Of course, napping is always safe
We always try to seek the safest path when choosing a bike ride and unfortunately, the aftermath of the flood has made it extremely challenging to ride our parks, reach the Natchez Trace Parkway by bike, and head out from the South side of town from our favorite routes. Here are a few notes that you might find helpful as you venture out post flood.
Avoiding Old Hickory around Vaughn
Adjacent to the Model Airplane Field Parking Lot
The big trucks hauling flood refuse have created a lot of traffic on Old Hickory behind the Steeplechase. You can bypass this section by shortcutting through Percy Warner Park from Highway 100 when headed west. At the light for Harpeth Trace Drive, prepare to turn left onto the park service road. This cut through has actually been smoothed out by the rains. You can ride this to the back of the Steeplechase without incurring any road damage, thus avoiding a bad traffic situation on Old Hickory.
You can also cross through Edwin Warner by taking the service road just before Ensworth School.
Heading Out to Franklin/Leiper's Fork via Old Natchez
Of course, we would never suggest going around a road closure barricade, but we have seen evidence that there are 23 c tire tracks in the grass circumventing the large piles of gravel blocking the road on Sneed, just before the bridge that flooded. We are assuming that one single dismount and short hike over the gravel at the other end of the bridge would safely deposit someone right before the turn off to Old Natchez. Don't do this in a 2 ton truck, but if you and your bike are under 300 lbs, you will probably be OK for crossing this. There is no apparent damage to the bridge surface, but we are wondering if some engineers are pondering the stress it was subjected to. The picture at left shows this area on the day of the flooding.
Old Natchez is in better shape now than preflood as the clean up crews have swept and cleared the road, clearing several inches on each side and smoothing out some of the bumpiness.
