ Contact Vince or Jeanna Vince@Backporchchats.com Jeanna@nowsobercoach.com Follow us on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Backporchchats Connect with Jeanna Online: Follow the Now Sober Coach Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jeannafoxcoach Join the FREE Now Sober Coach Facebook group for Community and Support https://www.facebook.com/groups/sobrietycoachfox Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverywithjeanna/ Check out the Now Sober website www.nowsobercoach.com Contact by Email Jeanna@nowsobercoach.com How You Can Help If you enjoy this podcast and would like to offer your support, there are three things you can do. 1.    Head over to your favorite podcast app and leave a review. 2.    Share this episode on social media. 3.    Visit our store and wear your support. Now available: Back Porch Chats Merchandise in the Now Sober Lifestyle store.   https://now-sober-life.creator-spring.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/backporchchats)

While Sara takes a break to recover from an illness, Kristen is left alone with the channel for a weekend. This is either going to be great or straight up scary. Come explore what path this one takes in the girls new special segment. Be sure to follow us at: Twitter: @rarwpodcast Instagram: @rarwpodcast Contact us at: E-mail: redrumandredwinepodcast@gmail.com All music written and produced by: Savasas savasas | Free Listening on SoundCloud Resources: “Caught in the Devil's Backbone: The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis.” Mental Floss, 30 Aug. 2019, www.mentalfloss.com/article/579687/meriwether-lewis-mysterious-death. “Corps of Discovery - Was Meriwether Lewis Murdered or Did He Commit Suicide?” Was Meriwether Lewis Murdered or Did He Commit Suicide? - Lewis & Clark Online Exhibit - State Historical Society of North Dakota, www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/lewisclark/suicide.html. George J. Lippincott, and Cher: Legends of America, www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-meriwetherlewis/2/. “Meriwether Lewis Dies along the Natchez Trace, Tennessee.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/.amp/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-dies-along-the-natchez-trace-tennessee. “Meriwether Lewis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 May 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis#Death. Tucker, Abigail. “Meriwether Lewis' Mysterious Death.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 8 Oct. 2009, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/meriwether-lewis-mysterious-death-144006713/.

Join Lavelle and Chance as they discuss the book The Captured by Scott Zesch - a powerful true story of children abducted by Plains Indians and the inability of those children to readjust to their own culture. In addition, they discuss mailbag questions about the Natchez Trace, Scott Avenue stores in Mathiston over the years, and the efforts to combine Cumberland and Mathiston schools.

On this episode we discuss "The Haunted Natchez Trace" with author and paranormal investigator Bud Steed! Bud has written 7 paranormal titles including "The Haunted Natchez Trace", "Alabama: The Haunted Heart of Dixie", and "Ozark Ghost and Hauntings" just to name a few. He has been a paranormal investigator since 1978 and has had numerous encounters with the unseen. We discuss everything from the death of Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clarke fame, to America's first serial killers, The Harpe Brothers. All located along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway.   Click here for all his books on Amazon Check out Bud Steed's Facebook Click here for Bud's website

On this episode we discuss "The Haunted Natchez Trace" with author and paranormal investigator Bud Steed! Bud has written 7 paranormal titles including "The Haunted Natchez Trace", "Alabama: The Haunted Heart of Dixie", and "Ozark Ghost and Hauntings" just to name a few. He has been a paranormal investigator since 1978 and has had numerous encounters with the unseen. We discuss everything from the death of Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clarke fame, to America's first serial killers, The Harpe Brothers. All located along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. Click here for all his books on Amazon Check out Bud Steed's Facebook Click here for Bud's websiteThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5862293/advertisement

