So my wife and the Sunday school teachers wife are close friends.  ( Wrenn and Debbie). Wrenn kinda started all this when he bought a used HOnda 750 about 5 years ago. then then sold that for a NEW Yammy 1100 touring bike, he then bought a used HD all out loaded cruiser. The Yammy went to his son.

Deb and my wife concocted a ride from home to Natchez via the Trace.  

Info on "the Trace" as we all call it http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

Its about 95 miles down to Natchez from Clinton, and we have our own exit, so you can basically get on the trace here and get off there. Its a great place to ride!

Wren and I wanted to start about 7 or 8... you know us men.. but yeah... we left about 11. My wife has a bladder infection and elected to NOT ride on the bike but just follow us in the car.

First stop was mere 35 miles out at Rocky Springs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Springs,_Mississippi

Here we talked with other bikers, and I convinced all to stop at Lorman for lunch.
The BEST fried chicken you will ever eat... bar NONE:
http://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-youtube-videos/562-old-countr...

Mr. D (proprietor) sang to us as well three guests ( three teenage girls ) that sang gospel for us.

On to Natchez! We completed the run down on hwy 61 since we had to drop off the trace to Lorman.  Speeds here were 65 mph. ( versus the limit of 50 on the trace)

When we got to Natchez we knew one stop we wanted was at the Old south winery. We already knew we liked their offerings ( though not everyone does). We had to ask a passing Sherrif to tell us how to get there.. and in true southern hospitality.. he LED US THERE. The car came in handy with a case for us and 4 bottles for the other couple.  
http://oldsouthwinery.com/

The important part done, time to rest up and take in what Natchez has to offer,  thus went to here
http://www.fpcnatchez.org/natchezinhistoricalphotographs.php

Its actually over 600 photo's most with a few sentences about it. Its a self lead tour and FREE.

Lastly, time to get one last refresher before the long trip home.
http://www.fatmamastamales.com/

Everyone was still full from the all you can buffet at Lorman, so it was just drinks. 'ritas for everyone except my wife who had water (bladder).

We hit the trace headed home @ 5:30pm. By the time we got back to Rocky Springs it was past dark. We stopped for bio break and ended up talking will till near 8pm. My wife and Deb were in the car, and Wren I on our bikes.

My bike did fine as far as performance. It can do 50mph all day and really not beat you to death. At 65 (which it can do) you do get that handle bar buzz and yeah, the bike is just not that much fun at those speeds. I did haul spare 1gal gas can and I did use it, but I don't think I really needed it. At 50mph, your in a good sweet spot for MPG. Even though I have a re-padded seat... it still wore my tushy out. I had a good case of the burn on the way back.

Now the "sneaky" part. Wrens son how was to buy the old Yam 1100, cant really afford to keep it. So its back on the market. $3500 to me or $4500 on CL.  My wife wants me to buy it so we can do more rides like this. But I am not so sure. For one, I don't see us doing that many rides together, and for the other, I don't see me riding some big fat tourer to work. And I don't see me keeping both bikes ( though I could I guess).  I kinda felt like the girls were ganging up on me to buy the bike. Wren didn't care, he loses $1000 if I buy it.

and that the Pine road trip report... ( after action report?)

Simple problem, simple solution... buy, it, bring it up here, take the Super Beetle home for one of the kids. I get the barn space back, you have another collector car to play with since the kids will run screaming from it.