It rained all night last night and was in the 40s. I stayed in a shelter and was warm and dry. Late at night when I went to charge my phone, I realized that both my chargers and my satellite communicator had completely discharged. Probably due to the cold and cloud cover. My phone was at 10% and I knew I would need every bit of that charge to communicate with my girls. Big day for communicating with them since they were flying from Texas to see me for Mother’s Day weekend. I turned off my phone to save as much charge as possible.

I woke up at the crack of dawn and got all the info I needed from The Last Boy Scout who generously used his phone to get me the mileage and way points to hike out to the road. He also looked up the number of a person who provides rides in the area for hikers. I had to write it on my arm using the shelter pen (used to write in the log book that every shelter has).

I raced down the mountain as fast as I could hoping to have enough charge left to call the girls and reassure them I was safe and to call for a ride. It was probably the fastest 3 and half miles I have done on the AT so far. I hit the road and started hiking into town. I made it to a pickup point by about 8:30am. Called the girls who were on the verge of sending a search party out for me 😀. Reassured them I was safe and would update them on where I would meet them once I knew what the situation was about getting a ride.

My next text was to the number I had written on my arm. I asked if he was available to give me a ride to town and he said he would be there in 20 minutes. I was so happy to hear that because I had hiked down in the rain and the minute I stopped moving, I started freezing! It was still in the 40’s. And I was wet!

M, the shuttle driver, turned out to be not only a shuttle driver, but a true Trail Angel. He asked me where I wanted to go. I explained I was trying to get to Chambersberg,, PA which was about a 25 minute drive. He said he was happy to take me and away we went. When we got to town I asked him to please drop me off at a coffee shop or diner where I could eat and charge my phone. He refused to let me pay for the ride and when I offered to buy his breakfast he said he would buy mine.

He walked me into the restaurant, explained to the waitress that I was a thru hiker, and requested that we be seated at a table next to an outlet. We had a delicious breakfast (waffles, bacon, and hot chocolate – yum) and talked about each of our hiking experience. He has hundreds of more miles experience than me. However he blew out his knee and can’t really hike anymore. So instead he provides trail magic as often as he can. He was so generous that when I got the airbnb info from the girls he offered to come back at 2pm and drive me over .which he did!

His generosity made my day! I got a ride to a nice warm place. A free meal with good company and best of all he made it possible for me to get into the airbnb early and get clean hours before I had thought I would.

The day ended in the best way when my girls arrived to spend Mother’s Day weekend with me! A good day!