Wisconsin has thousands of miles of trails that can be used for everything from hiking to snowmobiling – and lots in between. State trails are an easy way to start exploring Wisconsin's outdoors. We're also fortunate enough to have two of 11 National Scenic Trails wind their way through our state -- all of the Ice Age Trail and about 200 miles of the North Country Trail. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spends nearly 1,200 miles winding its way through Wisconsin's many lakes, river valleys, hills, and even state parks. In 2013, author Melanie Radzicki McManus decided to take on the Ice Age National Scenic trail to set a trail running record. And once wasn't enough for her – she hiked and ran the trail in both directions. She also chronicled her journey in “Thousand Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail.” Beyond her adventures in Wisconsin, she has traveled the world hiking and writing. On this episode of Wild Wisconsin – Off the Record, Melanie shares her experience hiking in Wisconsin and beyond, plus gives her best tips for getting started. Also weighing in is Brigit Brown, the DNR's section chief for recreation management, who shares more on Wisconsin state trails. Listen in to learn more about Wisconsin's thousands of miles of trails and the many ways you can use them.  Learn more about Melanie Radzicki McManus at: https://thethousandmiler.com/ Learn more about Wisconsin's state trails and find your nearest one at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/findapark.htmlFind your next adventure at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/outdoorrecreation/adventure.html--------------------------------------TRANSCRIPTAnnouncer: [00:00:00] Welcome to Wisconsin DNR's Wild Wisconsin -- Off The Record podcast, information straight from the source.Katie Grant: [00:00:13] Welcome back to another episode of Wild Wisconsin -- Off The Record. I'm your host, DNR's digital media coordinator, Katie Grant. These are unprecedented times as we embrace our new normal. We at the DNR hope you find this podcast to be a little escape from all things COVID-19. On this episode of Wild Wisconsin, I talk with award-winning journalist, author and hiking enthusiast, Melanie Radzicki-McManus. Available now, the Wisconsin native's first book, the Thousand-Miler, is a memoir about her record-setting trail run of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Melanie has traveled the world hiking and trail running. She joins us to talk about her journey.As you know, several things are postponed with COVID-19 including this podcast. We've recorded this episode before the COVID-19 pandemic when Melanie was about to start her next long-through hike. You'll hear a bit more about that in this episode, but... which... We wanted you to know that she is back home and safe now.As a friendly reminder under Governor Ever' Safer At Home Order for those looking to explore the outdoors, we encourage you to stay in your local community and social distance to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For now, listen into my conversation with Melanie Radzicki-McManus, the Thousand-Miler.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:01:32] My name is Melanie Radzicki-McManus, and I am a freelance writer. Um, travel is one of my specialties, and I write a lot about hiking in particular, uh, or active travel. But hiking is my super niche spot. Katie Grant: [00:01:47] Yeah. So we brought you on here today to talk about one of the experiences you've had here in Wisconsin.So back in 2013 and in 2015, you actually ran the Ice Age Trail. Why did you decide that this was something you wanted to do in the first place and why the Ice Age Trail specifically? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:02:07] Well, it's kind of a longish answer and it stretches back to, uh, I guess you could say 2009 when I first learned about the Camino.Um, and in, um, in Spain. It's a ancient pilgrimage trail and a lot of people were hiking it. So I went over to Spain and I was just captivated by this long-distance trail and following these yellow blazes through the Spanish countryside. And so I started going back many times, writing many articles. I had an app guidebook on the Camino.And then in 2012, a running, friend of mine named Jason Dorgan told me about something called the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. And he said, it's a lot like this Camino you love so much, Melanie. So I researched it that night and I was flabbergasted because here I was a travel writer for, I don't even know at that time, 20 some years.I had never heard of the Ice Age Trail. When I learned that it was a long-distance hiking trail, twice the length of the Camino, almost 1,200 miles in my own backyard. One of just 11 prestigious national scenic trails. I knew I had to, um, explore it. And I didn't have too much time to take off of work to explore it.So I thought, well, I want to hike the whole thing and run it. Um, or I want to explore the whole trail. I don't have that much time, but I'm good at running, so I could actually run the trail like my friend Jason did, who had set what's called a fast-packing record on the trail in 2007. And I thought, oh, he's the only one that's ever tried to do it.And he's a guy. So I could say, I could set the record for women and just to have a bunch of fun in the process, write a bunch of stories, learn about the trail, et cetera. So that's what got me started the first time in 2013 and then I just got so hooked. Um, I was obsessed in a healthy way with the trail and being outside for such a long period of time. And so I decided I wanted to write a book about it, and then that meant I needed to hike it again, or that's what I told my husband.Katie Grant: [00:04:03] Once wasn't enough. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:04:04] Right. So it's like I had to do it again opposite direction for the book. So I did it twice. Katie Grant: [00:04:09] So you wrote a book. Tell us a little bit about ... About the experience of writing the book and I guess what it's called so we can find it. