Starting our 444 mile bike ride | Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway

This week we’re biking the Natchez Trace Parkway! Today is the first ride and we’re heading from Nashville, TN to Columbia, TN. It’s a 57 mile ride through some of Tennessee’s most beautiful rolling countryside! This route will wind past farmlands, small towns, hiking trails, and lots of historical sites. This is day 1 of 5 of our trip biking the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you enjoyed this video and want to follow along with this little adventure, be sure to tune in again soon! :)
💻 Follow us on social media
+ Instagram: / letsbe_us
+ Facebook: / letsbeustravel
+ Website: www.letsbe.us
📍 Places in this video
+ Where is the Natchez Trace Parkway? www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm
+ Where we started biking (The Loveless Cafe): g.page/LovelessCafe?share
+ Natchez Trace Bridge: goo.gl/maps/Z91qE4hyqBfWPc9UA
+ John Gordon House: goo.gl/maps/A76vBhKBuXPzN19h8
+ Meriwether Lewis Monument: goo.gl/maps/GXW2SwurQ33uQ7du6
+ Columbia, Tennessee: goo.gl/maps/PkeDt5U4EvvJy2qw9
+ Red 7 Pizza Co.: goo.gl/maps/Jpgm4DRR6TbWuEaF6
All of our vlog music from MUSICBED. Try MUSICBED for 30 days FREE using the link below:
bit.ly/3v9JzVR
ALL DRONE FOOTAGE WAS FILMED OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARIES.
__________
== A B O U T U S ==
Hey y'all! We're Chris + Sara (or as you know us, Let’s Be Us), a husband and wife digital nomad travel duo currently working and traveling full time with our pup, Kramer. We've always dreamed of traveling full time, and in May of 2018 we took the leap and made it happen! Today we're balancing work and fun everywhere between the Pacific and Atlantic. From hiking and cycling to tacos and coffee, we're trying to see and experience as much of this world as we can! While our home is currently on wheels in our DIY Sprinter van, our travels take us all around the world.
Be sure to hit subscribe here on KZbin and follow along on Instagram for more daily fun! Oh, and be sure to say hi while you're here. :)

[@enigmawyoming5201]

I once rode my bicycle 526 miles in 6 days around Wyoming… over two mountain ranges along the way. Natchez Trace Parkway, riding 444 miles on beautiful roads, no commercial truck traffic in much lower altitude, winds and relatively flat slopes.. would take me at least twice that long because it is so beautiful. I’d be stopping every 30-45 minutes (10-15 miles) just to absorb the beauty. Just like I did the two times I drove NTP in my car. I’m sure that would be an epic bike ride!

[@heyodi3092]

I live right off the Natchez Trace in Franklin. I had no idea you could hike/bike it. Bucket list!

[@chrisandsara]

Yes, you should definitely add it to your bucket list!!

[@armymxere5]

Great ride I did it 3x Nashville down and nachez up and again back down love it

[@billcummins9579]

Beautiful video , looks like a wonderful ride

[@1DrBar]

When my daughter was 12, just over 10 years ago, we packed up our bikes with clothes, camping gear and a Trangia STove kit, and set out from home in North Carolina's piedmont region through 11 states. Our final destination was Austin Texas and the trace was some of the nicest cycling, though by then we wanted more hills. I liked the low speed limit and the reduced traffic. Bike yourneys are a great way to make memories.

[@PhilThach]

What an adventure!

[@mcl925]

Sorry I missed your visit to Columbia! Hope you make it back this way again.

[@chrisandsara]

We're already planning another trip to Columbia! SUCH a cute town!! :)

[@buildadventure404]

looks AWESOME!!! love to bike but not on 55+MPH roads, people be crazy!

[@aaronwilliamsmith]

I love the cloud shots. Also, I watched this in 1.5 speed and Sara looked like she was cycling so fast.

[@chrisandsara]

😂I AM that fast. Keep up.

[@joekuykendall]

Taking on all the hills! Great job!

[@chrisandsara]

Thanks, Joe!

[@cecectconnecticut344]

It looks like a mostly empty road which is so nice!

[@chrisandsara]

Super nice!! Most of the drivers were really respectful, too. :)

[@cbenmitchell5800]

Fantastic ride and fantastic videography. Well done you two . . . um, three!

[@chrisandsara]

Thank you!! :)

[@jamiejonesblog]

great video. i live near Nashville, and I am planning on riding on the Natchez Trace Parkway soon, so this was very helpful. thank you..!

[@chrisandsara]

Glad it was helpful! Have fun on your ride!!

[@chrisandsara]

So fun!! The section of the Natchez in Tennessee is the best part. You live close to biking some incredibly beautiful roads. Be safe and have fun while out there! :)

[@Scrambler85]

Great way to stay in shape and enjoy the outdoors 👍

[@chrisandsara]

we agree!!

