Kelly General Store to White Lake (westbound)
Monday, August 26.
I parked my car at Centerville Baptist Church across the road from Kelly General Store and hiked 17.9 miles to White Lake, where I overnighted in a motel.
I was so excited to begin my first two-day MST adventure, that I forgot to take a photo of my starting place, the hospitable Centerville Baptist Church!
I had originally envisioned this hike as eastbound from Salters Lake Trail along Ruskin Road to Kelly General Store, but it worked out better for my gracious shuttle drivers to transport me on Tuesday afternoon. I didn’t want to park my car at Salters Lake Trail overnight, so I started the two-day hike in Kelly and went westbound.
It worked out WAY better for me, too, for a number of reasons.
My birder’s heart longed for a scope on Cassius Smith Road, but I was still able to identify Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons way out there in the field. And I had two White Ibis and two Yellow-crowned Night-herons fly overhead!
The MST route is a mile (each way) from the ferry crossing, so it was NOT AT ALL tempting to make a side trip. . .
. . . especially since I was now beginning a TEN-MILE stretch of NC-53.
And this is one reason why I was happy to be doing this hike westbound–I could tackle this long portion of road while it was still fairly early in the morning on Day One, when I was freshest.
Only a little bit of traffic, so I could concentrate on a morning devotion while I was walking.
Maybe someday the MST will have some off-road trails here!
This bird formation of soaring raptors is called a “kettle.” In this case, it’s all Turkey Vultures.
“Mr. Smith has offered to allow hikers to get water from his spigot if they call him…”
Singletary Lake marks the eastbound terminus of Segment 13, and the start of Segment 14. I covered 12.7 miles to get here, so I was ready for a good break.
I stopped by the park office to fill up my water bottles.
(Public restrooms are not available here, but at the Environmental Center.)
Oh, what a pretty lake!
Best rest stop on the MST so far!!!!
The mosquitoes were swarming on this portion of trail, so I hustled through it with some wild hat-slapping.
The Singletary Lake Trail was . . . hot.
One more long, sunny mile on NC-53.
90+ degrees. I’d rather not know the actual temperature!
Wait a second! I recognize that MST hiker!
It’s SKYLER!
Too fun. I had to put it in overdrive to catch up with her before she passed by my end-point for the day. The fact that we’re both solo female hikers made it extra-special to finally meet.
I had a room with a view for the night!
My.Bird.Walks. 