The Mississippi River Trail for Cyclists

Have you seen the MRT signs along highways and wondered what they were?   These are markers for the Mississippi River Trail, a 10 state cycling route that travels over 2000 continuous miles between the headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and the Gulf of Mexico.  

The signs featuring the MRT logo identify the route for cyclists.   The Mississippi River Trail enters Mississippi from Helena, Arkansas, on Highway 49 and travels close to the river until it crosses over into Louisiana near Natchez. In Washington County, cyclists travel on Highway 1 to Lake Washington; they then travel  on to Mayersville where they can get on the levee and ride it almost to Eagle Lake. From there they leave the flat delta as they head into Vicksburg, where you may tour the city on your bicycle.

The MRT wants to expose travelers to the real Mississippi River and let them experience life and the cultural heritage along the Mississippi.  Cyclists can plan their route, find out where there are accommodations, and take note of points of interest along their planned route on the Mississippi River Trail website (www.mississippirivertrail.org).

All of the Mississippi section of the MRT is marked by signs. Terry Eastin, Executive Director for Mississippi River Trail, Inc. said they are looking for cyclists and other interested folks to ride and evaluate the Mississippi portions of the MRT this year; she may be contacted via their website by anyone interested in doing this.

Unusual Wading Birds in Deer Creek
(Sept. 2006)

The low water in Deer Creek has become a lure for some wading birds not often seen in these parts, or at least not in a residential area. Great egrets, smaller snowy egrets, wood storks, white ibises, and a lone roseate spoonbill have been hanging out for the past week on a section of Deer Creek in Anguilla. All of these birds like to wade in shallow water and fish for food. These are interesting birds to watch with their different features and different feeding behaviors.

The roseate spoonbill, ibis, and wood storks are considered threatened or endangered species in the United States. The roseate spoonbill is easily spotted with its pink plumage and spatula shaped bill. Wood storks are large white birds with black edging on their wings and black heads that resemble those of vultures. White ibises are large white birds with hooked red bills and red legs.

These are migratory birds that will be heading south to warmer weather for the winter, but while they are here, take a drive along the creek and look for them.

Photos taken along Deer Creek by Lisa Bridges

Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Many people are confused when the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex is mentioned because they get it mixed up with the yet to be established Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge Complex is made up of 7 individual refuges located in the Mississippi Delta: Yazoo, Panther Swamp, Mathews Brake, Morgan Brake, Hillside, Holt Collier, and Theodore Roosevelt. Each of the established refuges offers various recreational opportunities from hunting, fishing, wildlife watching to photography.

Tim Wilkins is the manager of the refuge complex, and the complex headquarters is located at the oldest of these refuges, Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge. Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, located east of Highway 1 near Glen Allan, was established in 1936 as one of the links in a chain of refuges that provide for the wintering needs of ducks and geese in the Mississippi Flyway. Because it was established to provide sanctuary for migratory waterfowl, the refuge is closed to duck hunting. However, Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge does offer excellent white-tail deer, squirrel, rabbit, and raccoon hunting opportunities. Deer hunting is muzzle loader and archery only, but trophy hunters come from all over to hunt the large deer that can be found here.

Yazoo NWR is home to a large population of American Alligators. These reptiles can be found in most of the waters on the refuge. They can most easily be seen on warm days in Alligator Alley next to the refuge headquarters building. The refuge has also been home to at least one collared Louisiana Black Bear since 2004.

There are two wildlife observation areas on the refuge. The Holt Collier Boardwalk and Observation Tower is a boardwalk trail leading to an observation platform on Lizard Lake. From this observation platform you can view a variety of wading birds, ducks, and alligators. At Alligator Pond, an open-sided observation tower provides excellent views of alligators, purple gallinules, moorhens, green herons and other wildlife.

Visitors to the refuge are also interested in viewing Roseate Spoonbills and other wading and shorebirds which utilize refuge wetlands. Nesting wood ducks and many of the small birds that nest on the refuge during the summer months provide bird watching opportunities, and sightings of prothonotary warblers and painted buntings attract birding enthusiasts from across the US and Canada.

Across the Delta remains of what was once a thriving prehistoric society can be seen in the form of Indian mounds; Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge is no exception. If you enter Yazoo from Highway 1 you will see a small mound named the Live Oak Mound for the large live oak tree growing on it. The Swan Lake Indian Mound, located on Yazoo Refuge Road just east of the intersection with Deer Lake Road, is an impressive mound some 18 feet in height. A display of pottery shards that were unearthed near this mound can be viewed in the headquarters office.