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:04:15] It's called Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail, and it's this story. It's a story of the Ice Age Trail. It gives the history, it talks about my experience on the trail, and that's kind of the thread that holds the book together.And as I encountered different hikers along the trail, I weave their stories into the book as well. I also have a chapter devoted to Jason and his, um, fast-packing attempt, and another chapter devoted to the first person to through-hike the trail who did it back in I think like 1979 when I was probably in a disco.Katie Grant: [00:04:47] Wow. What were your favorite segments of the Ice Age Trail? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:04:53] I'm glad you said favorite segments with an s. Cause I'm a person who never has one favorite. There are so many wonderful segments in this trail. Um, I like the Chippewa... Chippewa Moraine segment a lot. It's in the northwest portion of the state because it's just kind of a perfect, you know, not too hilly, but not flat.The trails are all perfectly groomed. You pass these beautiful lakes. I love, um. The, uh, Point Beach section, which is around, uh, two rivers and I had never been to Point Beach State Park, even though it's close to where I grew up in Sheboygan, but that's a beautiful pine forest. Cushy. I liked that, and two miles are right on Lake Michigan, which having grown up in Sheboygan, I just really love Lake Michigan.So that's unique. Um, I love the Lodi and Lodi Marsh segments that are near us here in Madison. There, there's just so many and they're all different, which is um, another thing that's wonderful about the Ice Age Trail. Slinger... Goes right through Slinger and passes this awesome shop selling the best ice cream.Katie Grant: [00:05:54] I hope that you made a pit up for some ice cream. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:05:56] I did. Katie Grant: [00:05:56] Good. Good. Um, yeah, it's, it's interesting that on one stretch of trail through one state there's so much varied terrain and landscape and things to see and things to do and everything like that. Since your experience on the Ice Age Trail, you've explored some other famous trails throughout the world.You mentioned the Camino in Spain. Tell us a bit about some of your other adventures, maybe what was your favorite. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:06:23] Uh, don't say that word favorite again. Katie Grant: [00:06:25] Favorites. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:06:26] Yes. Um, I did a hike in Iceland called the Laugavegur Trail and one in New Zealand, um, the Tongariro Crossing. And both of those are rated, um, as some of the best hikes in the world.And what I loved about those two destinations is the scenery was so, um, different. I mean, it looked otherworldly, like someone just made it up for it a movie set or something. So those I really liked, but honestly, and every trail goes through just beautiful terrain. It's all different weather. I hiked the Arizona Trail last year, you know, that's all desert climate.Very different from what we have here that has beauty in its own way. Um, to the New England Trail. I hiked, that's another national scenic trail. Um, very much in some ways like Wisconsin, but very different because a lot of mountains in rocky outcrops, but everything is just beautiful. The being outdoors is wonderful.There's so much beauty in the world.Katie Grant: [00:07:26] Right. Right. Now, how many have you actually hiked and how many have you run? Is Ice Age the only one that you've done more running on than hiking? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:07:35] Yes, definitely. I mean, the Ice AgeTtrail, again, I was trying to have fun with it the first time, um, by running it and saying, I could be, I have the through-hike, fastpacking record for women, but also, again, as I had said to just so I wouldn't have to take so much time away from work.And then I did it again in, in 2015 because I had a really compressed timeframe by the time the book deal came through and I had some other obligations, but you know, now I'm getting kind of too old for that, so I'm just doing the hiking on these other trails. But I am, I have set a goal of trying to hike all 11 national scenic trails before I die.Katie Grant: [00:08:12] How far are you on that list? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:14] I'm going to start number five next week.Katie Grant: [00:08:17] All right.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:18] Yeah. And I'm in, I've got a sixth that I'm in the process of section hiking. So there's two ways you can hike these trails. You do. You can do a through hike, which means you do it all at once, or a section hike where you do it in sections over time.Katie Grant: [00:08:30] So where are you going to explore next? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:34] Next week? Katie Grant: [00:08:34] Yeah.