We backtracked on the Natchez Trace to stop at some of the places we did not stop before. West Florida boundary mile marker where to boundary of the Florida Territory was, reservoir over look mm 105.6 to overlook the Ross R Barnett Reservoir on the Pearl river, Boyd Stie Mile marker 106.9 where there were burial grounds, The Old Trace mm 104.5 to view more of the old sunken trace. A sign at the informational cabin at mm 102.4 said 'Enough to keep you busy for life' The Natchez Trace-a narrow strip 800 feet wide is home to an amazing variety of plants and animals.' The view from the reservoir overlook.
Also at mm 104.6 is the Mississippi Craft center which is home to the Craftsman guild of Mississippi. Which show cases the work of 400 artists. They have a permanent gallery collection of art and a huge gift shop of the art. A frog out front, pine needle baskets and glass, a lichen on a tree that I thought was an eagle petroglyph, the front of the gift shop and a Welcome to Jackson mural. We went to Jackson which is the capital of Mississippi.
In Jackson we went to the International Museum of Muslim Cultures and learned about the Islamic history and culture. I don't even remember American history from school, much less others countries and cultures. It was very interesting. This is the entrance to the museum. Sunset over the marina at the campground was blocked by low clouds, but I got the sun coming through a little slit in the clouds.
We moved north up the Natchez Trace today. Jeff Busby mile marker 193.1 is a picnic area and campground. We hiked the Little Mountain trail which weaves through a hardwood forest to one of the highest places in Mississippi, a whopping 603 feet. Jeff Busby was the legislator who in the 1930's shepherded a measure through congress ' to locate the Natchez Trace as near as practical in it's original route and to determine the cost of construction of an appropriate National Parkway'. Pigeon Roost mile marker 203.5 is the former roosting area for millions of passenger pigeons, now extinct. Folsom' stand (Inn) stood nearby. Bynum Mounds at mm 232.4 Was built between 2,050 and 1,800 years ago. Witch Dance mm 233.2 is horse trails access, bike-only campground , picnic area. John on the Little mountain trail.
John at the top after our greuling summit trek at the top. Jack in the pulpit, clover leaf opening, and yellow flowers.
False solomon's seal, purple flower, orange flower, wild onion flowers and a sign at Jeff Busby campground Do not feed the wildlife, prohibits feeding,touching,frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife (this includes cats). The National Park service is attempting to remove the feral cats in the campground, and is working with local non-profit groups to find homes for them. One of two small springs in a shady hollow on the trail.
Purple thistle, yellow flowers where the lake should be, and white pea flowers. The GPS took us on a series of very narrow, some dirt road to the campground. This road was about as wide as the bus.
John got us the best campsite in Trace State Park at the end of the peninsula out into the lake. Unfortunately the lake is dry now, they are working on the levy. The good news is we have no neighbors tonight. It was cloudy all day. Supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. But the clouds kind of turned pink at sunset, over what would have been a reflection on the lake if it had water in it.
It rained hard and we measured 3 inches, probably less in real life. The orchard oriole smacked into the window of the bus and did not survive. Pretty bird, spring beauty, dappled leaves, big pink clover and chickasaw plum.
Red buckeye and a close up of the flowers. We stopped at the Chickasaw village site mile marker 261.8. the Chickasaw were one of three indian tribes whole land the Natchez Trace crossed. Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Out of town is the Elvis Presley Lake and campground. The reviews said the campground was a dump or I would have wanted to go there. Two colors of lichen on a log and one of the Natchez Trace granite markers the Daughters of the American Revolution placed to mark the trail in the 1930's.
The official Natchez Trace visitors center is in the middle of the Trace at MM 266.0. We stopped today. It was very informative, we read the exhibits and watched an orientation movie. Here is a map of the trace, the north part is on the left and the south part is on the right. In the middle is a poster for the Trace showing the sunken part of it. So many people, horses and wagons going over it eroded and sunk it into the soil. The Trace is on the average of 800 feet wide and 444 miles long, it is not a highway but a long narrow park. We met the owners of this homemade RV, they are from Quebec and traveling the US.
At mm 269.4 is part of the old Trace with the graves of 13 unknown confederate soldiers. The original grave markers may have had names but they disappeared long ago. In 1940 one of the senators had marble gravestones put up, but they were stolen. The park service up these when the Trace became a national park. This is another section of the Old Trace you can hike at mm 263.9. It is part of the national scenic trail.
The view from our backyard tonight. The sunset looks like riders in the sky to me.
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