Where Did Those Beautiful Pictures Come From?

We used pictures taken along the Natchez Trace on the covers of both Noon Woods and Noon Spirits. We have spent many happy hours driving and exploring the beautiful Trace as it passes through Mississippi.

The Trace runs 444 miles from Natchez, Miss to Nashville, Tenn. It is maintained by the National Park Service and was originally made by bison and then followed as a foot path by Native Americans.

The Civilian Conservation Corps began construction of the Trace park in 1939 and it was finally completely finished when the last two gaps were opened in 2005.

If you want to explore a beautiful part of Mississippi and go at a slower pace (the highest speed limit is 50 mph) please consider driving the trace. The fall the colors can be spectacular and at any time of the year it is a way to get close to nature.

There are many historical sites along the way including the cemetery at Rocky Spring which is the cover of Noon Spirits and the walking trail on the cover of Noon Woods. The abandoned town of Rocky Springs is a delight and its well-kept cemetery has wonderful old tombstone inscriptions.(Photo courtesy of Del Leu.) The walking trail follows a segment of the original trace and instills a sense of wonder at lives of the Native Americans and travelers who used it.

Please come to the beautiful state of Mississippi and share some of our heritage or if you live in Mississippi take advantage of the lovely nature of the state and explore it!

Visit the National Park Service Trace website for more: https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm. See also https://visitmississippi.org/fall-foliage-along-the-natchez-trace/.