Rockford to Elkin, westbound
April 28, 2025. Reading the tide charts, this week was not auspicious for hiking on the beach towards Nags Head, so we decided to do a one-night, two-day excursion to the west. It’s far enough that we can drive to the site in the early morning, but too far now for a one-day trip. I hiked 16.6 miles on the first day.
We left home at 4:30am, and were at the corner of Buck Fork and Rockford Roads just before dawn.
Eastern Meadowlarks and Grasshopper Sparrows were singing in the fields.
These large dogs were, thankfully, behind a tall fence–because they were doing their best to get at me.
Unfortunately, up ahead I encountered a pit bull who was NOT behind a fence. He tore out on the road, snarling and barking. I had my pole and my dog-mace, and was doing my best to keep him at a distance while I inched up the road–never turning my back.
Two trucks drove by. No owner appeared.
AND THEN, a young woman in a compact car approached from behind me, assessed the situation, and proceeded to use her car to separate me from the dog, driving slowly so I could walk briskly out of the dog’s sense of territory.
I threw her kisses as she drove on. May God abundantly bless her forever.
Walking on a public road should not be a life-threatening experience.
Despite their beauty, rural country roads are no longer truly peaceful for me.
But, onward….always alert.
During long sections of road where there were no houses (and therefore, no aggressive dogs), I managed a little Bible study.
The Little Richmond Baptist Church had a beautiful rhododendron!
I was very happy to get off the roads when the route veered into the woods near this vineyard.
Sometimes the actual path was a little obscure, but the route is very well-marked. I consulted the FarOut App once or twice, just to double-check if I wasn’t sure.
I was glad I wore the long pants today, since I had to schlep through some tall grasses now and then. The route goes around that red fence.
Time for the sit-down break at about 10 miles.
Now this is just so pretty—and soothing to the troubled, dog-harassed soul.
I had originally planned to take my long break here at this bench near the Friendship Trailhead, but I’m glad I stopped earlier, since back in the deeper woods I had two Wood Thrush serenading me with their transcendent music.
I found out later that just this February the MST re-routed this section away from this narrow shoulder to the dirt road on the other side of the railroad tracks. But I was working off older instructions, so I was on the road.
It LOOKED like the right route!
Almost done: heading into Elkin Municipal Park
“100 Strong” honors the challenges overcome by both the laborers on the E&A Railroad and the Elkin Valley Trails Association. It’s located near the Elkin Recreation Center, my endpoint for today.
The free popcorn at the Jonesville Quality Inn was not fresh, delicious OR crisp, but it was SALTY and that hit the spot!
My.Bird.Walks. 