[@WhatsUpBob]

We LOVE the Trace!!!! Have done it several times, top down in our SSR. What a peaceful drive!

[@chrisandsara]

It's so beautiful, we had a blast riding it!

[@akaemmaclaire]

LOVE the donut right before the ride 😂 sometimes it's the perfect motivation

[@chrisandsara]

Chris agrees 😂

[@Nine_Finger_Wrenching]

Great video y'all. Absolutely love the video and the editing. I just started my channel in November and have found the editing my biggest learning curve. You earned my subscription. Greetings from Memphis Tn.

[@lily2243]

Oh, how wonderful! Columbia is where my family settled after they left Knoxville when it was all still North Carolina. That's where we went some Sundays for church and Sunday dinners. Doctors in the family back in the day would ride their horses on the Natchez Trace to Memphis to work when that port city sent riders out calling for help with yellow fever and other epidemics. Love the stacked stone walls. I hope you are warmly welcomed! Zion Presbyterian in Spring Hill is an interesting church, with the white folks buried inside a fence, and the slaves buried outside the fence... lots of interesting frontier history thereabouts both for good and for ill.

[@chrisandsara]

Thank you, Lily!! so cool learning more about the history! It's been such a wonderful ride and the people and history have all been so fascinating! That southern hospitality is a real thing down here and we LOVE it. :)

[@allisonsherman7231]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻good stuff! Hi Kramer❤️

[@chrisandsara]

"Hi Allison!!!" - Kramer

[@sandrap3047]

Looks like so much fun! You’re such a good cheerleader Chris! Can Kramer get any cuter?

[@chrisandsara]

It was SUCH a fun ride! Chris is the best cheerleader and no, Kramer absolutely could not get any cuter! 😂🐶

[@allieyates557]

I'm so jealous! My hubby and I met in 2012 and rode bikes together when he lived by the Natchez Trace in Jackson, MS. We talked sooo much about doing this whole trip but we have kids now so it would be wayyyy harder. I'm so excited to follow y'all on your journey. And also, fun fact, now we live on Signal Mountain in the Chattanooga area! Small world.

[@chrisandsara]

Hey there neighbor! Hope you and your hubby are able to bike it soon!

[@heyodi3092]

Hey my mother in law lives on Signal Mountain. How funny. Small world indeed.

[@lucasdelosh5305]

“After 13 months of sitting still we’re hitting the road for a little adventure” - YES!! Let’s go!!

[@chrisandsara]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 LET'S GO!

[@jpmerrick8886]

Makes total sense to have the van

[@Analouisek]

I'm with you Sara, not waiting for KZbin to eat 🤣

[@chrisandsara]

It was just too good and I was so hungry!!

[@cecectconnecticut344]

I had so many questions yesterday about the logistics of the van and the dog but tag teaming explains it all!

[@chrisandsara]

So glad we were able to answer your questions :)

[@annh2746]

I've not watched the video yet, but you're doing something I want to do.

[@chrisandsara]

We can't recommend it enough!! Such a fun trip!

[@annh2746]

@@chrisandsara I live very close to Chattanooga. You should have taken me with you. 🤣😁🤣

[@Hanginwithherky]

We actually start our two part series of the Trace this Sunday on our channel. We were there a few weeks ago it’s our third trip on the trace. Sorry we missed you as it would have been great to see you guys again.

[@chrisandsara]

How exciting! We are so bummed to miss y'all too, hope you enjoyed it!

[@musicdon1]

Super video! I applauded for $5.00 👏👏

[@chrisandsara]

Wow! Thank you Donald!

[@aaalllen]

bonus episodes! i thought this content was for next week :)

[@chrisandsara]

Hope you enjoyed it!!

[@garywilliams7086]

If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen 🤪🤪 just joking. Great video. Love that Sara rides a Cannondale, but could quite see what Chris rides. Rapha......👌🏻 clothing was on point. I cycled London to Barcelona in the summer 1600kms, was amazing. Unfortunately not much cycling since due to cancer, but just recently been given the all clear. So feeling suitably inspired by your video, I will take a ride to Windsor from London tomorrow.

[@chrisandsara]

Congratulations on the all clear from your doctor! What a huge victory! We had no idea you were battling cancer. Go treat yourself to a nice spring bike ride this week (and maybe some pizza afterwards, too). London to Barcelona sounds amazing! Bike packing Europe is a bucket list item for us. That's my trusty little Cannondale I've had since day 1 of cycling. It's practically another appendage at this point. :) Chris is riding his old Kestrel (not sure the exact model though). Both are basic bikes but they've been faithful to us for many miles!