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:35] It's a, it's a very unusual trail called the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Um, most of the other national scenic trails are a typical kind of point-to-point trail, but this one, um, is built by the National Park Service as a braided network of trails.So they're trying to showcase the best scenery and history of the Potomac River. So they've taken a lot of existing trails. For example, there's one called the Mount Vernon Trail that goes from Washington D.C. out to Mount Vernon. That's its own Mount Vernon Trail, but it's also part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.So logistically it's a little difficult to hike because there's a lot of back and forth and, um, some of the trails aren't as well marked as some of the others, and they don't have exact mileage... Mileage counts. So it's been, it'll be a little bit of a guessing game as to how long I'm out there. Katie Grant: [00:09:24] What's the estimate on mileage for that?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:09:26] I've seen everything from, they mostly say 7 to 900 but I've seen one that said as much as 1,100 so it'll be a fun adventure. It sure will. Katie Grant: [00:09:36] What's the craziest experience you've had on the trails? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:09:41] I'm going to tell you two, one didn't quite happen to me. If... It was when I was on the Ice Age Trail in 2015 and I had a friend crewing me, which is he would drop me off at the start of the day and then meet me several times during the day to offer food and snacks and water and things like that.And when I met him at one of the trail crossings, he said, 'Oh my gosh, there were just two nude hikers out here.' And I said, 'what?' And apparently two men have been section hiking the Ice Age Trail, always in the nude. Katie Grant: [00:10:10] All right. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:10:11] So, yeah, call that crazy. I don't understand. I was very scratched up all over that day on my arms and legs, and I can't imagine it finding it enjoyable to be naked.But so then that's crazy. But luckily I didn't see, did not see them. But another kind of weird encounter I had, this is on the Superior Hiking Trail up in Minnesota, was, um, I saw a groundhog in the middle of the path and I thought, 'Oh, cute groundhog and didn't run away,' which I thought was amazing. So I took my camera out and I took a bunch of pictures and then as I went to walk it puffed its fur out and it started snapping these big long brown teeth at me and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, this is crazy.' I tried everything for like 20 minutes to get this thing to move. I tried kind of jabbing my trekking pole at it, screaming, blowing my whistle, hiding for a while, coming back out, and it just was right in the middle of that path and would... Did not want me to pass. I actually called my husband cause I was kind of on the sort of on the top of a mountain and say, can you Google how to get past and groundhog? And he's like, OK. And the answer was just walk around it. And I said, I can't just walk around it. I'm afraid it's going to bite me.And then I started thinking maybe it was a rabbit, because you know every other wildlife just runs away from you. So I remember thank goodness, I had some mace that my husband had given me just in case, and so I didn't even know how to work it, was afraid I would spray myself, but luckily I sprayed it, and it hit it and it ran away right away and then I ran by.But that was kind of scary. And then when I think back, it's like, it was a little groundhog, but it had those big teeth. Katie Grant: [00:11:46] Yeah, I'm sure at the time they looked way scarier than they actually were. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:11:51] I know. Katie Grant: [00:11:53] Beyond the Ice Age Trail here in Wisconsin, do you have any other favorite trails in the state for running, hiking, exploring?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:12:04] You know, a lot of, in retrospect, looking now that I know what the Ice Age Trail is, a lot of the trails that I've hiked on and enjoyed happened to be part of the Ice Age Trail. Um, but that being said, like Indian Lake for example, I go to a lot mostly because it's close, but I do like it a lot. And there's a section of that that's the Ice Age Trail, but many other segments of that that are not, I like the trails at Devil's Lake a lot.How can you not like that? I like Lapham Peak. Um, quite a bit. And having grown up in Sheboygan, I did a lot of hiking in the Northern Kettle Moraine. So those are wonderful trails. So yeah, I would say those are some of my favorites for sure. Katie Grant: [00:12:45] Yeah, there's lots to explore here. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:12:48] Definitely. Katie Grant: [00:12:49] For sure. So let's talk a little bit about getting ready for these long hikes. Uh, do you do any sort of cross-training or anything in preparation and what else is involved in getting ready for one. