MST-31

Newton Grove United Methodist Church to Sanderson’s Kwik Stop in Clinton

July 8. Technically, this was hiked from south to north (Clinton to Newton Grove), since I got a shuttle and preferred to park my car at the church rather than at the convenience store. But my overall direction is still “eastbound” to the ocean.

18.1 miles.

At the church parking lot by 5:35am

And just after sunrise, my shuttle driver Sabre arrived. She’s not an official MST Trail-Angel, but was equally generous with her time and effort!

Starting point: Sanderson’s Kwik Stop

The first mile was on busy NC-421, but there was a wide edge to walk on, so it felt safe.

If there were interesting birds singing along Great Coharie Creek, I couldn’t hear them because of the roar of traffic.

Ok, this is going to be another HOT ONE.

I was happy to stop hiking directly into the sun when the route turned north on Brown’s Church Road.

The hike was a delightful mix of small, unincorporated communities like Basstown and agricultural land with a variety of crops.

I liked this vast swampy area. When we’re out birding in an unfamiliar county we look for these types of unexplored locations along rural roads.

I had an unexpected Osprey, a Mallard, and two Wood Ducks.

I passed by many small gravesites, which attests to how long the family has had the land in their possession.

Abner, here, died at age 12.

A little time on earth he spent
Till God for him His angel sent

The solar umbrella comes out already at 8:30am!!! It was forecasted to be mostly overcast and partially cloudy.

Oh, well.

But I am still smiling, because I hear a Northern Bobwhite right next to the road!

NOT a snake, phew.
I walked by a HUGE actual snake early on—-easily 10 feet, thicker than my wrist. Copperhead. But because I was only 98% sure it was dead, I did not stop to take a photo.

I’m just about at 9 miles—-half-way—–and ready for a break.

I got an early start, I’ve been drinking regularly, using my solar umbrella, and walking in the shade as much as possible.

Time to start dowsing my head with water…..

A few pumps, and I was able to cool off and refill all the water bottles.

Jesus said: Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

I also brought out my latest hiking accoutrement, a portable charger. Once I began these longer point-to-point hikes, I found I had been getting dangerously low on cell phone battery.

It worked fine, once I got the cord in the right places.

This is the first hike where unleashed dogs have come all the way onto the roadway to harrass me. Most dogs are fenced or leashed and pose no threat, but twice on this hike small dogs followed me down the road, barking at me up close.

No bueno.

Should I carry a dog whistle? Some kind of spray?

Short rest at an abandoned house
Dowsing head in earnest and hydrating every 30 minutes

I usually stay on the left, facing oncoming traffic, but this one stretch of road just didn’t support that practice—especially with the blind curve coming up.

18 long miles—and hot—but there many interesting things to see all along the route. Road-hiking would not be my first choice, but it is still very rewarding.

Far more charming than the usual roadside litter, my best guess is that the sweet potato truck hit a big bump.

Time to get out of the portable sauna!

A little sunburn, some scratches from diving into the woods to pee, and a lot of poison-something (oak? ivy?).

“Evidence of a summer well-lived”