Back on the trail again after a wonderful break in the DC area with Katie and Eric where we were fed way too much good food! We took the MARC train back into Harper's Ferry and walked a couple miles to Sandy Hook hostel for the night to ease back into trail mode. Next morning it was off again under overcast skies but good trail.

This part of the AT goes through much Civil War history, especially the battle of South Mountain.  Gathland State Park had a small museum and is the former estate of a man who was a Civil War journalist. There are some interesting remnants there of varied architecture!

Turner's Gap came next and was the site of one of the many battles for South Mt. and where 2 generals (one Confederate, one Union) were killed. Also here was Sweet Tooth, our trail angel with magic that we saw back on my birthday. More oreos and a pop later we headed out...in the rain.

By 3pm we were at Washington Monument where citizens back at the turn of the 18th century constructed this monument to George Washington. Here also is a museum that I was able to see every inch of due to - yes, rain! We decided we'd had enough of walking in the wet and had permission to stay at Mount Vernon shelter right next to the Visitor Center. This is really a picnic shelter but it was enclosed on 3 sides and the picnic tables were quite comfy! And the VC museum was great! It tells about the monument which was used in the Civil War as a lookout station, fell into disrepair and was rebuilt by the CCC in the 1930s. It also has a great diorama where you listen to the details of the Battle of South Mountain and watch the action as lights in blue and red move about the fields and cannon fire shows up in yellow blinking lights.

PenMar State Park is the state line, approximate location of the Mason-Dixon line and our dinner stop where we were entertained with conversation by Bill, the grounds keeper whose previous job was keeping the horse trails at Camp David during the Reagan era.

Trail walking in PA is amazingly flat and generally easy miles. This section was actually fun, mostly a dirt trail through rocks called the "rock maze" with a few big boulders.

The halfway point of the trail is in this area too - only 1090.5 miles to go!!!

 

Pine Grove Furnace State Park is the home of the 1/2 gallon challenge - a dare for hikers to polish off a full half gallon of ice cream. We shared a delicious 1/2 gallon of mint chip, but several hikers do take this challenge seriously and for some the ice cream wins!

Boiling Springs was our next small, historic town for resupply and breakfast. It is also home of the ATC Regional office which had the updated weather report....rain. And it poured. And we walked. Ended up at a shelter that was one of the nicest there is with covered cooking spots and bunks for sleeping. This was only 4 miles from Duncannon, PA and this morning, when the rain has finally stopped, we walked into town and had another good breakfast of the biggest blueberry pancakes I've ever seen. Friends Elvert and Phyllis from Florida volunteering live here and we have had the pleasure of their company today and once again have been fed royally. Back on the trail in the morning and certainly hoping the forecast for a good weather day holds!