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:13:02] Um, I don't usually train for a big hike per se, but that's only because I'm a very active person. I like being outside and I like working out. So, um, I'm normally doing some kind of workout six days a week.And that includes not just say running or elliptical, but also exercise, like pushups and things like that. So I have a good base, which I'm fortunate. Um, but then when, if you're getting ready for any adventure, whether it's hiking for several weeks or just for a day or two, you have to pay attention to the terrain.Make sure you have appropriate clothing. Always have, um, water, snacks, a phone or something for emergencies. Whistles, a little bit of first aid, um, supplies on you, that type of thing. And it's always good no matter where you're, how safe a trail is or how urban it is, just to let somebody know where you're going to be.Um, I know a lot of women in particular are nervous about hiking by themselves. I get that question a lot, and I am not, um, I'm not afraid at all of being out there alone. But that being said, you always have to take simple precautions. Katie Grant: [00:14:13] Yeah. Yeah, it's smart to stay safe. Um, and the, the, the part about letting someone know where you are, I feel like that goes for anyone going out into Wisconsin's outdoors ever.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:14:25] Right. Katie Grant: [00:14:25] You know, whether, whether you're hiking, hunting, fishing, whatever it may be, just let someone know where you are. So if something does happen, they can find you. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:14:32] Exactly. Katie Grant: [00:14:33] When you are out on the trail, what are some of your favorite go-to snacks to stay fueled? Other than ice cream? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:14:40] I have eaten a lot of ice cream on the Ice Age Trail, so if anyone wants to ever know where the best spots are, they can call me.You know, it's interesting. I started out doing all like energy bar things, mostly because I was going to be running and I thought my stomach can't handle anything more. But what I've learned over time is not that energy bars aren't real food, but real food tastes real good. So I started doing more packing, regular sandwiches and I still have some energy bars and things like that, but, um, you know, dried fruit is good.Nuts are good. Um. Some candy's good. Especially if you're going all day, you do need some calories, so it's nice to have a big candy bar that I don't normally let myself eat. Katie Grant: [00:15:23] Yeah, yeah. Do you prefer to listen to any music or podcasts or anything or just be out there in nature and enjoy the sounds?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:15:32] Mostly I like to be out in nature and enjoy the sounds. I love the sounds of the wind of when going through the different tree branches and all the different noises. Uh, branches can make, you wouldn't believe it. Everything from like a, um, an old door, big wooden door creaking open in a haunted house or something to some that sound like a, you know, a boat rubbing against a doc or something. That being said, especially if I'm on a long-distance hike where I'm maybe hiking for 8 or 10 hours a day, um, toward the end when I start getting tired, I need music or podcast or something to kind of distract me. So that's when I switch to that. Katie Grant: [00:16:10] Okay. Keep you going.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:16:11] Right. Katie Grant: [00:16:13] So in some of your recaps of hiking, running the Ice Age Trail, you mentioned that you did it kind of in September cause you don't like the heat and then of course it ended up being a super hot September anyway. Um, do you get out on the trails in the winter? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:16:27] I do. Um, yes. I like to snowshoe. That's actually my trail name now, Snowshoe. Um, and there's great snowshoeing on a lot of the trails all over the state. Um, and that's a great activity. I'm trying to get more people into it because so many people say, 'Oh, it's winter. You know, snow, it's cold.' But unless you're talking, you know, zero or below zero, it's, you generate heat when you're out there snowshoeing.And it's...it's so beautiful when you get into some of the woods where they're just, you know, the snow is so deep and it's so quiet and just so beautiful out there. And, uh, cross country skiing is nice too. And then sometimes when we don't have that much snow, we'll just hike on the trails in our boots.Katie Grant: [00:17:12] Right. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:17:12] And just, it helps to have, uh, if you're doing that, some kind of traction device, like yak tracks or, um, ice cleats or something cause it can get icy. Katie Grant: [00:17:22] Right. Yeah. Do you have any tips for other cold-weather gear that you love or have to have? