Jacksonville to Stella, eastbound
November 19, 2024. This is Day Two of my Jacksonville hike–which will complete Segment 15.
The Red Roof Inn & Suites had a decent breakfast, and it opened at 6am, which was perfect before starting the hike at dawn. I checked out and left my suitcase at the front desk to be picked up later after I was reunited with my car.
My first challenge was getting back across busy NC-24, but crossing at the traffic light worked out okay, although I still had to hustle and make sure drivers that were turning saw me. It’s definitely not pedestrian-friendly!
I was glad to have a couple of miles on the Lejeune Greenway.
Good morning, friend!
This is the last glimpse of Camp Lejeune, before heading further east towards Stella.
The broad shoulder of NC-24 was safe, but the grass was quite dewy, and I soaked through my “waterproof” boots.
I wonder how it turned out for Georgio and Andrea…
Still too much traffic for morning devotions!
Finally!
At my halfway point I also incorporated my shoes-off, new-socks break, because my feet had gotten so wet along the grassy shoulders. The Lovitt Family Cemetery was a great place to rest…for a few minutes. Very “birdy,” too! Although I FORGOT to bring my binoculars on this trip.
Sorry, buddy. Other roadkill I saw today: deer, opossum, squirrel, small bird, snake, and one black cat.
You spend a lot of road-walking right here on the edge, veering off to the side as you need to when cars or trucks approach–especially those that show no inclination to swing out to avoid a pedestrian. This particular stretch was thin, with the shoulder turning precipitously into ditch.
A very pleasant 70 degrees and overcast all day.
It’s always very exciting to see that your car has NOT been towed!
I dropped my backpack at the car and hiked the final 6/10 of a mile across the White Oak River bridge, because that’s where the 90.4-mile segment finishes.
I didn’t park here in Stella, because I couldn’t figure out how the gate opened up. The white building is the former Stella Post Office, the end of Segment 15.
I’ve now completed over 500 miles of the MST.
And look what I found underneath the assortment of hiking gear in my car!
Ramblin’ Rose-Mary is back!
My.Bird.Walks. 
the mystery rose😊. Awesome job
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You certainly can’t bring home many souvenirs, except photos. I appreciate the whimsey of showing the note from Andrea to Georgio, and the accounting of roadkill. I hate it, when the critters are squished so flat, that you could only scrape them off the road.
Sharing in Gods’ grace,
Lorraine
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