Jackson and the Trace [news]

All through Mississippi Paul & I were especially eager to meet up with the Natchez Trace just north of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. We rode almost 60 miles the day prior just to get up to the parkway. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a two lane road setup by the National Park Service. It follows the original footpath that led travelers from Natchez, a primary port town at what used to be a southwestern limit to the United States, to Nashville Tennessee, the terminus.

The Trace was first formed by deer trails and other natural seams in the forest. Native people including the Choctaw and Chickasaw walked these paths to move throughout the land. After centuries of foot traffic these paths became ingrained in the soil, at places 30 ft. deep. With the rise of the white man and civilization in the form of towns and water transportation people would drift down the Mississippi and walk north using the trail system. Stands were setup along the way to help the traveler.

No longer in full use, the Natchez Trace has faded with the advent of the automobile and paved roads. We traveled the Parkway in remembrance of those that traveled by foot, sometimes risking their lives.

Passing through Jackson we stopped at the state news paper, the Clarion-Ledger. They interviewed us and photographed us in their courtyard. After stopping at a café, Paul & I continued south on the Trace, traveling to Natchez, to see a historic and wealthy town, prospering from the Mississippi river and it's rich heritage.

Team Bowditch Visits Wired [news]

@Wired

A cross country bicycle team, Clint Valentine and Paul Dorr visited Wired today. They are bicycling to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Research. You can visit their website at www.teambowditch.com.   -Wired Expesso, Jackson, Mississippi

Cycling for a Cause [news]

The Meridan Star

Paul Dorr and Clint Valentine made a stop in Meridian yesterday before continuing on their 6 month, 5,000 mile biking trip for breast cancer research and awareness.
-Jennifer Jacob Brown

MERIDIAN - Paul Dorr has cycled long distances before, but this is the first time he's done it to raise money for a cause.

Dorr and Clint Valentine passed through Meridian Tuesday as part of a six month, 5,000 mile biking trip from Rockland, Maine to San Diego that they are undergoing, not just for adventure, but to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and to raise breast cancer awareness.

Calling themselves "Team Bowditch", Dorr and Valentine have been biking since October 25th, and talking about breast cancer everywhere they go along the way.

"Other than people who are directly affected by (breast cancer), I don't think most are necessarily aware of just how widespread it is," said Dorr, who lost his mother to breast cancer 15 years ago. "We meet someone who has been affected by breast cancer every day."

Meeting people, Dorr and Valentine agreed, has been the highlight of their trip.


"People we meet on the road have been very hospitable and nice," said Valentine.

"The generosity, whether it's just people giving us a thumbs up or stopping and talking with us, or people who have opened their homes to us... These memories are the ones we will keep the longest," said Dorr. 

Valentine and Dorr are trying to raise $20,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and so far have reached about one fifth of their goal. To donate to the cause, visit Team Bowditch at www.teambowditch.com, where you will find a link to their donation page at the Susan G. Komen Web site. 

They said donations are tax deductible and are made directly to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can also visit www.teambowditch.com to learn more about what Dorr and Valentine are doing and to donate money for food.

The Meridian Star, Meridian, Mississippi, January 27th, 2010

Selma to Montgomery [news]

An hours ride by car, days ride by bike, and if you are marching it, it takes several days. At one time Route 80, or the "Dixie Highway", ran from Tybee Island, South Carolina to San Diego, California. It has seen many events along its thousands of miles of asphalt. It now no longer spans the country but finds it's terminus in Dallas, Texas.

The route between Selma to Montgomery is around fifty miles, but the route itself is as historically important as the bridge at Lexington and Concord, Reeds Hill near Boston, and Valley Forge. In March of 1965 a group of African-Americans marched from Selma to Montgomery to address their grievances and demand the freedom to register to vote; They were going to exercise that right.

It could be argued that until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as a country we could not truly call ourselves a Democratic Republic. If even one person is unlawfully denied the right to choose the people who will represent them, we have failed democracy. This was true then and it is true now, the definition has not changed.

The history of 'Bloody Sunday','Turn around Tuesday', and the subsequent march to the capitol are well recorded so I will not go into details. Read, Learn, and Understand.

It was a mild sunny day when Clint and I rode the historic route, now one of America's Byways. We made a stop at White Hall and toured the Interpretive Center there. The presentation there was very well done and a must see to anyone.

We arrived in Selma later that same day with plans to talk with the local media and represent our trip. We also intended to ride through town and before dusk right out to find a campsite. Just before crossing the famed Edmund Pettus bridge we toured the Voting Rights Museum. The museum was newly located and was not finished at the time, it did not include all exhibits. The staff there was great and both Clint and I came away with a better perspective, however, we had only just begun to learn.

When it came time to cross the bridge we decided that we should walk rather than ride. Not as much for the safety but more for the experience.

The city of Selma, like many cities in the U.S., has gone from boom to bust and back again numerous times. A wide main street with mostly brick buildings on both sides. Some open and some closed but I had a good feeling about this town and feel that it will soon be a boom town again.

We met with a reporter from the local paper and even had the opportunity to have photos taken with his honor, the mayor. As much as we wanted to stay and explore (Selma has a large historic district), we needed to find a campsite for the night.

Just as we were about to leave we were told about the Everyman Café and bookstore, and the owner, Nancy, and that it might be possible to stay there for the night.

While standing outside the beautiful Jackson Hotel, we met Frank Diaz, who, as luck would have it, was camping out at that same café we had just been informed about.


We walked over and found the ourselves in a very eclectic book/music/art/café. Nancy soon arrived and after talking with us decided we were good people and gave us a place on the floor to call home for the night.

Both Frank and Nancy played guitars and with Clint at the piano we soon had an informal jam session! They played well past my bed time and I fell asleep with the sound of Clont and Frank playing away. It was a great day.