The American Tobacco Trail connector between Wake and Chatham counties has not been officially opened but I decided not to wait and gave it a preview on my bike. At N35.828 W-78.929 I came to muddy – Panther Creek. It was swollen from T.S. Ernesto on the week before. Old train trestles remain but sans tracks and there wasn’t a way to cross without fording the gap. Observing a Black Rat Snake escaping through the tall grass further convinced me that a 180 was the natural thing.