Date: 2003-06-06
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon PA (Doyle Hotel)
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 85 Avg Mls/Day 13.3Weather: Cloudy in morning, clearing in afternoon. Sunny late. High temp in upper 70's...nice afternoon for a change and I'm in town.Today's Nature: Not much except the great outdoorsWell, I'm glad I tented at Darlington last night. Had a great tent site and got a good nights sleep..sleeping much better than at the beginning of the hike. Left with Hotfoot and Bearly Bald at 6:45 and we passed each other several times on our way into Duncannon.   The Trail goes right through the middle of town.The walk wasn't bad but had its share of rocks. I met a SOBO, Crazy Horse, who had done the thru-hike several times...a very interesting fellow. He gave us the low down on Duncannon...eat at The Pub...don't stay at The Doyle. Also talked about how bad the bugs are on the Trail north of New Jersey.   It doesn't sound like fun when the temps go up.Just before town the Trail drops steeply then goes right and makes a hard rocky climb and then down to town. Well, I had my head down and missed the turn...had to climb back up to where I missed the turn and on up the rocky incline. Boy, was I pissed.As the Trail ended on the road to town there was a cooler with Trail Magic. I had a 16 ounce can of this carbonated "performance" drink...Red something or other. It was full of vitamins and tasted like soda.Down the road at the gasmart was Hotfoot having a gatorade. Bearly was trying to call a doctor for a pain in his ass...literally, but the town doctor just died last week...no lie... he couldn't find anyone and said he would just live with it till the next town.Bearly, Hotfoot and I headed to The Pub for lunch. Had a fantastic haddock sandwich and fries. Hotfoot had their special burger...I've never seen one as good. There we met Trail Angel Mary. She is the one who left the cooler and she handed us all bags of goodies...assortment of candies and such.   She and another guy, Gregg, told us they'd shuttle us anywhere we wanted to go. This is one hiker friendly town. We were going to hike on 5 miles later today but decided to try and stay overnight.The only hotel in town, The Doyle, has a reputation of being a little run down, but has cheap beer. Mary took us to a motel a couple of miles out to check out the rooms. They were okay at $45 but away from all the fun. So, we went to The Doyle.   We checked in without seeing the rooms first. We figured "what the hell, it's a hiker tradition to stay at The Doye." Well, let me say this...remember that room I had a week or so ago that I said was the worst room I've ever stayed in? It was a "palace" compared to The Doyle.   My carpet is so stained the dark spots look like part of a pattern. There is no AC and no screens in the windows which have warning notices over them..."Use great caution when operating windows due to age and condition." Mine has a blanket for a drape.   I sit on the bed and it sinks to the floor. I do have a sitting chair but it has no legs. My closet is duck taped shut. The floor bath sink has two separate faucets...one for hot and one for cold...but there is no cold water...just scalding hot water. To be fair I must say the shower was nice...although they warned us at check in to turn it off when someone flushes the toilet or we could get scalded. I have stains all over my white bath towel that look like rust...I hope its rust anyway.   Well, what do you expect for $15. Remember when I stayed at that beautiful new place in Hot Springs (I think)..well, I caught some hell from Richard for staying in 4 star hotel..this should make up for that. I'm not sure I couldn't sleep better on the ground.   Hey, the place has character, cheap $1 beer and it's a hiker tradition to stay here. Everyone else is here tonight...Lucky, Cosmo, Tapeworm, Lady Walks Alot, Tang, Stringbean and even Earl. I think we're heading out tomorrow. Wouldn't you know it, they're calling for thunder storms. I could see how you could get sucked in here. One hiker spent 100 zeros here...no lie. He hiked on to New Hampshire, turned around came back and now resides here.Thought for the Day: It should be fun at the bar tonight.