Date: 2014-05-21
From: Stealth camp 1108.4

To: Stealth Camp 1119.6
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Very crazy yet cool day!Woke up very early ready to do a bunch of miles at 4:30 in the morning. Just as I get out of my tent I hear thunder and eventually...rain. Sigh. So I just chilled in my tent for a while and waited for the storm to pass, but it looked like it was going to be one of those all day drenchings. I looked at my guide book and decided it would be a good day to get some laundry done and shower. I see that there is a campground called Deer Run about a mile down the side road. I left my tent at the site, but grabbed most of my other stuff and backtracked to get to this campground. It took about a mile to realize that I have been walking the wrong way. grrrrrrrr.Now back on track, I find Deer Run, and head to the camp store to see what it was all about. I asked about the cabin, just in case it just pours all day, but mostly I just wanted to do laundry and get a shower. Thy were very friendly here and gave me everything I needed to do just that. I also bought a diet coke, and a couple of ice cream sandwiches to take with me to the laundry. I spent about 3 hours there doing all my necessities, charging phone, eating lunch, chit-chatting with the locals. The rain held up, and the clouds were even breaking, so I decided to move on and get at least a few miles in before the day was done.I made it to boiling Springs about 6pm. I walked beside the community pond where several locals were enjoying the nice day. I came upon the Boiling Springs Tavern right off the AT, and even though it looked too fancy for me to walk into, and I almost didn't, I'm so glad I did. I sat at the bar where the bartender Michael served me an English Ale of some sort and I ordered a bacon blue burger. The English Ale was great but the bartender is one of the best I ever seen. He knows most of the people that comes in, he introduces people at the bar to each other, and knows what us hikers like. I only usually do 2 beers at dinner, but he offered me trail magic and gave me another on the house. By the time I was done with 3 of the beers, I met a nice local couple who told me the only reason they come here was because of the bartender. They knew I was a hiker and again they bought me a beer on their tab. What a great place. When I left and grabbed my pack outside, a lady looked at me and asked where I was going with that big pack. My usual answer, "To Maine!" She was not a local and seemed very shocked as if I was joking. Where did you start? "Georgia" Oh my! She looked me up and down then asked if I needed anything, she then handed me her leftover dessert. I don't turn down food, I told her. It ended up being the best peanut butter pie I have ever eaten. Yummy!At this point it was dusk, and I didn't want to stay in town, plus the next shelter was miles away, so I night hiked until I found a spot to stealth camp. I was in Cumberland Gap at the time which is about a 15 miles stretch where it was illegal to camp. Oh well. I found a flat spot deep in a field of tall grass and pitched my tent. It was 10pm when I snugged into my tent feeling that this morning was such a long time ago. Long fun day.Song of the Day, Bitter Sweet Symphony, - The Verve