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:17:27] I'm a big fan of trekking poles year-round. Um, they're useful for so many ways, not just balance or taking weight off your knees.You can see, um, if how deep water is in the summer and the winter, you can see, um, if the ice is thick, you know how, how, how solid the ice is. Um, in the summer, they keep your arms parallel to the ground, which means you don't get really swollen fingers. Um. So I love that. It's like a little, my little secret tip, I just discovered that by using them, but they come in handy for, well, didn't help with the groundhog but for other wildlife.You know, if you need to kind of draw yourself up large or just look scary, you know, trekking poles can help for that. And um, hydration. I'm just gonna mention too, cause we talking about year-round, but a lot of people think if it's winter, you don't need water, you don't need as much water and you definitely need water and sometimes you can, you need more water and it's, and you need to remember to drink your water cause I'm bad about that too. I'll take all this water in the winter and then sometimes it's like, ah, I'm not thinking to drink it, but it's really important to do that, to stay hydrated.Katie Grant: [00:18:33] For sure. For sure. What advice would you give to someone who's interested in maybe running the Ice Age Trail for the first time or doing a long through-hike kind of a thing? Any, any tips for beginners?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:18:47] Well, if you're going to do something like running, um, make sure you have a big, uh, base, a deep base for running.Um, I had been running for decades before I started that and did long runs on the weekends and things like that. Um, and for, if you want to do, thinking of a long through hike and you're, um, maybe not having hiked that much. Just make sure you start getting out on the trails and getting yourself used to it and building up slowly.You can also start, a lot of people start these long hikes and just start out and build their way, as they're hiking. So for example, maybe your first day you hike five miles, maybe your first week you hike five miles a day or eight miles a day, and then you next week you bump up to 12 or whatever.It's always good to start, um, slowly and do some research so you know what you're going to get into. Um, I what I didn't know when I started the Ice Age Trail, despite nine months of research, I didn't realize that that trail and many of our others, um, are maintained by volunteers. And what that means is, um, people like you and I go out in their free time and they trim back the trail amongst other things or put fresh markings, but it's all people can't be out there.Keeping the trail in perfect condition every minute of every day. All I had in my head was, it's a national scenic trail and there's only 11, and I was picturing some like Disney-esque type of path where, you know, every, there'd be no weeds or rocks or roots, and it would be just perfectly mowed. And when I got up there, there were some sections that were pretty overgrown because volunteers just hadn't gotten there yet.And so you have to be prepared for that. Um, if you're going to, most trails have some kind of organization or place where you can find out information where you can call locally and just say, what's the trail like? So if you don't want to be in a situation of waiting through knee-high brush or something.Um, just call and say, what's this? This is where I want to hike. What's it like right now? And someone will be able to tell you, or if you like the adventure... Katie Grant: [00:20:52] Go for it anyway.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:20:53] To be surprised by what you'll encounter. Katie Grant: [00:20:55] Yeah. Yeah. Anything else that you want us to know about your, your adventures, your experience, things that people should know before they get into this.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:21:05] Two things. First of all, get out on the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin and start exploring. You'll be blown away by the beauty. I thought I had seen so much of this state just from whether it's driving the car or times when I've hiked or ...Or biked or ran through different parks. But the trail takes you to so many places you just wouldn't normally stop and you will not believe how beautiful it is.And then also I would say, please people get outside and move. There's so many studies that show being out in nature is healthy for you. And, and uh, especially they, there's a link between walking and being in nature. And I'm here to tell you it's absolutely true. I cannot believe how therapeutic it was to be out there day after day in nature.All the stress and anxiety levels go way down. And um, it's just wonderful. So whether you can spare an hour a day, three days, just do it. You'll love it. Katie Grant: [00:22:05] Are you feeling inspired to find your next adventure here in Wisconsin? Curious about how many trails we have or maybe wondering all the ways that can be used? To answer those questions and more we talked with DNR Section Chief for Recreation Management and the Bureau of Parks and Recreation. Brigit Brown: [00:22:21] My name is Brigit Brown, and I am a Section Chief for Recreation Management in the Bureau of Parks and Recreation in the division of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Uh, prior to that, I was the state trails coordinator for about 15 years.Katie Grant: [00:22:36] We brought you in to talk about our trails today cause we have a lot of them and they're pretty awesome. Um, and it turns out that it's not just a simple question of how many we have. Why don't you tell us a