✨️ Starting the second half of the AT & starting to see the rocks of Rocksylvania !
Day 89: The most unexpected & best trail magic in Boiling Springs
Mile Marker: 1124.5 Miles today: 19.3
I left Pine Grove around 10:00 AM, but before, I took some pictures of the Appalachian Trail Museum. The trail out is nice, flat & a beautiful little lake or pond on the left hand side. Around 1:00 PM I came across a railroad, meaning I was close to Green Mountain General Store & Deli ! That means town food 🙂 I had a nice salad (yup, I had a salad, not a burger). I was graving something fresh.
Later that afternoon, I came accros some trail magic. Not any trail magic, but trail magic from the parents of one fellow thru-hiker: Fluff parents. I did not stay long, since I still had a good way to go to make it to Boiling Springs for the night.
I came came accros some nice & rocky terrain….just the start of what is known as Rockylvania ! But it’s not only rocks, I actually did quite a lot of field walking the last part of the day.
Just before arriving near town, I saw this most beautiful spider web !
Once I made it to town, I went to resupply at a corner store. Then, when a fellow thru-hiker came in town, we actually road walk an extra 0,5 mile to go at a grocery store. Let’s just say, I did not want to walk all the way back to town, cross it & then go to a campsite near town…
Do you know what the best surprise was ? We tried to hitch a ride back to town, but is was past 9:00 PM already ..so no success. BUT, when we stop trying, a VAN pulled aside & asked if we wanted a ride ! We sure did. As we got in and slowly started talking, they asked if we wanted to sleep at their cottage !!!
They we’re (and are) so so sweet. Such great people. We talked a little before going to bed, and what comfy night it was 🙂
Day 87: 25 miles & finding a place to sleep in Duncanon
Mile Marker: 1150.1 Miles today: 25.6
The next morning, the best trail angels dropped us off in town. A music festival was going to happen later that day, but it was off for a big day of hiking: more than 25 miles.
The first trail magic started at the trailhead with tons of water bottles. It was truly appreciated, because it was already way hot, and it was just 9:30 AM. Drank one on the spot & took one to go.
I was happy for the water, because it was lots of field walking in the morning. Around noon, I came accros more trail magic: more water ! Yay! I was almost empty. Oh, did I mention, I came accross some cows in the morning ? they were nice to see 🙂
Took lunch a little later around 12:45PM near a creek. I was happy to find the trees in the afternoon & hide in the shade.
The day of hiking came to an end around 8:00 PM: arrived in Duncanon tired from the day. But, the day was not quite over yet. Every place to stay in town was taken (hostel & hotel, all booked).
A few phone calls where made…finally a place was found. A trail angel allows hikers to sleep in his backyard. I was happy to have a place to stay the night, and not go back on trail…
Follow me on jess.s.explores for more pictures