Date: 2005-06-06
From: Pine Grove State Park

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

Pine Grove Furnace to Boiling SpringsI love Pennsylvania!  We woke up to the sound of birds chirping and Hellboy and Little Brother packing up.  The morning was already heavy with humidity although it was still cool out.  We packed up and headed over to the camp store/grill where we had an egg sandwich and coffee for breakfast.  Nice and fueled we headed out down the trail.  Shortly we came to the half way point marker, though a few miles off from the actual half way point for this year, was very exciting.  Though we'd passed the actual halfway point yesterday, we took pictures and celebrated here today.Sweating and hot from the humidity but very excited having passed the half way point we practically danced up the trail.  It was lunch time when we came to PA34 which had a country store with a deli .2 down the road.  Having spent breakfast we decided to get deli sandwiches for lunch.  We knew we'd crossed the Mason/Dixon line when we get our subs:  delicious!As we sat at the picnic table outside the store the sky darkened and thunder started to boom.  It wasn't long before the thunder and lightening were right above us and the rain threw itself from the clouds.  We were thankful that the storm came when it did since there was a large porch to which we were able to retreat.  The storm passed as quickly as it had come and having finished our sandwiches we headed back out.The sky hadn't cleared completely and in fact there were several more storm cells behind the first one.  Since the first one had come and gone so quickly we weren't terribly concerned when another storm approached as we topped a ridge.  This rain lasted longer and completely soaked us.  Though the storm had tapered off when we reached Alec Kennedy shelter we were drenched and the sky was still looking threatening.We had originally planned to stop for the day at Alec Kennedy Shelter, but it was only 4pm when we got there.  With only 4 miles to Boiling Springs and the possibility of yet one more hot meal, we decided to push on. Boiling Springs is a charming, lovely town but without a single reasonable lodging option.  There is one backpacker's campsite .4 outside of town and our guidebook said that one of the bed and breakfasts would allow hikers to camp in their yard for a small donation.  We figured that one of those 2 options would work, although neither choice was a particularly dry one.A third storm, this one the most violent, hit shortly after we left the shelter.  The trees were bending and swaying in the wind and the rain was pouring down in sheets when we came to the bottom of the ridge.  The woods just ended there and before us lay what seemed endless open fields.  Visibility was soon obfuscated by clouds and waves of wind driven rain.  We decided to hang out there at the forest edge until the wind and lightening calmed down since an open field didn't seem the best place to be in such conditions.Finally, it let up some although the wind and rain continued on.  We booked it through the fields and finally found ourselves at the edge of Boiling Springs.  Soaked and dripping in the relentless rain, we decided to walk over to the Mid-Atlantic ATC office building where we took refuge on the covered porch.  Since it was after 6pm the office was closed and in the storm the town was quiet.  We decided to head to the B&B to secure camping and figure out dinner after that.  So back out into the rain we went.We were headed up the street when a woman who was loading what looked like restaurant equipment into her car asked where we were headed.  We told her just up the street and explained about camping at the B&B.  She gave us directions to the establishment and we continued walking to the home indicated.  The inn looked dark and closed and we were unsure where to go to knock on the door; the front or around to the side.I was walking around to the side of the building when we heard a car pull up beeping at us.  It was that same woman.  She rolled down the window and said "Get in!"  So we piled into the back seat packs and all.  The woman said to us: "I am pretty sure the B&B is closed.  I own a hotel in town, I'll buy you a room for the night.  Boiling Springs is the loveliest, most quaint, most wonderful little town and I would hate for your one night here to be camping in a mud puddle.."We found out that the woman's name was Jane and her hotel is the Allenburg Resort Inn and Playhouse.  She gave us the speed car tour of Boiling Springs and the resort.  The grounds of the resort were beautiful and expansive including a professional theater, cottages, several multi-room buildings, living quarters for the actors, a large dining hall, swimming pool, tennis courts and more.  This was an all out country club!  Gravity and I remained silent, glancing at one another every few minutes in disbelief.Jane pulled up to the main lobby and dining hall building, turned and asked us "have you been fed?"  Not having had the chance to have dinner we answered that we had not.  She ran in and left us dumbfounded in the car for a few minutes while she disappeared into the building.  She was soon back, handing us a key, explaining that out room and dinner were all arranged.Before we knew it we were peeling off our wet clothes in the warm dry room, showering then on our way to the dining hall for a buffet dinner.  We were treated like guests of honor by the wait staff.We never though this day would end like this, warm and dry thanks to our fairy Godmother Jane.  What an indescribable feeling to be on the receiving end of such generous act of human kindness.  This experience will live warmly in my heart for many, many years to come.Danger