Date: 2015-06-13
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We hiked into Duncannon to find Yellow Bird waving from the second-floor balcony of the Doyle Hotel, location of my mail drop, which for some reason didn't open until 11.In the meantime, we had breakfast at a diner with camouflage decor (very classy... but the food was good and the waitress exceptionally nice). Chris took out his copy of the guidebook to puzzle at miles. I noticed that, in the same ziploc bag, he had the note that I had left for him at Deer Lick Shelters. At first, I was a little mortified. It was the kind of letter that you write, keep locked up in your desk for five years, find later, and burn. I had kind if hoped he WOULDN'T find it. I had left it in a conspicuous place, though, with his trail name written on the envelope in obnoxiously thick black letters. He would have been blind to have missed it. But then I realized that he had obviously read it, and that our relationship hadn't changed in the slightest since I returned to the trail after visiting home. So turned out well in the end. I am lucky to have found such a friend (and hiking companion). After breakfast, we also visited the post office and, after deciding that the QuickMart was outrageously expensive, walked the six tenths of a mile to the supermarket so that Chris could buy his food supplies. When we arrived at the store, Tinkerbell tagging along behind us, we found the Aussie Legs outside! "AWOL lied!" they cried, sharing their strawberries with us. "They opened before ten!" Usually, on resupply days, hikers just want to get into town, get what they need, and get back to the trail. Hiking around the schedules of storrs and post offices can be frustrating. We need our food! SIDE STORY: I was throwing away my trash outside the grocery store this morning, and a little kid walked past me and asked, "Are you hikers?" I answered, "Yes, we are!", and this child, wandering away with his mother, told her, "I want to hike someday!" MY HEART MELTED.While Chris shopped for peanut butter and tortillas, I called my mom. I have been extra homesick since my visit. Knowing that I am starting to get really close to home is making me itch, too.At this point, I mentally feel like I am so much farther on the trail than I am physically. Does that make sense? In my mind, I am WAY farther past the halfway point. Katahdin seems SO CLOSE. I don't know if it's because I am getting so close to home, or if it's because I am more familiar with New England, or if it's because I know that the upcoming states will fly by in comparison to Virginia... or maybe it is just because I have made it this far, and am now so much more confident in my ability and chances of completing the trail. I don't know what it is... but some days, already, it feels like the end of the journey is just around the corner. Sadly, I know there's only so much time left before I reach the final climb and summit, and I know that time will fly.I am excited that soon I will be in range of home, close enough for a weekend visit and then, when I am even closer, for a few days of slackpacking and nights at home. I love the people of the trail. I love my tent and waking up to the wilderness. I also do miss home, though. I miss hugs.Back to today...We got a ride back to town from thr amazingly nice woman working at the customer service desk, and were waiting outside the Doyle when it opened at 11, and were greeted a bit rudely by the man who unlocked the door, and basically told us that we were making a mess in front of the place with our packs and tarnishing the image of the establishment. I apologized multiple times. I'm not trying to be hiker trash. I know that I am smelly and dirty and disheveled. I am used to it now, and usually people are so nice that I guess I forgot that hikers sometimes throw a negative vibe, dirty and undesirable as we apparently are. "You should put up a sign." I suggested, telling him that if we had known it would be a problem, we wouldn't have parked ourselves out front. And we wouldn't have! We may be dirty, but we aren't heathens. We try to be respectful.He said that his wife kept telling him the same thing. By this point, I was getting frustrated. MAYBE YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO HER AND DO IT, DUDE. HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO WRITE: "HIKERS, PLEASE DO NOT LOITER OR LEAVE PACKS HERE" AND STICK IT TO THE FREAKING WALL?!Some people, I tell you....He did invite us inside, and told us we could repack at one of the tables near the bar. As long as we didn't ear any of our own food out of our packs, that is.Needless to say, I lost any shred of desire I might have had to provide the Doyle with any of my business. I am endlessly grateful to all of the hotels, hostels, and outfitters along the trail that accept mail drops for hikers. Some charge a fee, but most don't. And when I pick up a mail drop, I do try to buy something or return the favor in some way. I at least express my gratitude. But today? I barely had the gusto to let out a "thanks".So the Doyle was not a nice place. I have not heard a single good thing about it... but many complaints. The trail register in the first shelter north of town was full of hikers griping about the place. I put on a smile, and used all of my patience to put up with his complaining while he dropped coins into the register behind the bar in preparation for the day's sales. The guy had four days worth of my food in a box in the back. I didn't want to tick him off before I got my M&Ms and granola bars.Once I received my mail drop from Grumpypants, I scrammed. I didn't hesitate a second before migrating a block away, out of the anger zone, to load it all in my pack.The hike out included a walk over the Susquehanna River on the Clarks Ferry Bridge, where we were victim to the most violent wildlife encounter I have had so far on the trail. A peregrine falcon (presumably with a nearby nest) kept diving at us, yelling angrily. I kept thinking it had given up when it would turn around and swoop back down again. It got pretty close! It was actually almost scary. I might have nightmares about getting my eyeballs clawed out tonight.This shelter is large and has quite a few residents, so I have chosen to seclude myself in my tent for a quieter night and better chance of good sleep. Coco and Magnus are camped nearby, the Aussie Legs are in the shelter, and there are BEAR BOXES, which means I don't have to spend an hour throwing a rock attached to a rope at trees. Yay!The spring is down 300 steep steps. THREE HUNDRED. When I went to get water and naked!", Firebear and Muddy Duckling were just returning from doing the same. "Perfect timing!" They cried. "You just missed us being naked!"I love the Aussie Legs. They are so fun.I also love sleep, and tonight I really need it. Not too many miles today, but many rocks and errands. And I would like to read some of my book before bed.I am thankful for two phone calls with my mommy. I am thankful that I, unlike SOG (a hiker gentleman also from Connecticut), I made it through today's rocks unscathed. My feet are very sore, but they have been much worse. I am SO thankful for a beautiful evening, fresh air, and the forest surrounding me. The birds are singing and I am safe from the bugs inside my tent. And I am happy.