Date: 2014-06-07
From: Boiling Springs Campr\ground

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: broken clouds

Up at 5 and there is a lot of dew on everything. The train never bothered me as it went by last night and was actually soothing. One engineer had a sense of humor as he played out a tune as he approached the nearby crossing. The town was coming alive quite early as they were having their village wide arts and crafts show and yard sales. I was able to get a coffee cake and star bucks mocha coffee from the local gas station as it was still very early and the local food establishments weren't open yet. I was back on the trail at 615 and boy what a wonderful trail it was. I continued to pass farms and fields and continually stopped to take pictures. I even spooked a couple of deer that were in a thicket between two fields and passed by an old cemetery that was established in the early 1800's. I knew the trail was good but there was a guy running it bare footed! I was also able to pick my first fruit - a wild cherry. It was a bit tart but also sleep. I knew I was getting even closer to home as I saw a huge tree stand in the middle of a hedge row overlooking two huge fields. Its funny how you can lose your way on the trail despite the blazes and how well defined the path is from all of the traffic. After crossing I 76 I saw a mirror on a pole so people coming out of their driveway could see around the blind curve and thought it would be neat to take a picture of myself in it. After that I then noticed a huge stone fence that was 4 feet high and 4 feet thick that closely lined the road for about 50 yards and took several pictures of it. I then continued down the road and in a short time realized that I had not seen any blazes but continued on hoping I would but then reached an overpass and realized I was not on the trail. Looking across a farm field I could see a hedge row and told myself that's where the trail went so I back tracked to the mirror and realized that I had been distracted by the landscape when looking at the stone walls and missed the blaze that had led down to the hedge row that I had seen. I really had to laugh at myself, but I didn't give a rat's butt today as it was such a beautiful day. As I continued on a ran into a woman out on a walk and we talked for awhile. She told me of her son who was also on the trail doing a section hike from Springer to Gatlinburg and goes by the trail name of Morphus. I made it to Carlisle and went to the Middlesex Diner where I planned to have a bite to eat while waiting for Leo and Annette and the kids. While unloading my pack I was approached by a very lovely couple from Mechanicsburg who asked be if I was thru hiking and several other questions which I readily answered for them. After a while they sat down and then the woman came back and asked if they could buy me breakfast. Mechanicsburg trail magic strikes again! I talked to Leo and he expects to get here about 1145. I'm so excited to see him, Annette and the kids. Having Leo along is going to be such a morale booster. First of all he hikes himself and second he's nice to have along and share this bit of the journey. While waiting I am still re-working the itinerary and trying to figure out resupply points. I spoke with Gray Ghost last night and he's been slack packing the last few days and expects to be back on the trail full time out of Pine Grove starting tomorrow, Sunday. Leo and the crew showed up and we had a bit more to eat then headed to the grocery store and we were back on the trail around 2. The trail continued to be really good with woods and fields inter mixed and then an 800 foot climb to Darlington Shelter where we initially were going to stay. However, Leo said he was doing good and it was too early to stop so we pressed on and got a beautiful view at a pipeline mm 1136.6 Then we were faced with the hardest part of the day with rocks totally covering the trail without a single spot to put your feet! Each step was a bit of a torcher as the sharp edges of the rocks continually jab and stabbed at the bottom of our feet. Ordinarily this is a real big issue as it only lasts a few hundred yards, but this time it would be relentless and last about 2 and a half miles !!!!! Just when we thought we could take no more the Cove Mountain trail head appeared gratefully. After unloading Leo graciously walked down the steep trail to get water and we then ate and set up our pads and bags. There was also 2 other hikers there who were section hiking and would be tenting and Leo and I would have the shelter to ourselves. What a great day, a smooth trail, some nice views and best of all family along for the hike! As day turned into night we were serenaded to sleep by music making its way up the mountain side from a concert being hosted by the car show in Carlisle. It was a peaceful way to end a wonderful day.