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Section 15 of the MST 04/20/2024 - 4/26/2024.

90 mile hike starting at west end of Holly Shelter and hiking through Surf City, Jacksonville to the end at Stella.

4/19/2024
Drove down on Friday evening to Raleigh and spent the night with Andrew.

4/20/2024
Got up left at 7 AM and drove to the south entrance of Holly Shelter Game Lands. The gate was open so I drove from the east entrance and put three water caches out. Parked the truck at the boating access to the Cape Fear River. Started hiking at 11:07. It was really hot today around 84° lots of breaks and drunk lots of water and electrolytes picked up my water at the 10 mile mark at 6pm. It was going to rain at seven so decided to pitch my tent on the side of the road in a grassy spot. It’s a little buggy and a few mosquitoes but not too bad. Glad to have the Zpacks tent.

4/21/2024
Left Camp at 710 walking the dirt roads. started raining around 9 o’clock. Had cold soaked some oatmeal and that tasted really good. around 10 o’clock had about an hour of heavy rain and wind got cold so I put on all my rain gear. Saw a 5 foot long cottonmouth snake in the road. Made it to the end of Holly‘s shelter around 11:30 AM. At lunch took a break and road walked on Highway 19 to the intersection of NC 210 found a Mexican restaurant and ate supper around 4 o’clock. The next couple miles crossed over the bridge at surf city and intercoastal waterway. Rain started pouring. hiked to the fire department. They said I could set up a tent so I started putting my tent up and then they said I couldn’t do it because the town wouldn’t let them. there was a church across the street and some ladies were coming out I asked, they attended their and needed a place to put up a tent, they took me to the pastor and he was nice enough to let me put the tent up. It rained up until 10 o’clock was very windy. Did 18 miles today felt really strong. The Lord was looking after me.

4/22/2024
Left the church and got started around 8 o’clock. Walk down to the beach and start hiking on the beach. realize pretty quick. The sand was super soft and was not going to be able to make any time so I moved over to the road that parallels the beach. hips were really tight this morning. I had to take it slow and stretch when I could. I think my hip belt was too tight over the last couple days so I loosened it and that seem to help quite a bit Hiked to the town hall and had lunch there then walked over the bridge and 4 miles over to the game land. Sneeds ferry was very busy and developed. Kathi picked me up and took me back to Tim’s cottage there. I had a hot outside shower and washed my clothes put up my tent and the rested for a while. Tim came and got me and I had supper with Kathy and her husband. Nice time.

4/24/2024
Tim picked me up at 7:30 and took me to the trailhead. The walk-through stones Creek Gameland was beautiful. Then I got on 17 N. it was like an interstate and the shoulder of the road was very steep. So I crossed the road and walked the military perimeter Road instead of the highway. I got off 2 1/2 miles before Haws Run . I went to the volunteer fire department and they were happy to let me camp in the back 16 miles today.

4/25/2024
Up early and left at 6:50 AM to do the 12 mile road walk. Ate lunch downtown Jacksonville close to the Onslow County Courthouse. The owner was really impressed about me hiking and took a picture of me outside the restaurant . Then walked over to the camp Lejeune Memorial Gardens. Saw lots of military memorials that linked up to the rails for trails of Jacksonville took that all the way to the end now camping in a small park where the parking lot is next to me is one entrance to Camp Lejeune. tomorrow I should be finished. Road walking wasn’t too bad today but it got hot later this afternoon. 80°. 4/26 Thursday Started hiking at 6:45 AM. Got a snack at Circle K and walked the roads until I arrived at Stella at 2:45 PM. Only one bad spot of road walking with poor shoulder with lots of cars. Much more rural today great weather got hot again on 84° Dori A. Picked me up at 3pm and drove me back to my truck. I drove home arriving around 8pm. Good to be home safe.

Post Trip - Take Aways What worked, what didn’t.
Carried too many clothes. Did not trust how much water I would need per mile so I carried too much. Should have carried less food due to all the stores along way. Carried my stove, but didn’t need it.