Gunshots and Thunder

If we are not hearing one on the trail, we often are hearing the other. This country has an obsession with guns, that is well documented and I will not elaborate beyond saying that NC is certainly no exception. Here on day 31 of our journey, I cannot recall a day where we did not hear gunfire, or thunder, or both. 

Choosing to generally live outdoors in August in NC, you should expect some afternoon thunderstorms, but everywhere we have been even the locals are commenting on how unusually stormy the weather has been. We have a running joke that every time we reach an exposed ridge we will hear thunder. It has been true almost without fail and we have on two occasions found ourselves sharing the same safe spot as the deer. We figure they know what they are doing.

Storms rolling in over Stone Mountain

As we move into September we are optimistic for a lessening in thunderstorms, but as we get closer to hunting season, I am not as optimistic about a lessening in gunfire. What is everyone shooting at anyway? And why? Some places are worse than others, but we were surprised for it to be an issue so close to home along Falls Lake in both Raleigh and Durham. 

Here’s to a little peace and quiet along the next segment of the trail...