little bit about what it is that we have here in Wisconsin for trails. Brigit Brown: [00:22:49] Yeah. Well, we have a really rich history of trails here in Wisconsin.Um, everything from the first rail to trail conversion in the Elroy Sparta State Trail, uh, to, uh, the Ice Age Trail and the North Country Trail to national scenic trails. Um, the Ice Age Trail, uh, is one of the only nationals scenic trails that is contained entirely in one state. Uh, and the Ice Age Trail also has the distinction of being Wisconsin's only state scenic trail, a special designation that it has in state law.Katie Grant: [00:23:25] What does scenic trail mean for it? Brigit Brown: [00:23:27] Oh, that's a good question. Well, it sounds really nice. So that's one thing, but essentially, uh, it, it's a designation that was given, uh, at a federal level. Uh, so it is a national scenic trail. There are also national historic trails. Um, to me, I think, uh, although a lot of the national historic trails are things like a Natchez Trace, um, you know, Trail of Tears, uh, those kinds of trails that have a really rich, um, cultural history. Uh, the Ice Age Trail is really special because, uh, it really commemorates geology and the ice age formations that are, uh, so abundant here in Wisconsin. So it's, it's scenic, in that you know, you get to see a lot of the beauty of Wisconsin and a lot of our geologic, uh, ice age history.Um, but also just Wisconsin's beauty. Katie Grant: [00:24:20] What can you do on state trails on Wisconsin? Brigit Brown: [00:24:24] Oh, wow. That's a great question. So we have all kinds of opportunities on state trails in Wisconsin. Everything from walking and snowshoeing and skiing to, um, more, uh motorized pursuits and, uh, opportunities like off-highway motorcycling, which is a fairly new program here in Wisconsin.Snowmobiling, ATV-ing, UTV-ing. UTVs are kind of the, um, souped-up golf cart looking type devices, uh, that are treated very similar to alternative vehicles or ATVs here in Wisconsin. We also have a lot of equestrian trails, um, we have a lot of diversity in the kinds of pursuits that people enjoy here in Wisconsin on trails.So even among bicycling, there are a lot of different kinds of trails. So what we've done here at DNR is divided those into some different categories. So people have a better idea of the kind of experience they can expect and maybe even the kind of equipment they might want to have with them. Uh, so we have bicycle touring trails, which are, you know, sort of the easier trails, like our pave trails.A lot of our limestone surface trails on former railroad beds, uh, they generally appropriate for all levels of, uh, cycling ability and, and bikes with pretty skinny tires. Then we have off-road bicycle trails, and those are a little bit more intermediate level trails, often in the woods. And they have a variety of surfacing from just native soil to, to woodchips.Um, they're, you know, maybe more appropriate for folks, a little bit more experienced and who are looking for a little bit more of an adventure in the woods. Uh, they're appropriate for, you know, hybrid type bikes. Or mountain bikes as well. Then we also have constructed mountain bike trails. These are trails that are really purpose-built for bicycling.Um, in a challenging way they're, they're a more narrow width, usually about 18 to 24 inches in width, and, uh, they're, they're built to pretty specific standards for mountain biking. That's not to say though that other uses don't really enjoy them. We have, um, a lot of other folks, um, whether they be pedestrians, uh, hikers, runners, walkers, uh, who enjoy that kind of trail as well.Snowshoers, we find also really, uh, often enjoy those more narrow kind of intimate trails, um, that, uh, our constructed mountain bike trails offer. Katie Grant: [00:26:59] Yeah. So some of these are kind of multi-use, you know, you can bike them, you can run 'em, you can hike them. Some of them are more specialized where, you know, maybe you can only snowmobile on them or, um, only cross-country ski on them at different times of year.Brigit Brown: [00:27:16] Yeah, that's a really good point. All of our trails are open to people walking and those basic pedestrian uses, um, with the exception of our groomed cross-country ski trails. We don't want people walking on those. And so we have what's called administrative code that says, essentially, when one of our trails is groomed, uh, don't hike on it, don't allow your dog on it. Um, because we want to preserve that really specific experience of those tracks for the cross-country skiers. Um, but yeah, we have a whole variety of trails that are open to a lot of different uses. And I think a good way maybe to think about it is that trails will have, uh, multiple uses that are allowed uses.So you can do bicycling, you can do ATV-ing, you can walk on a trail. However, they may not be a kind of the, the experience that's catered to on that trail. So a lot of times, um, you know, we, we have a motorized trail that is open to a whole variety of uses. Um, but in large part, it is designed and maintained for usually that motorized use.So you can definitely walk on it. You can definitely bicycle on it, but it may not be a bicyclist