Much of the information included in this article was obtained from the website for Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge at http://yazoo.fws.gov

BEAR PRINT AVAILABLE

Mississippi artist extraordinaire, Dr. Jeanne Jones, created a black bear masterpiece perfect for any gift giving occassion.. Her serene landscape featuring a sow and two cubs will be the perfect gift for wildlife supporters everywhere

Dr. Jones, associate professor of wildlife and fisheries at Mississippi State University, was inspired to paint this portrait by the news in 2004 of baby bears born in Mississippi – the first documented birth in over 40 years. Jones was careful to capture the realistic look of this elusive, federally protected species in one of its native habitats consisting of beautiful bottomland hardwoods along a river’s edge with indigenous flora including switchcane, pawpaw, cypress trees, palmettos, grapevine, and even the endangered plant pondberry.

Jones’ limited edition prints are all signed and numbered with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Bear Education and Restoration “BEaR” Group of Mississippi. BEaR is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving healthy populations of black bears throughout the Magnolia State. Dr. Jones’ generosity and her commitment to conservation will help the BEaR Group bring black bears back to their historical range.

One hundred years ago, when President Theodore Roosevelt was on his famous 1902 Mississippi delta bear hunt that resulted in the creation of the Teddy bear, thousands of black bears roamed the state. But, since then, populations declined, mostly because of habitat destruction and overhunting. However today, habitat is being restored, laws are improving, attitudes are changing, and this animal’s adaptable nature are all contributing to a black bear comeback.

Do you have out-of-town company coming in over the holidays and you don’t know what you’ll do? Well, if you end up being a tour guide, here are a few suggestions of places to see and interesting fact to share:

A drive along the levee is always interesting to visitors, and in Mayersville, you can drive out to see the Mississippi River as it rolls by. The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world, flowing 2,339 miles from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico.

Since it is hunting season, I won’t recommend a hike through Delta National Forest unless you are wearing hunter’s orange, but you might drive through it and point out that this is the only bottomland hardwood forest in the national forest system. It provides an excellent habitat for wildlife like deer, turkey, black bears, song birds and migrating waterfowl. If wildlife watching is what your guests enjoy, Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge offers opportunities for this. These are public lands for you to enjoy, just remember to pick up a permit on your way in.

Check out a few Native American mounds in the area. Since we are in the delta these mounds were built with great effort by natives digging dirt out by hand, and hauling it basketful by basketful from one location to another. A few mounds that are easily seen from the road are the ones by the red barn and Mont Helena in Rolling Fork. The Lake George mound group is on Highway 16 past Holly Bluff. The largest mound covered with trees on the south side of the road is the fourth highest Indian mound in the United States at 55 feet. There is also a large mound group just south of Mayersville on Highway 1. The two Grace mounds are also easily seen from Highway 1. Remember, these are on private property so don’t get out and dig.

You may want to take a drive to view some of the historical homes in the area (from your vehicle, they are not open to the public). Mont Helena on Old Highway 61 never fails to fascinate people. The McKinney house in Anguilla, an example of the Victorian style of architecture, is pictured in the new book Victorian Houses of Mississippi. There are several old homes in Nitta Yuma also. Around Lake Washington, Linden and Mount Holly are two lovely antebellum homes. And don’t forget the Sharkey County Courthouse, built in 1902.

Stop by the Onward Store and tell your guests the story of President Roosevelt and his bear hunt if they don’t already know it. Have your picture taken at the sign beside the store. In Rolling Fork, view the bears carved at the past four Bear Affairs-our celebration honoring Teddy and his bear. Two are located on Parkway near the Community Center (2002, 2003), and two are on Highway 61(2004, 2005).

While you are driving, try counting the number of times in Sharkey and Issaquena Counties that Deer Creek crosses Highway 61. Deer Creek begins at Lake Boliver near Scott and ends at Whittington Canal near Vicksburg; winding for 159 miles, this once free flowing stream crosses under the highway several times. During the Civil War several Union gun boats traveled up the creek and into Rolling Fork where they skirmished with Confederate forces as a part of the Steele Bayou Expedition, and at the turn of the century supply barges traveled on the creek.

Finally, take your company to visit one of the local gift shops, and to have a milkshake and hamburger at Chucks (mentioned in Delta Magazine as one of the Best in the Delta). Now, who says there is nothing to see or do around here?

