Date: 2014-06-07
From: Ironmasters Mansion Hostel, PA

To: Boiling Springs, PA (Allenberry Resort Inn)
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

The days start was slow as I enjoyed the amenities at the old mansion (hostel). There is an AT museum on the trail near the hostel so I went by there in the morning to check it out. It is a quaint little museum with lots of history on the AT founders and developers as well as some of the well known personalities that helped give the trail it's mystique. Later that evening they were planning a hiker feed at the museum. Food often influences the days hiking plans but I wanted to press on to Boiling Springs. Although I could not make it to the town by noon to pick up my mail drop at the post office, many had said it was a pretty town and the Allenberry Inn was a nice place to stay. So around 10 am I headed out to the trail. I had planned to make a short pitstop along the way at a general store to see if they had any cooking fuel canisters. My canister was very light and I anticipate it would only last one or two more meals. I stopped by the store but no luck on the fuel. However they did make hero sandwiches so I had some lunch. This way at least the detour was not a total loss. Two miles further down the trail, I came upon trail magic, Pennsylvania style. Little Rain & Flapjack had cold drinks and they were cooking up hot dogs for the hikers. I sat and visited with them for a while along with Bones who had also stopped for a dog. I could not eat anything and enjoyed a cold drink. Starting again northbound I only hiked another 1/2 mile and there was a guy standing on the trail with a beer in one hand and a corncob the other. He asks me if I am a thru hiker and I answer, "yes". He says they are cooking up some chickens on the BBQ and asked if I wanted to join them. They were just through the trees down a small side trail. I could hear loud cheers and chants coming from that direction and asked him what was going on over there. He said they have an Indian powwow going on also along with the BBQ. It sounded like fun but since I was already stuffed I ended up declining the invite. Also if I started drinking with them I doubted I would make it the next 8 miles to Boiling Springs. Before finally reaching Boiling Springs I had run into two more groups of folks who told me of places I could go for food and/or drink. In PA, there are so many great folks who go out of their way to make the thru hikers feel welcome. I finally rolled into my destination around 5:30. Not knowing where I would be staying that evening I stopped by the town pool where hikers can get a shower for a buck. I ran into Bones at the pool.   After cleaning up, we toured the town hitting the tavern for a beer and the local pizzeria for dinner.   I looked into rooms at the Allenberry Inn and they had rooms available at the hiker rate. So I headed down the road. It was only about 3/4 of a mile down the road but Bones thought he would see if we might get a hitch so he put up his thumb as we walked. About 5 minutes into the walk a land cruiser passes us and waves. Then they turn around, go past us again and U-turn back to us. As they pull up beside us they said they apologize for not having room to give us a ride as they pointed to the back that was full of coolers. However to help us along the way they handed us both two cold beers and off they went. Too funny!!! The Allenberry complex is pretty impressive with lots of various rooms and cottages as well as a theater where they have weekly shows (see photo - note the two beers in hand as noted above).   It looks like it is going to be the easy life this evening.