Date: 2016-07-03
From: camp with J&D

To: boiling springs, PA
Miles today: 8.0

Day 83- July 3, 2016This morning we got to sleep in and take our time waking up as we knew we would be spending the first portion of the day with Diana and Jordan. I slept pretty well with a nice full belly from the great chilli Jordan made and all of the delicious fresh fruit. As we began to stir, jordan joined us. Dregs, trooper, Jordan and myself sat in the comfortable camp chairs and chatted a bit until Jordan woke up Diana. It was a chilly morning and we were all moving slow, not that we were in any hurry. After finishing the remainder of the fruit and food they brought, dregs and trooper laboriously tried to figure out a plan for the day. We eventually decided on a short day of hiking and going into town with our friends for pizza, resupply, and laundry. We loaded into the car, 5 people, 3 packs, five camp chairs, a cooler and all of the rest of j&d's camping equipment all in their small Honda Fit. We were able to get laundry started and resupply at the local dollar general. There, our friends got to watch us hikers in our natural environment- sitting on curb sides with bags of food, ripping open all of it and repackaging it into freezer bags, and then somehow fitting all three full bags of food into one bag that would go into our packs. I'm glad Diana at least seemed intrigued with watching us while we scrambled to get chores done with friends around. Once finished, we hopped into the car and went to change the laundry over and then go get pizza. J&D treated us to pizza and trooper got appetizers and we all chatted and occasionally listened to political positions. We finished eating and got our laundry and headed back to the trail for our 8 mile hike to the only camping area in the next 23 miles. At the drop off point, Diana tried on my pack while the guys peeped their feet for hiking. we said our goodbyes and took off. There were a few steep climbs and two Rock mazes followed by the start of an 18 mile stretch of flat farm land walking. We found the campsite which already had a tent set up in it and we set up near by. Afterwards, we walked over to the town where they had a pool that allowed you to pay 2$ to use the shower. We didn't have high expectations but it was much worse than expected. There was only one shower in the woman's room and it had only a clear shower curtain. Not only was there no privacy in the shower, the hot water did not work. In addition, a young teenage boy was in the woman's room with his large family, all of them talking loudly and yelling at each other. And on top of that, none of the bathroom stalls locked or had any toilet paper. So I took my freezing cold shower in my clothes while a little boy looked on and pandemonium rang around me and I paid money for it. I came out when I was done and apparently the men's room wasn't much better, with both toilets clogged and again cold water. With the support of storm trooper, we approached the girl running the front desk and I asked for my money back. Yes it was only 2$ but as she apologized she suggested that these issues were known and that they just hadn't gotten around to fixing these problems. It was frustrating but came away slightly less salty. We were able to get back to camp and make a fire and dinner and settle in for the night. We are camped next to train tracks where there are frequent passings by the train as well as fairly constant fireworks going off for Fourth of July weekend. Hopefully we can get some sleep with the loud yell of the train whistle and pops and bangs from the fireworks.