diff --git a/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreLoadingScreen.tsx b/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreLoadingScreen.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa2eaea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreLoadingScreen.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { ActivityIndicator, View, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
+import { useTheme } from '../../components/ThemeProvider';
+
+const ExploreLoadingScreen = () => {
+  const { theme, isDarkmode } = useTheme();
+
+  return (
+    <View style={styles.centered}>
+      <ActivityIndicator size="large" color="#0000ff" />
+      <View style={{padding: 5}}></View>
+      <Text style={{ color: theme.text }}>Loading your location...</Text>
+    </View>
+  );
+}
+
+const styles = StyleSheet.create({
+  centered: {
+    flex: 1,
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+    alignItems: 'center'
+  }
+});
+
+export default ExploreLoadingScreen;
diff --git a/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreScreen.js b/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreScreen.js
index 9c16235..0b06703 100644
--- a/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreScreen.js
+++ b/lib/screens/mapPage/ExploreScreen.js
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ const ExploreScreen = () => {
   const { theme, isDarkmode } = useTheme();
   const [showMapTypeOptions, setShowMapTypeOptions] = useState(false);
 
-  
   const toggleMapTypeOptions = () => {
     setShowMapTypeOptions(prevState => !prevState);
   };
@@ -87,10 +86,18 @@ const ExploreScreen = () => {
         globeIcon !== "earth",
         "someUserId"
       );
-
-      console.log("STEP 3: fetchedNotes from ApiService.fetchMessages:", fetchedNotes);
-      // console.log("Notes being used: ", fetchedNotes);
-
+  
+      // console.log("STEP 3: fetchedNotes from ApiService.fetchMessages:", fetchedNotes);
+      
+      // Write the count to the log file
+      await RNFS.appendFile(logFilePath, `Count of fetched notes: ${fetchedNotes.length}\n`, 'utf8')
+        .then(() => {
+          console.log('Logged count to file');
+        })
+        .catch(err => {
+          console.error('Error writing to log file:', err);
+        });
+  
       const fetchedMarkers = fetchedNotes.map((note) => {
         let time;
         if (note.time === undefined) {
@@ -101,7 +108,7 @@ const ExploreScreen = () => {
         } else {
           time = new Date(note.time);
         }
-
+  
         return {
           coordinate: {
             latitude: parseFloat(note.latitude) || 0,
@@ -113,20 +120,22 @@ const ExploreScreen = () => {
           description: note.BodyText || "",
           images:
             note.media.map((mediaItem) => ({ uri: mediaItem.uri })) ||
-            require("../../../assets/map_marker.png"), // need to replace with placeholder image
+            require("../../../assets/map_marker.png"), // Placeholder image replacement
           time: formatToLocalDateString(time) || "",
           tags: note.tags || [],
         };
       });
-
+  
       setState((prevState) => ({
         ...prevState,
         markers: fetchedMarkers,
+        notesCount: fetchedNotes.length, // if you need to use this count in your state
       }));
     } catch (error) {
       console.error("Error fetching messages:", error);
     }
   });
+  
 
   useEffect(() => {
     fetchMessages();
@@ -491,7 +500,7 @@ const [state, setState] = useState({
       <View style={styles.searchBox}>
       <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => {
           setGlobeIcon(prevIcon => (prevIcon === "earth-outline" ? "earth" : "earth-outline"));
-          setSearchResults(null); 
+          setSearchResults(null);
       }}>
           <Ionicons 
               name={globeIcon}