As of March 27, 2025, I have visited/hiked all of Mississippi’s National Recreation Trails, National Wildlife Refuges*, National Natural Landmarks*, and National Park Sites. I have also hiked the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (the trail, not the parkway) which runs through Mississippi. I am now officially finished with this state.
*that are open to the public
I am so grateful for my time in Mississippi. Some of it was uncomfortable and profoundly disturbing (sites of Civil Rights-era murders and trials, slave market site in Natchez, etc). Some of it was educational (Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Civil War sites like Vicksburg, etc). Some of it was full of beautiful longleaf pine forests (Black Creek Hiking Trail, etc). Absolutely all of it was interesting.
Off the top of my head, words and phrases I associate with Mississippi: longleaf pines, Delta Blues, cotton fields, Natchez slave market, plantation houses, Dollar General, plastic bags (given in abundance all the time at grocery stores, even for milk jugs), Natchez Trace Trail, cheap (and clean) motels, Chickasaw Nation, Civil War, cypress swamps, cypress knees, MS Sandhill cranes, lots of make-up (on all the women), loose dogs, Krogers, catfish, sir and ma’am, giant crosses, religious radio stations, magnolias, chivalry, manners, few hills.
I am taking a week off from my travels to stay in one place (Alabama bayou) and catch up on some personal matters. After that, I will start heading north to pick up where I left off on the Ice Age Trail.
I am in love with my life. I feel like I am in my 30s again. I love meeting people and speaking with them, I sleep better now than I ever have before, I am full of gratitude and joy. There is beauty everywhere, there are interesting things to learn everywhere, there are good people everywhere. Yes, there is bad out there too. But always look for that beauty, because it is most definitely there and wanting to be appreciated.
See you soon, Wisconsin.