Cruising Through The Valley

Staying at my sister’s usually means at least one breakfast at Miller’s. Miller’s family restaurant is a unique restaurant in many ways. From the outside it looks like someone’s home. The staff is sometimes less than cordial. But the food is amazing and the prices are cheap.

One of the local specialty is called Hunky Eggs. It’s basically an egg scramble but, it is heaven to me.

After pounding in the calories, we headed back to Boiling Springs where we got off the trail.

Boiling Springs is located at the southern end of Cumberland Valley. Walking the Appalachian Trail north is very easy walking. It is relatively flat, mostly rock free, and winds across pastures and besides planted fields.

Flat, easy and fast.

There was even staircases to get over the cattle fences.

We hiked past an old family cemetery that had headstones dating to the early 1800s.

We had an awesome lunch of Lebanon Bologna sticks and Smoked Cheddar Cheese, from the farmer’s market.

After a long hike across the valley, we climbed up the side of the next mountain to an incredible view, it looked back across the the valley we just crossed. It was a breathtaking view.

Looking back across that valley was inspiring. Telling ourselves how much we accomplished and in such a short time.

We made a cocky decision. We decided to not stop at the upcoming shelter, but continue on to the following one. That would mean hiking from the mountain we just hiked up, to the next mountain north, adding another 7.7 miles and no more easy walking.

About halfway there we realized that we may have bitten off more than we could chew. In end we made it, but we are exhausted.

After 21.7 miles for the day, it was a quick dinner and to bed at Cove Mountain Shelter.