I was glad to be in a motel room in White Lake when the full impact of the storm hit. It's amazing how much one follows the weather reports when one is thru-hiking! Certainly, I was aware of it's arrival down to the hour. Incredible how accurate our forecasting can be!
When I was 7 or 8, we used to vacation at White Lake with some of my maternal grandmother’s family. I had no idea of the type of lake it is and so your descriptions and information make the place come alive for me once more. Thank you and I hope you enjoy your hike and stay safe!
Hi Julia, thank you for taking the time to read my posts!!!! I had never heard of White Lake or the Carolina Bay lakes until I started hiking this section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. This is the fun of doing this hike, I have learned so much about the history and geology of North Carolina. Stay tuned, there is more to come! : )
Hi Julia, I also want to hear about your trips to White Lake--the place is fascinating--very Brigadoon-like, coming out of the mists. I would be curious as to how you experienced it as a young girl. Thanks, again, for writing!
Loved this story so much! Captivating from beginning to end. Plus all the little facts I was able to learn like lakes in our state from ice age melting. Who knew?!
Thanks, Helen, I think including these facts, as much as I can, is following the intent that the designers of the MST had in mind. I often think about the reason I am traveling from one place to the next rather than in a straight line across the state. For the most part, I have been very pleased with what I have discovered.
Hi Heidi, thank you so much for writing. It means a lot to me that you would take the time to comment. I do worry about my feet, but they have gotten much stronger (much to my surprise) by working out at the gym every day. My ability to handle these long walks has improved immensely by taking the time to get stronger, more agile, and physically fit. My feet are just one aspect of the "weight" I am now able to carry.
Hi Erik, I am always thrilled to read you comments. Thank you for continuing to write. The soil is still sandy, even heading inland. I need to look up when the soil will change from this sandy base to the more clay-like base I live with here in Durham, NC. The whole thing is fascinating!
Your prose give me renewed confidence in the goodness of the human heart; trail angels everywhere. Congratulations on your journey thus far. ❤️ Marlene
Thank you, Marlene. I must admit, the kindness of strangers has been a lovely surprise. Maybe, though, it shouldn't have been such a surprise. We begin to doubt the goodness of people in reading the news, etc., but every time I am out in my community, I am always pleased (for the most part) at how nice people are toward it each other. It's like there is this fictitious world and a real world--people in the real world are kind, generous, and thoughtful.
Hi Maggie, 11 A thru 16 A is the river route - the MST recognizes kayaking on the Neuse River as a way to complete the 1,200 mile trail. The overland route shown on the maps as either 11 thru 16 or 11 B through 16 B is for those individuals, like me, hiking the overland route. It's a good question. : )
Wow!! tremendous 60mi in 36
hours!!
I was glad to be in a motel room in White Lake when the full impact of the storm hit. It's amazing how much one follows the weather reports when one is thru-hiking! Certainly, I was aware of it's arrival down to the hour. Incredible how accurate our forecasting can be!
When I was 7 or 8, we used to vacation at White Lake with some of my maternal grandmother’s family. I had no idea of the type of lake it is and so your descriptions and information make the place come alive for me once more. Thank you and I hope you enjoy your hike and stay safe!
Hi Julia, thank you for taking the time to read my posts!!!! I had never heard of White Lake or the Carolina Bay lakes until I started hiking this section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. This is the fun of doing this hike, I have learned so much about the history and geology of North Carolina. Stay tuned, there is more to come! : )
Hi Julia, I also want to hear about your trips to White Lake--the place is fascinating--very Brigadoon-like, coming out of the mists. I would be curious as to how you experienced it as a young girl. Thanks, again, for writing!
Loved this story so much! Captivating from beginning to end. Plus all the little facts I was able to learn like lakes in our state from ice age melting. Who knew?!
Thanks, Helen, I think including these facts, as much as I can, is following the intent that the designers of the MST had in mind. I often think about the reason I am traveling from one place to the next rather than in a straight line across the state. For the most part, I have been very pleased with what I have discovered.
Glad you got there before the storm got too bad.better keep taking good care of those feet!!
Hi Heidi, thank you so much for writing. It means a lot to me that you would take the time to comment. I do worry about my feet, but they have gotten much stronger (much to my surprise) by working out at the gym every day. My ability to handle these long walks has improved immensely by taking the time to get stronger, more agile, and physically fit. My feet are just one aspect of the "weight" I am now able to carry.
Wow! That many miles on flat ground is a grind to say the least! How sandy is the soil there? Sandy ground is even more strenuous!
Hi Erik, I am always thrilled to read you comments. Thank you for continuing to write. The soil is still sandy, even heading inland. I need to look up when the soil will change from this sandy base to the more clay-like base I live with here in Durham, NC. The whole thing is fascinating!
Jonathan,
Your prose give me renewed confidence in the goodness of the human heart; trail angels everywhere. Congratulations on your journey thus far. ❤️ Marlene
Thank you, Marlene. I must admit, the kindness of strangers has been a lovely surprise. Maybe, though, it shouldn't have been such a surprise. We begin to doubt the goodness of people in reading the news, etc., but every time I am out in my community, I am always pleased (for the most part) at how nice people are toward it each other. It's like there is this fictitious world and a real world--people in the real world are kind, generous, and thoughtful.
oh wow. thank you! you’re a rock star in our books here in browns summit!
I was
curious abt the loops on the trail map such as 1A or 1B. Did you have to go to 1A then loop back to 1B?
or you just choose which route?
Hi Maggie, 11 A thru 16 A is the river route - the MST recognizes kayaking on the Neuse River as a way to complete the 1,200 mile trail. The overland route shown on the maps as either 11 thru 16 or 11 B through 16 B is for those individuals, like me, hiking the overland route. It's a good question. : )