Date: 2008-05-25
From: Deer Run Campsite, Mt.Holly Springs, PA

To: Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania
Miles today: 8.5

It took a while for all the campers to settle down last night. Everyone out there was in party mood, even tho we were tucked in by 9 like most hikers. Barred owls "talked" during the night and a coyote howled near Jodie and Brad's tent. We rose to sunshine again! Picked up the AT and headed north. Today's destination is Boiling Springs, not too sure where we'll stay there. We'll check the bulletin board at the ATC office in town(it's next to the trail-trail passes its porch). Saw a few day/wkend hikers, one of whom was the same Ramp Festival shirt wearer we'd run into yesterday. Since Maryland we've been annoyed by dropping tent caterpillars; they're everywhere dangling over, around and on us, and their waste makes the sound of dripping rain. Arrived in picturesque Boiling Springs at lunch time(hey, it's ALWAYS mealtime ). First we were officially greeted on the ATC porch by Dick Martin, ATC volunteer, who took our picture. He gave us the scoop on the town's Memorial parade that was about to commence in a few minutes. We also learned that of the 3 restaurants in town, only one, Anile's, is open today. Off we trotted to eat gourmet-style large hot subs and a pitcher of sweetened iced tea(not easily found up north). Other diners came over to ask about AT hiking, plus we had window seats for parade watching during our meal. Wow, there were antique cars, fire trucks, a couple of marching bands, a Clyldesdale-puled wagon, horseback riders, and more! All this while Eagle's music played thru the restaurants speaker system(Take It Easy's name came from the Eagle's song & serves as a reminder to him to slow down some). Stuffed full again(temporarily) we walked onto the sidewalk, and were approached by a man and his teenaged daughter. "Do you need a place to stay?" he asked. "Yes," was our answer. He offered us his daughter's playhouse in their sideyard as a shelter, or we could tent in his yard, all for free. Can't beat that! Just a few blocks down the road, we weaved through the parade watchers and speech listeners to the playhouse. It was precious! Flowers bloomed in the window boxes that framed the central Dutch-door of the little playhouse. It had sidedoors, too, and an upper light-emitting window, and venting. The plywood floor had ample space for the two of us to spread out our sleeping pads and bags, and space beside us inside for our packs to stay next to us. Next door to Mark's house(he's the generous homeowner) lives an outgoing lady. She and her companion, Steve worked in their garden into dusk. She told us all about the local history; how a man by the name Kaufman was instrumental in harboring and moving freedom-seeking slaves as they came over the Susquehanna River to his barn, which used to be located right across the road from our playhouse. Pleasant afternoon talking with them, then strolled over to the riverside park to watch all of the anglers and people out for sunshine and parade. Sat on a bench near the parking lot where there's the ruins of the iron foundry(signs here and at other foundry sites on the AT have raised our awareness of the role iron played in our wars and development). Temp reached 71. Met another hiking couple, Tenderfoot and Pack Mule who've only been hiking for a few days. Tenderfoot suffers now from swollen feet and achey legs. We hope she can make it. Next activity is to stroll back to Anile's for dinner. Saw Ben entering town while we were sitting for a spell at the patio chairs at the closed for the holiday Town Cafe near Anile's. Ben's aiming to stay a couple of days at the bed and breakfast a block from here for some good rest. At Anile's I ate delicious homemade lasagna; TIE got the spaghetti plate; all heaps of yummy food. Ben came into Anile's as we left, so we said our final goodbyes and fare-thee-wells as we won't see him again this year. Then we noticed Ted and Coffee next to the river! They just got into town. Ted was riverside soaking his right foot which is raw from some new insoles he bought. It's awful the insoles hurt instead of helped him. Goodbyes said all around with Ted in case we don't see him again. Perhaps will will see him tho cause Ted plans to head just outside of town to tent tonight, then to Darlington Shelter tomorrow(our destination for tomorrow). Back to the playhouse we noseyed; flopped into the swaying hammock for a while, then snuggled down into our pretty playhouse for the night, leaving the doors open so we could see the sky, hear the night sounds, and feel the breezes around us.