May 1-2, 2018 Goshen Springs campground, Mississippi

We moved farther up the Natchez Trace to Goshen Springs, Mississippi. It is just north of Jackson.

We stopped at the official spot where the classic photo of the sunken trace is taken at mile marker 41 . 5 minute walk. Looked alot like the last section we hiked 3 miles on. So many people, horses and wagons used the Trace that it became deeply eroded or sunken. The sign says 'Hardships of journeying on the Old Trace  included heat, mosquitoes, poor food, hard beds (if any) disease, swollen rivers and sucking swamps.' I was prepared for the mosquitoes with my long sleeves and mosquito hat. !  John in the sunken trace. 

An old looking bridge over the Natchez Trace. The parkway went many miles along Barnett reservoir.

We are camped at Goshen Springs campground north of Jackson. We got settled them drove up to MM 122.0 to see the Cypress Swamp.

John took this of me contemplating the Cypress Swamp. Marker for the Sunken Trace. Asters, seed head, Indian Pink flowers, the sign at the cypress swamp said' You are entering a realm of trees, water and reflections. It's subtle beauty and peaceful setting can sooth a tired soul. The trail is easily walked in 20 minutes, but a relaxed pace increases the likelihood of seeing wildlife. Along the way you may experience the wonderment of discovery. Allow time for the magic to work. Our neighbor at the campground caught these 20 crappie's. He had them lined up on the bench to the picnic table.

 Sunset from the marina in camp tonight. We went to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry/ National  Agricultural Aviation museum today. John and I in a giant rocking chair at the museum.

 Part of the exhibit of agricultural aviation with early crop dusters. Sign for the museum, The Mississippi Sports hall of fame was next door, Mississippi has 57% of the catfish pond acreage in the US, a homemade wooden cotton seed planter, Miss Hwy Patrol,  boll Weevil for us northerners who don't know what one looks like, a steam saw mill in the forestry exhibit.

 The history of fertilizer was actually very interesting, I hope they didn't put this manakin of a cross eyed guy in the historic farm exhibit on purpose, a huge industrial treadle sewing machine. and the second worlds oldest cotton bale. Not sure where the first oldest is or how they know this is the second oldest. Cotton Gin, in the exhibit of the varieties of cotton they had kidney cotton, Natchez silt loam, the Mississippi state soil, the floor had these cool wooden 'tiles'

John rocking the baby-great invention. The oldest operating cotton gin in america. 

A collection of antique axes in the forestry exhibit, Trailer Trash Cheese straws from the Mississippi Cheese straw factory in Yahoo, nearby, southern magnolia blooms- 8 inches of creamy fragrance with evergreen leaves, and sweet bay magnolia with 2 3/4 inch blooms. I've seen three types of magnolia blooms and they are all beautiful. Sunset over the marina in the campground tonight. The camera does not take a picture that shows that the sun was a huge red ball setting.