Rocky Springs on the Natchez Trace

This church building is all that remains of the town of Rocky Springs -- a once thriving rural community.  First settled in the late 1790s, the town grew from a watering place along the Natchez Trace and took its name from the source of its water, the Rocky Spring.  In 1860 a total of 2,616 people lived in the area covering about 25 square miles.  The population of the town proper included three merchants, four physicians, four teachers, three clergy and thirteen artisans; while the surrounding farming community included 54 planters, 28 overseers and over 2,000 slaves who nurtured the corp that made the town possible -- cotton.

Poor land management, erosion, and disease led to the town's demise.   Although the church continued to have an active congregation in more recent years, it finally ceased to exist as a congregation in 2010 and the building is now being maintained by a local organization. the friends of Rocky Springs.

Mount Locust along the Natchez Trace Parkway

Early in our trip northward on the Natchez Trace Parkway we stopped at Mount Locust.  Constructed about 1780, Mount Locust is one of the oldest structures in the State of Mississippi.  It functioned as  both a working plantation and as an inn where travelers on the Natchez Trace could rest for the night.  Mount Locust is the only surviving inn of the more than 50 that existed during the period of the greatest use of the Natchez Trace.

Mount Locust is surrounded by split rail fences.

A Day in Natchez, Mississippi

After driving from Alexandria, Louisiana, this morning, we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon and evening in Natchez. Mississippi.  Our first stop was at the Natchez Visitors Center where we spent a very informative hour or two learning about the city.  Then we set out on foot to explore historic Natchez.

We walked around Rosalie -- one of the beautiful Ante-Bellum homes to be seen in Natchez.  It was built at the location of Fort Rosalie, the earliest fort built in the area by the French in 1716.  We did not tour inside the house but the gardens and huge old trees were exquisite.

We also saw some more recent homes such as "Edelweis" -- built in the style of a Swiss chalet.

We strolled along the lovely walkway at the edge of the bluff.  From there we could take photos of the flooded Mississippi River. (See the next two posts below).

We finally stopped for dinner at a charming little restaurant known as Biscuits and Blues.  It felt good to rest our tired feet, but the food was delicious too!

Our day ended watching the sunset over the Mighty Mississippi, and wondering what the next week will bring to the cities of Natchez, Mississippi and Vidalia, Louisiana.

Natchez, Mississippi, Flood of 2011

The city of Natchez, Mississippi, is safely on a bluff 200 feet above the Mississippi River.  There is, however, a small but historic portion of the city that is located below the bluff, right on the river's edge.   Known as Natchez Under-the-Hill, in years past it was notorious as a place of saloons, brothels, fights, and  murders.

 Today there are a few restaurants located in Natchez Under-the-Hill, and the Riverboat Casino, The Isle of Capri, is docked there.  But, as you can see, the rising waters of the Mighty Mississippi have swallowed most of the parking  areas, roads, and walking paths.  As we toured today, the area was closed to all vehicular traffic, most businesses and the casino were shut down as the flood crest of the River is expected in the next several days.

Crews have installed "instant levees" in the middle of the road in order to protect the buildings from the rising flood waters.

The "instant levees" consist of long canvas-lined wire frames filled with sand and covered with plastic.  They are quickly assembled and are designed to hold back the rising flood waters.

In the foreground is the Magnolia Grill, which advertises that it is "still open for business."  Behind and outside of the "instant levee" is the casino boat.

The Isle of Capri Casino boat outside of the temporary levee.

The end of this road in Natchez Under-the-Hill is already under water.

In spite of the flooding, freight continues to move on the Mississippi River.  The strong current of the swollen waters carries the freight downstream even faster than usual.

Vidalia, Louisiana, flood of 2011

During previous visits to Natchez, Mississippi, we have stayed in the Riverview RV Park and Resort which is located outside the levee along the Mississippi River at Vidalia, Louisiana -- across the River from Natchez, MS.  Today, May 15, the RV park is closed and most of the campsites are under water.  But the crest of this year's flood is not predicted to arrive for another week or ten days!  Obviously, we had to look for a different place to stay this year.

In addition to the RV park, much of the rest of the Vidalia  LA Riverfront area is also under water.

The Vidalia Conference and Convention Center is still dry -- only because it is protected by "instant levees" which are still holding the flood waters back.  The "instant levees" are sand-filled convas containers supported by wire frames to hold them upright.

The Comfort Suites is also protected by "instant levees" but they are totally surrounded by flood waters.

More flooding on the Vidalia Riverfront.

All of these photos were taken from the Natchez MS side of the river -- on a bluff some 200 feet above the Mississippi River.

Lazy Day at Lake Livingston

Pair of Mallards.

Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  (Matthew 6:26)

Lake Livingston State Park is about 15 miles from Rainbow's End -- the large RV Park at the national headquarters of the Escapees RV Club located near Livingston, Texas.

Jury Duty

This morning I (Bruce) went to the Polk County Court House in response to a jury summons.  The original group of some 150 people was divided according to jury needs.   I was part of a group of eighteen considered for a jury of six for a misdemeanor trial.  As it turned out I was dismissed.  Even so, the experience was an opportunity to see the high regard the judge, the prosecutor, the defense, and the entire system has for the American belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty.