Kings Mountain National Military Park

“You’re more than welcome to spend tonight here too,” Marti & Stormy noddingly told me this morning. I really like both Marti & Stormy, and really wanted to take them up on their offer, but I needed to walk at least some miles today, to complete at least a chunk of the 40 miles I must walk from their inn to the SW edge of the Charlotte metropolitan area by Sunday evening– for my scheduled Rocio reunion.

Ms. J, a local, had told me she’d assist me with support driving (letting me walk for miles without my Chariot, picking me up today, returning me tomorrow to where I left off walking). I took her up on her offer, and was off to walk from Grover to and through the miles-long, contiguous Kings Mountain National & State Parks.
On such luxuriously “supported” days, in which I get to walk without the Chariot, I take my traffic vest, my signs, cell phone, headphones, small amount of water and snacks, and few other small pocket items.
Nearly halfway through the day, a friendly & enthusiastic ranger waves hello to me. Ranger Eric & I chatted for a few minutes, and he recommended a trail route for me through the park, which would pull me out of sight of the pavement–a rare pedestrian treat! Eric offered me his personal cell phone #, in case I got lost or had any other questions. I’m often given just-in-case contact info from locals, and 99% of the time I don’t use it.
I did today though.
By sunset, when Ms. J was to be scooping me up and returning me to Grover, I wasn’t hearing from her, and I was also unable to reach her. I hear the local cell signal is spotty. Mine was, and perhaps hers was too. That said, after a over a half hour of trying to reach her, the cold autumn sky was well into its pink & purple cycle, and would soon be fully retiring to darkness. Ranger Eric then popped back into my mind: rangers patrol their parks regularly, and I didn’t feel it would be asking much to request a ride to, at minimum, the western entrance to the park– already many miles behind me. From there, I’d either catch a ride back to Grover or be at least 2 walking hours closer.
Ranger Eric was very, very helpful. He was no longer behind the wheel, but called upon a fellow ranger, Ranger Joe, who came out to retrieve me at a great time: it was dark, cold, and my phone battery was below 10%.
I left my reflective marker in place, ready to be retrieved tomorrow. Ranger Joe told me he’d be taking me to the western entrance of the park. I told him that was fine–I simply wanted to get as close to Grover as possible. As conversation ensued on the way, I enjoyed learning that Eric had made a career change to join the National Park Service. He’s now in his third year of being a ranger; he’s worked in the busy Blue Ridge Mountains, here, and would ultimately like to move to the western states.
We approached the western edge of Kings Mountain National Park, Ranger Joe slowed, and then suddenly turned onto a road unfamiliar to me. The road ended up being another way to Grover. Ranger Joe brought me all the way back to the front door of the Inn of the Patriots. What a guy!
Of course, Marti & Stormy are great and would have picked me up too, but I enjoyed not having to suddenly call them out there due to my plan gone awry.
Goodness, I hope that all is well with Ms. J ~