Date: 2012-06-18
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: ATC Mid Atlantic office - Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 18.4

Interesting day...SOS was up, out of the tent and off hiking by 6:30!! I got to stay all warm and snuggly in my sleeping bag....until I heard the rain drops start. I debated what to do and decided to just stay put and see if the rain would stop. I watched the raindrops roll down the tent roof, pick up steam as they collected other raindrops in their path, and then shoot rapidly down the sides. (I am easily entertained...) After figuring out that it wasn't going to stop, I ventured out into the drizzle and headed for the restrooms and then back to sit in the car and read...all the while hoping that I didn't have to take down the tent in the rain. Well, that hope didn't materialize so I put on my rain jacket, collected some large bags to put the wet tent pieces in and got out of the car. It took me longer than usual with the rain and mud but I got the tent down and packed into seperate bags and into the car without getting tooooo wet. I drove up to the general store in the park to buy some milk for my breakfast cereal...NO milk! Okay, this day is going well so far....:-)I decided to head for Boiling Springs which is the next stop on this adventure. I pulled over twice to check the GPS settings and was driving down a back road when what to my wondering eyes should appear....but SOS CROSSING THE ROAD!!!!!! I was so amazed at this timing...it only takes seconds to go from the woods on one side to the woods on the other side and I had stopped several times and yet....here we were at the exact spot at the same time!! WOW! We were both thrilled and talked a bit and sang our song...since I wasn't too with it when he left this morning! GOD is good...ALL the time! On I went with a big smile on my face (see picture above) and soon came to the Green Mountain General Store. I stopped to look around and bought a few items for later. A section hiker whose trail name is Walking Cowboy came in and we talked a bit...he had just hiked a short way with SOS. I was able to give him a few goodies for later in his day. I discovered that there was a library in Mt. Holly Springs and when I saw it ...it made my day...my first 10++ library! (see photos later when I have access to posting them) It looks like a castle...when I asked a lady where the library was...she told me and then her young son said...it looks like a castle. And it does. Gorgeous wood everywhere inside with a cast iron circular stair case going to the second floor, library ladders on wheels with a track above to reach high shelves, inviting children's section, lots of community activity things posted, librarians who were very tolerant and friendly to the small children...just a delightful place! I read awhile and then reluctantly went on to Boiling Springs to find our hostel/hotel. It is outside the little town and covers much acreage with lots of buildings. It is listed as a "resort" but also caters to hikers. Lots of hiker friends here and we are all housed in the same building. Headnout and tagnalong are in the room next to ours so the 4 of us decided to go out to eat when SOS got back. I drove only less then a mile to pick him up and after he showered the 4 of us went to Carlisle...only about 6 miles. We ate at a Chinese/American buffet. It was a good place for eating and talking. We stopped at a grocery so our friends could resupply and then back to our rooms for some rest. Thus ends a very busy but interesting day that only improved as the day went along!