It took an hour before someone stopped to take me down the Parkway this morning. I was a little chilly but in good spirits. When I finally did start hiking I made good time without my backpack. I had just a few items with me. The rest of my stuff was sitting in a closet at a Shell gas station where I had befriended the nice clerk.

Most notable from that walk was the great view of Grandfather Mountain from the Raven Rock overlook. I took a picture but I doubt the mountain will look as impressive. It's big and towers over everything else. This afternoon the summit was in the clouds. I'll pass close by the mountain in a couple of days.

After the ten miles back to Blowing Rock and my pack, I wasted no time getting back on the trail south. It ascends old carriage roads up to Moses Cone Park on the Blue Ride Parkway. I hiked most of the uphill and bedded down in a rhododendron thicket. It would be an OK spot except it is sloped too much.