Date: 2021-05-08
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Carlisle, Pa
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

So I had rolled into the Kennedy Shelter last night about 6 when the rain was still insistently coming down. I selected poorly on my first attempt to set up my tarp - trees were too close. So I moved to a better spot, got the tarp set up and managed to keep my hammock and gear dry as well.I didn¢t leap up at 5:15 when my alarm went off, thinking ¢it¢s 38 degrees, I¢m good here for a bit¢. But nature was calling, and then it called a little more persistently, so up I got. Now, it¢s very important to always make sure you have dry clothes to change into at the end of the day (hypothermia is a cool word, though NOT a desirable condition). There was more rain on the forecast for the day,  Soooooo, I put on my still wet, 38 degree clothes from the day before. Yeesh. I did balk at putting on my sodden hiking shirt, opting to just wear my sleep t-shirt as I have one other back up. That was a bridge too far for me. Cold cold cold.I collected my food bag from the bear box by the shelter as I left camp at 6:30 making for Boiling Springs, Pa and the TCO Outfitters store. It started raining about a mile from town as I was walking through Pennsylvania farm fields so my shoes and socks were pool-wet in about 60 seconds. When I got to town the outfitters were 45 minutes from being open so I went to a nearby cafe for a coffee. They had outside seating only (did I mention it was COLD AND RAINING?!?) that I shared with a fellow hiker named No Bad - as in No Bad Days. He started in Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro, Va and has been doing a lot of miles.  The outfitter was mainly geared towards fly fishing, but they did have some hiking supplies. I managed to find a pair of Oboz hiking shoes in my size after trying on some Solomon¢s that were waaay too tight in the heel. My wife had provided good counsel, as usual, and said if I found an acceptable pair to get them and try them for a week until I hike to my mailed pair. Then I can make the call on which to keep. Left town at 9:45 moving towards Carlisle, Pa where I had decided to grab a hotel room. I hadn¢t done laundry in 5 days or showered in 4 and I really didn¢t think it wise to big miles the first day in new shoes. Met a few other NOBO¢s on the way - probably the most I¢ve met on the trail in one day so far. The new shoes paid immediate dividends in that stepping on a root or rock didn¢t cause me to buckle with pain. Check back in a few days and see if all my toenails fall off or some other such horror from new shoes.  I got to the Carlisle road crossing at 12:30 and got a Lyft for $7.00 to my hotel. Took care of chores, bought a lot of iced tea at the gas station next store and did something very, very rare for me: I actually turned on the heat in the hotel room. AaaahhhhhhhhhOf course, it suppose to rain from tomorrow noon until Monday morning *sigh* - dry for a day at least!In case I don¢t have cell signal tomorrow- Happy Mother¢s Day to my Mom who is to blame for all my failures and short comings (did I do that correctly, Dr Freud?) so send any critical comments regarding me, to her. And also Happy Mother¢s Day to my wife, without whom this hike would not be possible. Treat her well, kiddos!