Date: 2014-05-29
From: Little Dogwood Run Campsite

To: Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs
Miles today: 4.0

Shortly after my call home last night, it began to rain, and it rained off and on all night. I woke at 6, but the packing up was slow. I decided not to make oatmeal or coffee, figuring I could get coffee in Boiling Springs. My scheme for pitching and taking down the tent in the rain worked. I unclipped the rain fly from the tent, clipped it to the footprint, removed the tent grommets from the ends of the poles, and left the poles in the grommets for the footprint. I was then able to unhook the tent from the poles, move myself and the pack onto the footprint, and fold up the tent, all under the cover of the rain fly. Of course, I still had to pack -- and carry -- the fly and footprint wet.I left at 9, quite pleased with myself, and climbed the mile to Center Point Knob. There, I took a break, removed my rain pants and put them away, put on the pack and headed down the trail. I should have realized something was wrong when it turned uphill, but my guide and map were put away to keep them dry. The next clues were a sign that pointed to Darlington Shelter, but the wrong way, and a sign pointing to "shelter." There should have been no shelter where I thought I was, but I figured maybe it was really new. Shortly, I crossed a stream that looked a lot like the crossing where I had camped, and I saw Draggin' packing his gear. Only then did I realize I had retraced my steps. LESSON: don't skip the morning coffee!I told Draggin' what I had done, turned around, and headed back to the knob. A lost hour and forty minutes, and my knee was hurting more and more. On the return trip, Rocket Man, Princess, and Grasshopper came by, happy to be slack packing. Several others also passed. The rain started up again, and before leaving the woods for the mile+ hike through open fields, I put on the rain jacket. It didn't help the boots, which were getting soaked going along the high grass. And about half way, it began to rain much harder. When I got to the lone tree, I ducked under and put on the rain pants. Walked by a pretty little lake/park on the way in to Boiling Springs and stopped in at the Mid-Atlantic ATC office, where I chatted with the staff and dripped on the floor. They recommended the Allenberry Resort, and I was about convinced that I did't want to walk another 8 miles in the rain. Went to the Post Office across the street, where the clerk was very helpful. Sent off a bit over 2 pounds -- trail shoes, stuff sack, and wind shirt.I walked a block and went into the entry of the Boiling Springs Tavern, where some nicely dressed people were coming out. They asked about my hike and cheered me on. Standing by the little sign that said, "Proper attire required," I looked up at the hostess and said, "Do you accept people as grubby as I am?" She said, "Honey, we've seen a lot worse!" She showed me where to put my pack and asked about the hike. I sat at a table in the bar, and there was just one other customer, a woman who has a small gardening business and couldn't work because of the rain. The bartender/waiter was great, and we all talked about the trail and the town. When we finished lunch, both wished me well, and Wendy offered me a ride to Allenberry. I happily accepted, since it was a .4 mile road walk off the trail.The place is lovely, with lodging and a theater. The matinee was just ending as we arrived. I checked in at the hiker rate of $40 and went off to my room in the Meadow Lodge. After showering, I did laundry -- not enough to use the machines -- and got everything out of the pack. Most of it was dry, but I needed to hang the pack, it's cover, and the tent fly and footprint. I put the latter two, one at a time, over the shower rod and later cleaned up the dirt and bits of leaves that had fallen off.About 6:30, I went over to the grill for supper. Wasn't hungry enough for the buffet, but I joined Rocket Man, Princess, Grasshopper, and Draggin' at their table and ordered a beer and a chicken Caesar salad. Fun talk about the trail. The three thrus are enjoying slack packing and plan to leave at 5 AM to hike to Duncannon. I had sticky bun ice cream -- the place is known for their sticky bins -- and came back to the room to catch up on the journal and call Lee.