Date: 2018-06-09
From: Backpackers campground in Boiling Springs

To: US 11 Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 8.4

DAY 95Woke early and ate breakfast in our tent because the bugs were so bad. Breakfast consisted of a muffin for Mary and a danish for me that we purchased at the convenience store last night. Neither item tasted very good. We slept as well as possible considering we were right next to the train tracks and several trains went through during the night.We had hoped to leave our packs at the ATC headquarters and slack pack to Carlisle, as we are coming back to Boiling Springs to meet Chainsaw. We thought the ATC opened at 8:00, so we decided to check out Cafe 101 while we waited for them to open. We split a skillet breakfast at the cafe and each enjoyed a cup of tea. Fluff was also at the cafe, and Wheat showed up just as we were leaving.Back at the ATC we found that they will not be open until 9:00 or 10:00, so we decided to just get back on the trail. Kingsman's wife stopped in as we were getting ready to head out, and we chatted with her for a bit.Mostly flat trail with lots of poison ivy lining both sides. We made good time, even though at one point we thought maybe we were under attack as we hiked past some sort of shooting range that was particularly active this Saturday morning. We arrived in Carlisle just after 11:00 and decided to walk down the road to the diner for lunch before getting picked up by Enterprise to get our rental car.After enjoying lunch, I called Enterprise to let them know we were early, and ready to be picked up. Unfortunately, there was no one available until possibly 2:00 to pick us up. We headed to the Flying J to do some laundry and possibly get a shower. At $12 a shower, we opted to just do our laundry as we both had a shower last night.Just as our laundry finished drying I got the call from Enterprise that they were outside waiting to give us a ride back to get our rental. Getting the rental went smoothly, but getting directions back to Boiling Springs was a little more time consuming. With printed directions in our hand we headed to Boiling Springs. Mary texted Chainsaw to let him know we were on our way.We arrived back at the ATC and found Chainsaw waiting for us. After catching up, he asked if we wanted to go eat. We said we'd love to get some dinner, and he said how about the tavern. We jokingly said, "If we can get in" and told him about our attempt to eat at the tavern last night. We walked to the tavern, which was not very busy at 3:30 in the afternoon and took seats at the bar. The bar tender took our drink orders and overheard us talking about the trail. He asked "Oh, are you thru-hiking the trail", to which we replied yes. He then proceeded to tell us how hiker friendly the tavern is... We have places you can charge your phones and devices, you can fill your water, the bathrooms are right around the corner, etc etc. What a difference from last night.Chainsaw treated us to a yummy dinner, and Mary & I enjoyed a beer. It was great catching up and reminiscing with Chainsaw about our hike in 2011 and Mary's and my current hike. After dinner we walked back to the ATC, got a picture with Chainsaw next to the building under the sign, and it was time for Mary and I to hit the road and head to New Hampshire.We will be off trail for a week, and can't wait to get back to the trail and continue North. Thanks again to Chainsaw for coming to visit, a wonderful meal, and help with getting a rental car.