I headed over to the Patsy Pond hiking trail area this morning. I knew eastern North Carolina was under draught conditions but I have to admit I was shocked at how close the smaller poccosin ponds are to being dried up. There were areas where I was walking on what would normally be the bottom of the pond… 25, 50 feet, even more from the normal edge. Fortunately the larger pond still has quite a bit of water in it and a healthy population of Lilly Pads in full bloom.