A Local Landmark, the Red Barn

A landmark for everyone that lives in, around, or travels through Rolling Fork is the Red Barn on Highway 61 at the south end of town. Built in 1918 by Fredrick Bernard Graft the barn was originally used as a mule barn before the mechanization of farming. After the usage of gasoline powered farm equipment became popular, Mr. Graft became interested in show horses and he used the barn to house and train his show horses. Measuring 200 feet x 40 feet, with a top floor used for storing hay, the barn is quite large having plenty of room for Mr. Graft’s office which was also located there.

On that same property are a couple of Indian Mounds. Artifacts studied from this site indicate that these mounds were constructed and occupied by Native Americans from 1000 – 1540 A.D. At one time there were more mounds, but as is the case with so many of these mounds around the country, they were destroyed over time.

In 1863, during the Civil War, Union soldiers fired parot guns and other weapons from these mounds in defense against Confederate forces in Rolling Fork. The Union was forced to retreat backing a fleet of gunboats down Deer Creek. These boats were a part of the Steele Bayou Expedition, a plan to attack Vicksburg from the north using small delta waterways.

Mrs. Ayleen Graft Deaton, the owner of this property, refers to the barn and mound property as the old home site, because the house in which she grew up was located on the largest of the mounds. That house is no longer there, but the barn which continues to welcome passers-by to Rolling Fork will hopefully remain for years to come.

Highway 61, The Blues Highway

Highway 61 is nicknamed the Blues Highway, but how did it get this name? As Son Thomas sings in “Highway 61 Blues”, “61 Highway is the longest road I know; Goes all the way from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Blues music originated from “field hollers” and spirituals sang and chanted by African American slaves in the pre Civil War history of our region.   After the war, freedmen sang and played this form of music which later became recognized and popularized on Beale Street in Memphis.   Blues music sprang up in towns all along Highway 61, towns like Clarksdale, Cleveland and Greenville. It was at the intersection of Highways 61 and 49, outside Clarksdale where the famous bluesman, Robert Johnson, supposedly sold his soul to the devil for the ability to play the meanest blues guitar around.

Bluesmen took their music all the way down highway 61 to New Orleans and up Highway 61 to Chicago. In those pre-interstate days, Highway 61 was the main thoroughfare to New Orleans, Memphis, and Chicago. During the Great American Migration following World War I, many African Americans traveled Highway 61 north to seek well paying jobs in the automobile industry carrying their delta blues form of music with them.

One of the most revered bluesmen of all times, McKinley Morganfield, aka Muddy Waters, was born near Rolling Fork, and fans from near and far travel the Blues Highway to Rolling Fork wanting a glimpse of the area that birthed him, the land that created the blues.   Muddy Waters has been quoted as saying, “The blues had a baby and they called it rock-and-roll.” Today Blues is recognized as the ancestor of many forms of popular music and it all began here, in the Mississippi Delta and traveled via Highway 61, the Blues Highway, all over the world.

Camping in Delta National Forest - Fun for all ages!

Where can you go camping close to home, yet still have a true camping experience? - Delta National Forest. Many people are not aware that there are campsites in Delta National Forest. The forest has over 80 primitive campsites (no electricity or water), that rent for $7.00 a night. Amenities provided at each campsite include a fire ring with a cooking grate, lantern post and a sturdy picnic table. The camping accommodations in the forest are used a great deal by hunters during the season, and last weekend some local youth who are working toward earning The Congressional Award also took advantage of these facilities.

The Congressional Award Program is a national program that offers young people ages 14 - 24 the opportunity to set personal goals and achieve them. A few of our area youth have been working toward the first stage of the award, the bronze medal, which requires 100 volunteer hours, 50 hours toward personal development goals, 50 hours toward physical fitness goals, and an overnight exploration. These youth were able to enroll in this program through their local 4-H agent.

Mattie Carter and Ashley Cooper had accomplished everything needed for their bronze medal except for their exploration, so they decided to go camping in the forest. Ashley Kerr who is just beginning to work toward her medal joined them on this exploration. The girls planned the trip, the meals, and the activity they would participate in as a part of the medal requirements. Despite rainy weather the day before their adventure, the campsite was dry and the temperature was perfect for a January camping trip in the forest. Joined by some parents and friends, the girls spent a night at a campsite near the 703 road; they cooked supper and breakfast over an open fire, and learned some survival and orienteering skills. As one of the girls stated, “I wasn’t expecting this camping trip to be very much fun, but surprisingly, it was.” All of the campers on this trip were very pleased with the facilities provided by the Forest Service.

Campers in Delta National Forest are expected to clean up behind themselves and “leave no trace.” To reserve a campsite in Delta National Forest, call 662-828-3408. In addition to campsites, Delta National Forest contains over 50 miles of ATV and equestrian trails.