Date: 2015-06-23
From: Raven's Rock Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: moderate rain

There were two momentous events today: I passed the Mason Dixon line and I ate my first trail side blackberry.I woke up early again but lingered in my tent for a bit since I knew I had a short day planned. I did think I might go a bit further than the shelter, but probably not the twenty miles it would take to the next one, so I was just going to play it by ear. In the end, I left camp at 6:37. There is only so long I can dilly dally if it's light out and it's warm.As advertised, the trail got to a short loop that went to an overlook. I try not to pass up any views, so I took the blue blazed loop to High Rock. I needn't have bothered, it was the most depressing part of the trail yet. The view was ok (another developed valley but nicer than yesterday) but the rock itself, the steps up to it and several trees in the area were completely covered in graffiti, and there was lots of trash around too. Not a good place to reaffirm your faith in humanity, for sure.I retraced my steps back to the official AT so as not to miss the piece that the loop cut out and went on my way. The trail now went down steepl, straight through a boulder field. It was well blazed, but you basically had to spot the next blaze and then plot your own course to it, as there wasn't really a trail as such. Since my legs were still fresh, it was pretty fun, though definitely hard on the feet and ankles. But it think it was around the end of this that I found my first ripe blackberry, so yay!The next landmark was PenMar park, a county park that used to be an amusement park that closed in 1943. It now has a pavilion for performances, picnic tables and tons of benches, as well as some playground equipment. I was more interested in the bathrooms (can't pass up a flushing toilet and the opportunity to wash my hands) and an outlet to charge my phone. It took some skulking about (the pavilion was roped off but had tons of outlets on stage so I jumped the rope. Sadly they were all turned off) but eventually I located a live one. I read through my guide, ate some snacks and took the opportunity to wash my socks in the bathroom sink. I know, I know, it's not very nice, but no one was there and I made sure I left things pristine. I probably spent close to an hour at the park before finally moving on.I had run into Outro and her father, and she told me a storm was supposed to hit around five. I was not surprised, it was still early but already the day had that hot and oppressive feeling to it that usually ends with thunderstorms.The AT goes right through the park, then crosses the railroad (where they were working which made an ungodly amount of noise) and then goes back into the woods. And right there was the sign for the Maryland-Pennsylvania border, also known as the Mason Dixon line. Mason and Dixon were surveyors whose survey resolved some longstanding border dispute. I was actually surprised the line is this far north, as I never thought Maryland was considered part of the south, as in 'south of the Mason Dixon line'. It is all very confusing for a poor foreigner. I had lunch at the first of three closely spaced shelters, as it started to look as if it might rain soon. It didn't and the sun came back out later. I saw in the register who is ahead of me, that's always fun.Closer to the second shelter, I came upon two very robust streams that inexplicably are not listed in the guide. It wasn't that long after lunch but I had lots of time so I stopped and soaked my feet. Fortunately this stream was not as cold as the one yesterday and I happily sat there for twenty minutes or so. It was now close to 2:30 and I only had about half an hour left to the final of the three shelters. I had decided against moving on past it because immediately after the shelter the trail goes up on a ridge and I didn't want to be caught there if and when the storm rolled in. So here I am at Tumbling Run shelters, one labeled 'snoring', the other 'not snoring'. I am far from the shelters in a group tent site but I'm the only one here. And these are nicely prepped sites with a layer of pea gravel over dirt. The thunderstorm (complete with rain) started around five and lasted maybe an hour, and the pea gravel really helped keep splash to a minimum. Tomorrow there will be another park, this one with a vending machine and maybe even a snack bar. But I also have a more normal mileage day planned so either have to start early or not spend much time at the park . Probably option 1, since I wake up so early these days anyway. I shall report back!PS I just read the comments about Backpacker Magazine. I wouldn't get too excited! What I picture is a collage of tiny little pics of hikers and we'll need a magnifying glass to even see if they used mine! Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?