Date: 2003-06-05
From: Boiling Springs PA (Gelinas Manor B&B)

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 84 Avg Mls/Day 13.3Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy...warmer highs in mid 70's...no rain!Today's Nature: Fox on the Trail this morning...scampered away. First deer I've seen for awhile.Well, I have a lot to enter in this journal so I'd better get started. Following today's entry is a guest entry by Magnolia...the very nice, articulate, intelligent young lady I hiked with yesterday (and several other times earlier in my hike.)Let's start with last night. I'm glad I stayed at the B&B as it stormed around 10 p.m. It wasn't in the forecast either but we've had so much rain out here lately that it's a surprise if it doesn't rain...like today! Gelinas Manor was a nice place and they made a great breakfast...fresh fruit cup, special recipe french bread french toast, sausage, juice and coffee.   It was served at 8 and worth waiting around for. Just as I was walking over to where I had gotten off the Trail, there's Magnolia and Trail Name Pending walking in from the tent sites where they camped last night. We followed the AT down to the Regional ATC office where Magnolia gave me her written "guest journal entry" for today.   She was so excited. I told her it was a privelidge, as only one other person (Mule) had been a guest writer so far. She is quite good and I don't want to hear from any of you saying she should take over my journal...she can start her own... although I told her she could make aditional guest appearances if she wanted.While we were sitting at the picnic table outside the office, a gentleman "biker" walks up and offers us cold cokes. Sure, we'll take one!...and he throws in some Twix candy. Turns out he is "Grumpy" who thru-hiked the Trail in 2000. He was back on a motorcycle with 4 of his buddies visiting some of the towns he had hiked through.I chatted briefly with the woman inside running the office who was very nice. She had this beautiful Shephard mix dog, Annie, she had rescued from the shelter. Annie had been abused and was very reluctant to come to me at first, but after some gentle coaxing we became friends.Magnolia and TNP went to breakfast and I hit the Trail at 9:30. Somewhat of a late start but I've got to learn to relax and take it as it comes. The morning was fairly level walking through farms, open fields, along fence rows, some woods.   It wasn't totally out in the open as I had anticipated. The only bad part was the muddy sections. There were some places that were so wet you couldn't get around them. As I'll describe in a minute, it may have been the worst day so far as the Trail condition.   When I got to where the Trail crosses US 11 at noon, I decided to keep my string of "restaurant meals" going and walked .2 mile to the Middlesex Diner. Took off my muddy boots and gators; put on my flip flops; went in and had a nice lunch... cheeseburger club, ff, cole slaw, lemonade, pecan pie and coffee.When I got back on the Tral I passed 2 SOBO section hikers...the only hikers I saw on the Trail today. I hiked alone all day. The Trail just got worse the rest of the hike. First, we shared the Trail with a path for a heard of Holsteins. Many times there was no way around as the entire pasture was under water. It was deep wet mud! They really have gotten the rain here! It gets better. At one point the Trail paraelles the Conodoguinet Creek. It was more like a river (the road bridge crossing it was at least 120 feet.) Once you crossed the bridge they routed you back around under it. Only problen was the water was nearly up to the road and the Trail disappeared into it.   I went back over the bridge and cut through the woods on the other side. You're allowed to do that when the Trail is impassable.It gets better, further down the Trail an overflowing feeder stream meets the river which is also out of its banks. The Trail goes under 2 feet of water for 3 yards to a bridge over the feeder stream. I was caught in a "corner" and wasn't going to backtrack.   So, I took off my footwear and waded through what felt like ice cold water over my knees. I didn't read this in anyone's journal before...of course, they were having a drought last year.I got to Darlington at 4. I was going to take a break and hike on 7 more miles. I got to talking to Hotfoot and Barely Bald (who were staying in the shelter) and decided to tent here for the night. They have some nice level sites here.Had a cold supper...tuna and miracle whip, peanut butter and crackers with Kool Aid lemonade.About 8 in walks Stringbean followed shortly by Lady Walks Alot..then Tang Cosmo, Tapeworm, and Lucky. They are all tenting. Then comes Wicked Wizard. I better call it quits for now. The following is the Guest Entry by Magnolia:Magnolia: Thank you for having me make this honored guest appearance. You know I've always wanted to be on Oprah, but this is definitely more exciting!Skeemer: So Magnolia, tell our readers about your Trail experience so far.Magnolia: Skeemer, I'm so glad you asked. The Appalachian Trail for me has been nothing but drama, DRAMA! But what doesn't kill you, adds character, and I've got so much character I could start a cartoon strip. If I'm not being wooed by married men from the South, I'm eating things that never in my 27 years of life would have ever have imagined that I would stoop so low for!Skeemer: Do explain...Magnolia: Well, a certain entree which I would highlight as my all time low was mashed potatoes mixed with tomatoe soup...which although turns a lovely baby pink does not taste like anything lovely. By the end of the potfull my gag reflex was starting to wreak havoc with my "let's keep this meal down" power.   But I suppose that is really nothing...did you know that there are a bunch of crazy hikers out there eating a half gallon of ice cream at one time!!Skeemer: Sounds like a bunch of crazy bastardsMagnolia: Tell me about it!Skeemer: What's the craziest thing you've heard on the Trail?Magnolia: Well, there's one guy who's name I won't mention (I mean let's protect the innocent, right?) who is going around telling people about ticks on his privates. Just a little too muich information for any person who is at all a "visual thinker" if you know what I mean.Skeemer: I can imagine! So, what is the most interesting thing you've learned thus far?Magnolia: Well, American History is a fascinating thing and it is still alive. The industrial northern oppression still weighs heavily on the genteel southern colonies. But not to worry. I've been throughly assured that the South WILL rise again!Skeemer: (Akward silence and long pause) Alrighty then...umm...speaking of the South, did you see any bears in the Smokies?Magnolia: I'm sure they were there Skeemer, however, they were hard to see through the blizzard. Bears, being smarter than your average hiker...they hibernate when it snows. I thought I heard them at night time however I was mistaken by the chainsaw snoring of my shelter mates.Skeemer: That's tough luck.Magnolia: Yes, but it has been a source of inspiration for me of my new life philosphies which is...the only good kind of blizzards are ones you buy from Dairy Queen.Skeemer: So, how has the rest of the weather been on your trip?Magnolia: Well, let's just say I haven't needed to take too many showers.Skeemer: Any other words of wisdom?Magnolia: Yes, be aware sick cleptomaniacs!Skeemer: And it appears we are out of space for the Trail Guest appearance.Magnolia: Well thanks for having me. It's been an honor and the highlight to my Trail experience thus far :)Thought for the Day: I wish I had flood insurance.