Neusiok Trail Hike

Sunday morning, we woke up to a slightly less cold morning.  After breaking camp, we headed to the  trailhead for Neusiok Trail along NC-101 so Alex could complete another hike for #mst40hikes - Northern Neusiok Trail.

Heading south from the highway, the trail traverses through a beautiful forest.

There were numerous boardwalks over the swampy sections.

We hiked for just over three miles to Billfinger Road, our turnaround point.  I continued on along Little Deep Creek Road to where it heads back into the woods.

There's just one more section between here and Alligator Tram Road and I'll have completed the Neusiok Trail.  I caught back up with Sandy and Alex near the start and we finished our hike.

On the way home, we stopped in Kinston for dinner.  We got a pizza to go from Sugar Hill and ate it at Mother Earth Brewing, which was very dog friendly.

Jacksonville MST Hike

Saturday, we woke up to a very cold morning.  Even Alex was curled up under a blanket.  We warmed up in the car and started making our way towards Jacksonville, so Alex could get another hike for #mst40hikes.

We parked at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens and walked around to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Then we got on the Jacksonville Greenway, which is also the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The Lejeune Memorial Greenway followed along the perimeter of Camp Lejeune for about 2 miles until we reached the Rails-to-Trails Greenway.  The converted railroad had a bridge across the highway, but we turned right to stay on the MST.

The Rails-to-Trails Greenway continued along the perimeter of the base.

In another couple miles, we crossed Northeast Creek on a scenic boardwalk bridge.

Not long past here, we turned around and headed back.

We headed back to Oyster Point in Croatan National Forest so Alex could get in another #mst40hike - Neusiok Trail South.

There was a pretty view of Newport River from here.

Oyster Point is also the southern trailhead for Neusiok Trail, so we got on the trail heading north.

Hiking through the dense forest, there were some nice views of the salt marsh where Mill Creek flows into Newport River.

In about 1.7 miles, the trail crossed Mill Creek Road.  We turned left and then left again on FR-181 to hike the forest road back to the trailhead.

The forest road and trail made a figure-8 loop hike.

We were getting pretty hungry at this point and headed into Morehead City for dinner at Tight Lines.  They have nice outdoor seating and great food and beer.  The pork belly tacos were delicious.  After dinner, we headed back to camp and made another fire, though it wasn't nearly as cold as the night before.

Stones Creek Hike

On Black Friday, we took Alex for a camping trip out to the coast.  Our first stop was at Stones Creek Game Land at the parking along NC-210 near Sneads Ferry so Alex could get his next hike for #mst40hike.

We hiked down the un-gated Beaver Pond Road, which the Mountains-to-Sea Trail piggybacked on.

The trail turned to the right and the MST departed the road and followed a single track trail through an area where longleaf pine were being re-established.  In about 2 miles, we crossed a footbridge over Stones Creek.  There wasn't much water with the current drought.

There was some yaupon holly with berries along the trail.

After passing a gate, the trail followed Deer Lane through more pine savanna.

Near the end, we came to Dry Pond.  There were some otters in the pond but I couldn't get a picture. We turned right to follow Deer Lane out to US-17 and the turnaround point for our hike.  Right near here, a side road led out to Otter Pond so we took this out to hike around the scenic little pond. 

About half-way around, a sign pointed to Mad Bear Crossing with MST blazes.  I followed this maybe a quarter-mile to Bowstring Bridge over the crossing.

The trail petered out after the crossing.  I think this will be the future route of the MST.  There were also some pitcher plants along this new trail.

We finished up the hike around Otter Pond.

From here, we took the MST back to the start.

We had gotten hungry by this point, so headed to Lo-Re-Lei Pub in Sneads Ferry for a late lunch.  Then we drove to Oyster Point in Croatan National Forest to set up camp for the night.  I went down to the water to watch the sunset.

There was more yaupon down here.

Then we built a big fire to keep warm on a very chilly evening.

Fall Color at Lake Brandt

Sunday, I headed to Greensboro for a hike at the Watershed Lakes to see some fall color in the Piedmont.  I left early and arrived at Lake Brandt Marina a little after 8.  First, I went down to the lake for a view.

Form here, I got on the Nat Greene Trail, which was also the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and hiked along the shore.

Where the trail reached the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway, I turned right and crossed the Weaver Bridge.

After crossing, I turned onto Owl's Roost Trail, which was also the MST.  The trail looped around a peninsula out in the lake.

It ended back at the greenway in Bur-Mil Park.  I went out on the fishing pier for a view of the color on the lake.

I took the greenway back through the park.

Back at Nat Greene Trail, I went the other way out to the trailhead at Old Battleground Road, then followed it back to the marina.

Fall Hike at Stone Mountain

Saturday, we took Alex to the mountains for another fall foliage hike and to complete another hike for #mst40hikes.

We left early and headed to Stone Mountain State Park, arriving at the backpacker parking right at sunrise.  First, we made a a quick stop at Widows Creek Falls.  The water level was low, but it was looking nice with the fall color.

Then we crossed the street and picked up the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading up Wolf Rock.  Where it met Wolf Rock Trail, the MST went right, but the hike described in the book went left (the trail was rerouted after the book was published).  We decided to follow the book route as it would be more scenic and a little more challenging.  Following Wolf Rock Trail down, we turned on Stone Mountain Loop Trail near the Lower Parking Area and started heading steeply up the mountain.  There were a few nice views along the way.

Near the top was a nice spot to sit and have a snack and enjoy the views.  The fall color wasn't quite peak yet here, but it was quite beautiful.  When we got to the summit, it wasn't too crowded.  I scrambled around on the rocks to get some pictures.

We took another little break up here, but soon more and more people started coming up, so we continued our hike.  Heading down the mountain, we passed a lot of groups and were glad to have gotten an early start.  There was a nice view of the mountain and Cedar Rock a little ways down.

We passed many people on the hike down, but past the upper trailhead, the crowds lessened and there was only one other couple at Stone Mountain Falls.  We ate lunch here.

Continuing on the loop trail, near the homestead, we turned on Cedar Rock Trail and started climbing back up.  This trail has some of the nicest views of Stone Mountain.

We then turned on Wolf Rock Trail and headed back towards the start of our hike.  I made a quick detour out to the rock for a view.

Then we descended on the MST back to the trailhead.  Before leaving the park, we made a quick stop at Bullhead Creek parking.  An old road followed the creek upstream and it was just a couple hundred feet to Bullhead Creek Waterfall.

It's a small waterfall, maybe 10 or 12 feet high, but was very scenic with a splash of fall color.  Very easy to reach, I imagine this is a popular spot to cool off in the summer.

After some pictures, we took off.

Driving home, we stopped in Elkin and had dinner at Angry Troll, then finished the drive.