Sunday, December 25, 2016

More Mississippi Magic

December 13-16, 2016
Clinton, Mississippi

With a couple extra days in the area we run errands and get some "stuff" done around home on Tuesday. It rains off and on all day, dropping the temps back into the 50's.

The drive on Natchez Trace to the east was so special, that Wednesday we turn to the west to see the section to Natchez, Mississippi.

We get a late start, but it's still chilly at barely 50 degrees when we head out. The day never gets over 52, 15 degrees colder than our first drive.

It's still beautiful.



There are a couple historic stops without trails or structures. Because there is no one else around, it is easy to look into the trees and imagine the events and structures described. 






The signage for Rocky Springs is very confusing - don't turn at the first sign for the "area", continue to the sign for the "site" - even Google maps isn't sure what we're looking for. But mis-turns take us to a historic crossroad that we wouldn't have seen. Only the tiny general store building remains. Love when that happens :-)


And now we're passing through.....
It is very cold in the shade and light breeze, but we spend a long time at the old church and cemetery. We see some of the old village site, but I wimp out before we see all of it. I think we only missed another safe and cistern.


The narrow road into Rocky Springs is beautiful.
Built in 1827, the Rocky Springs Methodist Church is maintained by the current congregation. Regular services and weddings are still held here. 
The doors remain unlocked every day.
This proud sentinel stands watch at the entrance to the old cemetery
Under overcast skies the place feels ancient. We whisper here.




Most graves are dated in 1858 and are in all shapes and sizes.


Including several of these very small markers I've never seen before. There are some large markers for children, so I don't think these are necessarily for them.

Little remains of the town site other than two safes and a few cisterns. At its peak in 1860 the population was 2,616.
Several signs along the trail with information about the geology of the area.
We warm up in the car and make a couple stops before we get to a spot that sounds really interesting - Sunken Trace. Over the decades some sections of the trace have worn down almost thirty feet. We drop into the trail and wander among the moss-covered trees, crunching through deep leaves, marveling at the impact of travelers on this path through the forest.


The Old Trace at Grindstone Ford
Mancum Mound, an ancient burial site for ancestors of several Mississippi and Louisiana tribes. 
Other than some hawks and herons and one deer, we see no wildlife. But these farm critters on the other side of the trace are sure cute!
Sunken Trace
Still pretty deep although sediment has built it up over the years since it was traveled.

This moss glowed along the banks.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow(ish) wood......."
With our late start and taking our time along the way, the sun is going down while we're still several miles from Natchez. We decide to turn around and return home, more than happy with all we've seen in this magical forest.


We love this parkway and want to come back and see the rest next time - we only covered about 25%.
Thursday morning we get up and on the road by 9:00 for a 200-mile drive south to Bay St Louis, Mississippi. We're on the gulf shore for a week, and when we pull into the Silver Slipper Casino RV Park I know we've picked the perfect spot.


Site 18 facing the gulf
And there's the water - right there!

16 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for more looks at the Trace. I’m really happy to know that Rocky Springs church feels safe enough to leave their doors open. I hope that never changes. We always seem to whisper in old cemeteries too. Wonder why so many people died in 1858? That was before the Civil War. In some places those small markers are “foot” markers. They are often easier to read than old headstones. LOVE the picture of the burro. We had two on the farm and they were such characters. One was just like Eyore and if we’d known his personality we would have named him that. I’m amazed that you only saw 25% of the parkway. It seemed like you saw a lot. Enjoy the gulf!! Thanks so much for being at least a little behind in posting. I’m always a lot behind and some people remind me so having company makes me feel better.

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    1. I thought we saw a lot too - but there is so much more, especially toward Nashville. Foot markers! Makes perfect sense for where they were. I am so envious of your memory for details in your posts. I start getting really nervous when I get behind because I know I'm forgetting stuff that I wanted to remember!!

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  2. What a beautiful place to spend time on the coast after seeing some interesting historical places.

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    1. The "combination" really made us appreciate the diversity of Mississippi!

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  3. The church is really well cared for, Jodee. So beautiful in its' simplicity. Love old cemeteries...and that one looks special.

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    1. Although it was really cold, the cloudy skies made both of them so interesting. The church is immaculate!

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  4. I looked at the interior of that church and suddenly remembered the cardboard on a stick fans in my childhood church that advertised the local funeral parlor. Thanks for the memory.

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    1. I remember those! And it was always the funeral home that provided them :-)))

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  5. The look of this entire area seems to call for a whisper.

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    1. Doesn't it? Such an ancient aura throughout. Hard to believe it's close to modern civilization :-)

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  6. Now you'll have to put this route back on your plans for another time during the fall when the leaves are gorgeous. What fun!

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    1. We'd love to be there in early November - I bet it looks so different.

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  7. What a beautiful area. I love the old church and how great it is that it is still being used today!

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    1. I was surprised to find the doors unlocked and announcements for current events inside. It seems to be well loved.

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  8. What an eerie feeling one gets looking at the photos of this really cool trail! I do need to check this area out. Outstanding photos, Jodee, they really drew me in:)

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    1. Thanks Pam. I was so surprised at how much we loved it here.

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