I made it to Wilmington today, but not before getting rained on again….and it looks like more rain is coming! In fact i may have the honor of being in the path of a hurricane before the week is out. I will try to make it to a host house thursday….before i float away?☁?

At least i got to meet more great folks at Dunkin Donuts ☺

Stayed in Jacksonville last night in a nice, comfortable, dry motel…now likely outdoors for a couple nights.taking rt17 from jacksonville NC to Wilmington NC (50+ miles) with not much in the way of campgrounds or motels along the route. STILL Raining off and on, but not as bad as it has been. Ill post again wednesday.

I have neglected to mention a few people who have gone above and beyond over the last few weeks, so at the risk of fogetting someone (which i’m sure I will so I apologize in advance for that) here goes…
Paul Weiss has been scouring his rolodex and burning up social media looking for potential hosts along my route…as have many others so thanks for that.
Sally Chong has been tracking and re-posting my activities…and trying to keep a handle on my mileage, which has been super helpful. THANKS Sally!
Rick McGarry from Bucks County Running Co. Has been supplying apparel and shoes as needed….and Mike Galvan picked up the tab for my most recent pair of shoes (number 4). Thanks to BCRC…go there, and buy things☺
http://www.buckscountyrunningcompany.com/
My son Clarke and his amazing wife April have been trying to keep the website afloat, and updated….which is becoming more and more difficult as traffic increases…so thanks for that!
….oh, and that little Italian girl in Newtown that inspires me everyday. I LOVE YOU LAURIE.

With my recent TV interview, and another newspaper interview (Carteret County coming out Tuesday) it has been difficult to keep focused on moving forward. THANKFULLY, I have spend the last few days in great accommodations…and with great people who have inspired me through the miserable weather.

Jenny Vander Pluym, her husband Warren Mitchell, and their son Lincoln hosted me Thursday. Jenny has been working feverously to help coordinate my activities and accommodations in NC, and even ran through the floods with me on Friday morning.

On Friday I stayed with the Freeman clan…an interesting bunch☺

…but as much as I wanted to stay on the Gold coast, I needed to press on so Saturday I headed inland again through another day of dreary weather. 19 miles later I am back on the mainland and enroute to Jacksonville NC tonight. My last look at the Emerald Isle looked like this

With 40mph wind gusts trying to blow me off the bridge!
TTFN

Even though it’s called Cedar Island, it’s really just an island in name only. It should be called Swamp Island…with the storm off the coast pushing the water inland there has been a fair amount of back bay flooding.

I also lost all cell service about 5 minutes after getting off the ferry, so day 1 back on the mainland felt more like day 1 on some reality tv island show. The weather continued to look bleak, but the one bright spot of the 19 mile day was the 45 seconds that I had one bar on my phone and it lit up with word that the amazing Jennie had found me a place to stay in Davis NC….about two miles from where I was when I got the texts. Twenty minutes later I arrived at the home of Debbie and Captain Gregory Dudley☺

Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) I was very happy, and thankful, for their hospitality….particularly since we had never met! With more wind and rain on tap for Thursday, I ery much needed a good, dry nights sleep☺☺☺