or a walker's most desired experience. So, um, we encourage folks to kind of think about what their desired experience is. And we do our best to provide information and provide facts about all of our different trails so that folks can really find an experience that is gonna meet their needs and really meet what they're looking for.Katie Grant: [00:29:03] Yeah, for sure. So before we got started here, you kind of had mentioned that one of the things you like to do as long-distance hike and we have some resources on our website specifically about that. What is your favorite long-distance hike in Wisconsin? Brigit Brown: [00:29:17] Oh, that's a great question. You know, I have to say the Kettle Moraine is always a classic.Um, we're fortunate to have, uh, some great backpacking experiences here in Wisconsin. Of course, we have our two national scenic trails with the North Country Trail and the Ice Age Trail. And what we've done is we've provided online, if you, if you look up, uh, on our website and type in backpacking, we have some kind of sample experiences for folks.And, you know, they can say, 'Hey, I, I'm new to this backpacking thing. Maybe I just want to try one night.' Well, we have some, uh, areas where we suggest, 'Hey, you can park here, you can hike out on this trail, camp here, and then hike back the next day.' Um, maybe you want to try a few more days. And we have some, some sampling... Sample itineraries for that as well.Katie Grant: [00:30:09] What do you need to be able to use Wisconsin state trails? Do you need to buy any sort of a pass or admission stickers or anything like that? Brigit Brown: [00:30:17] Yeah, so we do require vehicle admission stickers at a lot of our properties. So once you get into the property, if it does require that vehicle admission sticker, then we also have some trails that require a state trail pass.So what that is is just a, it's a piece of paper that allows you for the calendar year to access our state trails. Uh, if you're doing so by bicycle or horse or cross country ski, um, and that isn't across the board. It's for certain uses on certain trails, and we do explain exactly where it's required and for what uses on our website if you just type in keyword "trail pass." Katie Grant: [00:31:02] Is there any trail etiquette that users should be aware of? Brigit Brown: [00:31:05] Yeah, that's a great question. And thank you for asking. Um, this is one of the things that I, I really wish more people knew about. Um, so basic trail etiquette, uh, and, and sometimes it gets confusing because if you're, if you're walking or bicycling on a road, uh, it's really different.But if you're on a trail in general, you want to stay to the right of the trail pass people on their left. Let people know that you're passing. Now we have a lot of folks who are at different speeds and different skill levels, and it's really frankly just the polite thing to do to say, 'Hey, on your left,' and to let someone know that you're going to be passing them.They won't always hear you. We do have a lot of folks that like using the trails with, uh, with headphones on or earbuds in, but, um, at least doing your best to alert others, to let them know that you're passing. You know, I think always looking before you want to change your position on a trail, whether you're going to be passing someone else or you want to avoid something, um, you know, a lot of it really just focuses on, um, kind of the golden rule of treating others how you'd like to be treated, you know, being polite and, and when in doubt, uh, I think yielding to other users is a good rule of thumb as well. Katie Grant: [00:32:28] Anything else you want us to know about Wisconsin state trails? Brigit Brown: [00:32:32] It can be considered that Wisconsin's trails are the windows to the DNR. In that trails can be a really great way for folks who don't necessarily have a lot of outdoor experience to have sort of a low consequences or, uh, uh, an easier introduction to, to being outside and to experiencing DNR lands. You know, we have, we have trails, especially some of our state trails, our rail-trails in urban areas.And you know, just getting on one of those trails and seeing where it takes you, it's, it's a great experience and a great way to get introduced to some areas and places and some of the beauty of Wisconsin that you might not otherwise see. Katie Grant: [00:33:14] It's an easy way to just get out there and go for a little ways and then turn around and come back, you don't have to commit to a lot of it. Brigit Brown: [00:33:21] Absolutely. Katie Grant: [00:33:22] Learn more about how you can explore Wisconsin's outdoors by visiting dnr.wi.gov and searching for keyword, "find your adventure." Be sure to subscribe to Wild Wisconsin -- Off The Record wherever you get your podcasts. Leave us a review or tell us who you'd like to hear from next time.Thanks for listening.

This week, Marleah and Patrice drink mojitos and talk Angela Bassett, child zombies, mind movie porn, George the skeptical Native American, and what makes a witch a witch.

This week, Marleah and Patrice drink mojitos and talk Angela Bassett, child zombies, mind movie porn, George the skeptical Native American, and what makes a witch a witch.