Tailrace Fishing Area to Thornton Road Trailhead
So, the next adventure I chose is to continue further east, along an asphalt biking/walking path. This begins the 66-mile-long Segment 11 of the MST.
April 18, out-and- back with no detours, for a total of 9.0 miles.
Right around the corner from the parking lot is the beginning of the Neuse River Trail.
The path dips under Falls of Neuse Road with a sweet view of the Neuse River.
There were many little side paths for more views of the river, but pretty quickly those views weren’t very interesting, because for most of its 250+ miles the Neuse River does NOT look like this:
It looks like this:
We have entered the very broad Coastal Plain region of North Carolina, and rivers get swampy and slow-moving.
That’s okay. Lots of people were enjoying that nice, flat pathway!
There was not a single white dot marking this section of the MST.
And this was the only signage.
Not like route-finding was an issue!
The thing about a trail in the woods, you can usually only see ahead 30 feet or so.
Not so with these greenways.
There’s the next 1/4 mile. Trudge trudge trudge.
The roof protects from falling debris from the working train tracks above.
Turn-around point at 4.5 miles. To the right is a parking area, where I’ll begin next time.
I took one of the little side paths to the (ugly) river for a short break before starting back.
On the way back I noticed something that is called “The Pipes.”
There are water intake pipes that once led to a Burlington Mills factory .
It reminded me of old castles along the German-French border.
Explore at your own risk!
The cardinal song is an annoying, laser-shooter repetition, like in a violent videogame.
Sorry about that, Donna!
I asked my kids what song would forever play in their hearts concerning myself:
Wood Thrush
Carolina Chickadee
Dove
Awww, thank you, kids!
My.Bird.Walks. 