Date: 2008-06-21
From: Whiskey Springs, PA

To: America's Best Inn, U.S. 11, PA
Miles today: 14.0

Okay...a more normal day today over yesterday. :-)I woke up at 5:45am and had two Poptarts and the can of soda from Red '08¢s trail magic.I packed up and was walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 6:15am.I started walking and my mind started thinking again....not about my ol' buddy Chief, but about my walking shoes after yesterday's walk and what they would be saying if they could talk...they would say something like; "Oh man, why didn't someone like Stumpy's ol' buddy Chief buy me...instead of Stumpknocker, because if Chief had bought me, I wouldn't be out here walking over all these rocks and be worn out in less than 2 months, I'd be walking on carpet and only taken outside when Stumpy's ol' buddy Chief would show up at a hiker gathering...to talk about walking, but not to actually BE walking." ;-)I came up to a group of about 15 guys camping just before I got to Alec Kennedy Shelter. They were cooking breakfast and one guy offered me some cherries that he had just picked yesterday. I took a large handful and thanked him, then ate them while I was walking.I got to the side trail to Alec Kennedy Shelter and saw Retread walking out to the Trail. I hadn't seen him in quite a while, so we walked and talked for about 15 minutes.He said Walky Talky and Vachon were still at the shelter. I told him that one of my friends had said to say hello to Walky Talky when I caught up to him, but I couldn't remember if it was Lee Perry or D-man that asked. Retread said he'd tell him I said hey. :-)I climbed up to the summit of Center Point Knob before heading down towards Boiling Springs, PA.I could see the open fields about 100 yards before I left the woods and I saw a large doe standing there watching me walk by.I walked through the corn fields and stopped at the ATC Office and signed the register.There were two volunteers by the names of Don and Carol sitting on the porch greeting hikers. They gave me a banana....boy that really tasted great! I don't get enough fresh fruit while I'm on Trail.We were sitting there talking when Circumstance walked up. I hadn't met him before.He had camped at the Train Station they call the hiker tenting area just outside of Boiling Springs. I set up there one night a number of years ago and noticed a railroad track right next to the tenting area. I remember thing to myself that there's no way anyone in their right mind would put a tenting area next to an active railroad track....but they DID!I took down my tent at 10pm and walked 5 miles into the woods because of all the trains that roared right past me.Note to hikers; DON'T STAY THERE! :-)I like the breakfast much better at Middlesex Diner about another 8 miles down the Trail, so I walked on at 9am.It was Saturday and the walking in this area was easy, so I decided to make a couple phone calls while I was walking.I talked to my brother Terry, then called Aunt Betty and then Mother Nature.I was surprised how quickly I got to U.S. 11. :-)I walked half a mile to the Super 8 and asked what they charged. The guy said $80.00 + tax. My book said $50.00, so I told him I was walking across the street and staying at America's Best Inn.I always have stayed there in the past and it's nice....and they only charged me $45.00.I dropped off my backpack, did a tick check, then walked next door to Middlesex Diner and ordered breakfast...and that drink I love so much called coffee! :-)I had just been served when a guy came over and asked if I was Stumpknocker.I said yes and found out it was Coal Cracker and his wife Cash. I said to pull up a chair and join me and they did.Coal Cracker has been sectioning the Trail since '93 and only has 200 miles to go and his wife Cash has sectioned the whole Trail almost twice now!Cash told me how she got her trail name. There was a "better" hiker...or so they thought, that said to Cash; ¢Oh you're just a candy a** section hiker." c-a-s-h....the initials stuck. :-)We enjoyed eating and talking about walking for about an hour. It was great meeting them! :-)I left and went back to my room and got ready to write yesterday's journal, but fell asleep for a one hour nap. That felt great!When I woke up, I checked my email and decided to go back to the diner for an early dinner. Ha!I spent the evening writing and catching up on a few emails.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)