[@chrisandsara]

Sounds like a beautiful ride, thankful you're finally able to ride! Enjoy it!

[@KJAKE906]

Hi :-) Well, I made it to Chattanooga this last week, and visited a lot of the areas you had talked prior about. I walked the bridge downtown, walked a little of the boardwalk....:-) went to Enterprise park, checked out many apartments around the area. I am from Minnesota, and plan on moving my family to Chattanooga this coming August. Just to get to know the area, I plan on moving into the Collegeville area, maybe. Thanks for your videos. You both remind me of my best friend and his wife at their younger age. They love to travel and experience different activities. I told them to watch your videos! :-) Keep up the great videos, wish you well on our your ventures!!!

[@annh2746]

Collegedale, I think you mean. 🙂

[@chrisandsara]

How exciting, hope y'all enjoy living here, it's got a ton to offer! Thanks for watching!

[@KJAKE906]

@@annh2746 Yeah, :-) I'm just checking if anyone was paying attention. lol+++

[@annh2746]

@@KJAKE906 😁 I was. 😁

[@eleanormcarthur6747]

Should have gone all the way to Tupelo,MS. That is where I live

[@chrisandsara]

We did bike through Tupelo! That'll be video #3 from this series that will go live on Sunday. :) Stay tuned!

[@andrewe.7907]

Kramer says he'll stay in the van... Smarter not harder. That's why he's Kramer!

[@chrisandsara]

😂he's definitely the smartest in the group.

[@mikosoft]

I really appreciate you putting metric measurements on screen.

[@chrisandsara]

We're trying to think about our friends on the metric system (aka the rest of the world lol)! :)

[@mikosoft]

@@chrisandsara being one of them I appreciate!

[@erikapruda6202]

Hey! Awesome ride. Planning to bike the whole trail over the summer. If there's no van, do you guys think it's possible to just bring bikes and stop to sleep/eat? Thanks!!

[@chrisandsara]

Hey there, thanks! There are some hotels and restaurants, but it’ll take a bit more planning because most of them are a little ways off the road. Camping is easier if you’re self supported!

[@sherriclearlake1611]

Super video! I applauded for CRC 1,000.00 👏

[@chrisandsara]

Thank you so much, Sherri!!! that means a lot!❤

[@kaylaandmarkalan]

Not gonna lie, I was really wondering how you guys were biking and moving the van. Now I feel dumb. 😂 This looks like such a beautiful ride though!

[@chrisandsara]

😂😂 it's okay! You're not the only one who wondered!

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, you guys are great and all but Kramer is the Dude 😁😁.

[@chrisandsara]

Oh we know... Kramer is the only 99% of y'all watch our videos! 😂

[@H2Dwoat]

@@chrisandsara 😎

[@sniffer2986]

Did you ride over the huge bridge at the beginning? I’m sure the wind would be strong up there.

[@chrisandsara]

YES! Beautiful view but the winds were CRAZY!

[@jessemartinez4712]

Nice bike, did you trade in the Volpe?

[@chrisandsara]

I still have the Volpe, the Cannondale is my first bike love though. I purchased it for my first tour back in 2013 and it's still my favorite bike. :)

[@mavickers]

Was it windy.

[@brandensavell1667]

Do you trail in the van or drive ahead and wait for her to get there?

[@chrisandsara]

The driver usually gives the biker a bit of a head start then leapfrogs to the next stop! 😊

[@jasonjac123]

It’s nice and smooth until you get around Jackson.

[@jpmerrick8886]

Goggles Sarah

[@turbodog99]

Cat ears will destroy wind noise

[@chrisandsara]

Good to know!

[@dennisdugger7975]

Why no eye protection?

[@chrisandsara]

I did wear glasses 👀👀

[@mojomanmurph1925]

Tip from one who travels the Trace often. There have been many bicyclists killed with many more injured. Reality is most people driving it don't care or pay attention to bicycles. Many use the time to get on their smartphones. I have had to come to a complete stop and literally move off the road before getting hit head on. Some people are impatient and will not slow down at all even when cars are coming from the other direction and literally run you off the road. Yes, there are laws for bicyclists but doesn't mean people abide by them. Don't travel during rush hour times! Best to travel from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Folks use the Trace as a regular road and are in a hurry in the morning and many start drinking on their way home on the Trace after work. It's just the way it is so trying to help you out. (If a car runs over a bicyclist, the driver is in the wrong but will walk away; the bicyclist usually doesn't). Always be looking behind you and buy whatever you can to wear or attach to your bicycle to make yourself noticed. The more blinky, reflective stuff, the better because people driving that are head deep into their smartphones is really a problem on the Trace.

[@eleanormcarthur6747]

Be careful the Natchez trace is it dangerous ride

[@chrisandsara]

Thank you!! Always safety first over here. :)