Day Four

15 mi. 700 ft. Without severe thunderstorms to worry about last night, I slept pretty well. I suppose walking 21 1/2 miles helped, too. It was definitely colder when I got up this morning and a strong wind was blowing out of the NW. I packed up and started my road walk east on Highway 215.

The highway runs along the north side of the Mulberry Wild and Scenic River. Winding through pine forest, past massive cliffs, and river bottom meadows, the highway and the river dance together for many miles. As to traffic, there wasn’t any, half a dozen cars each direction for all morning. This was good, because there wasn’t much of a shoulder either.

215 ends in the tiny town of Oark which has a general store and cafe where one could buy an ice cream if they wanted to. The road continues beyond Oark as County 5440. Old churches and other buildings along the road speak of days gone by.

5440 turns to gravel in the tinier town of Catalpa and just keeps going up stream. After about five miles of this gravel road and 15 miles into my day, I was nearing the spot where the OHT crosses 5440. The plan was to take the trail up about 1000 feet out of the river valley then join Highway 21 into Ozone. I had reserved an AirB&B there for tomorrow night, but Nancy had been able to get it for me tonight, too. I’ve had no phone service since the middle of yesterday. So we did all our communication via satellite text.

I was thinking about this plan when I heard a truck coming up behind me. This would be only the second vehicle I’d seen in the last three hours. I stuck out my thumb and the guy stopped. Turns out he and a friend were going through Ozone and if I didn’t mind riding in the bed of his pickup, he’d take me there. Fifteen minutes later I was in Ozone. He saved me five miles, a thousand foot climb, and about 3 hours. Plus it is all part of the adventure.

I got a burger and a hot dog at The Burger Barn which is really a food truck, and they were outstandingly good. Then I walked a mile further to the AirB&B where I am for two nights. Most importantly, I am out of the cold wind that has been howling and pushing me along all day.

Until tomorrow, Happy Trails!