Date: 2013-07-08
From: The Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PA

To: Stealth camp at Clarks Creek, PA 325
Miles today: 18.0

I was glad that I stayed the day in Duncannon. If I had left as planned, Double Dare and I wouldn't have been kicked out of the bar at the Dirty Doyle for nursing our beers for too long. We were taking up prized realestate at the bar and were asked to either leave or to "go sit with the other hikers". We looked at each other in disbelief, but it was really happening. We didn't know what else to do but to laugh and leave. Dinner at QQuaker's family's was a real treat, and to have home cooked food rather than other pizza or burger or dehydrated meal, well, it was heaven!The next morning, Davy C, Double Dare and I met up for an early breakfast across the street at Goodies Diner. The walls were painted in camoflage and there were lots of deer pictures. Unfortunatley the cook didn't show up for work, so the waiter served as waiter as well as cook. The locals sitting at the diner counter kept our coffee mugs full. You had to admire the group effort. It took a while to get our food, but no one seemed to care.By 7:00 am, I was off. I drank a gatorade in preparation for the day's heat, but the yesterday's storm ushered in a nice cool front. Clouds hung low over head and cut the top off the morning's climb. Monday morning traffic hussled by on the bridge, but I still moved only as fast as my legs could take me. The climb up to the ridge wasn't too bad, and then the trail flattened out. There were some brief stretches of rocks, but none of them lasted too long. There were often vistas to either side, but the scene was muted in a hazy whitewash. Water sources were few and far between, so I opted to carry about 5L rather than have to climb down the 300 steep, stoney steeps at Peters Mountain Shelter. You have to choose your battles, and I opt to carry extra water weight than put in the extra miles. I held off eating lunch until I got to Table Mountain. I found a perfect rock bench to spread out my lunch. I took off my boots. And then the thunder started rumbling. A solid shadowy line crept across the valley floor, consuming what had just been basking in the sun shine. The thunder got louder and closer. The first drops of rain started to fall. I quickly packed up the non-lunch items and hid them beneath my pack cover. I scooted under the cover of some vegetation and ate lunch while watching the rain come down. The foliage helped to keep me mostly dry, and that was good enough. Once it slackened off, I packed everything up and hiked on.After lunch, my energy level kind of petered out. I ate some blackberries and swatted at the flies and mosquitos. They are relentless. It was as if they missed me, and now they didn't dare let me out of their sight. All day long, they wanted to be nowhere else but in my face, in my eyes, in my ears and in my nose. The dark rain clouds hung overhead and followed Pantry and I for the last several miles. We passed a few perspective campsites, but there was no water nearby. My feet and ankles were killing me. So when we came upon Clarks Creek, I knew I was where I wanted to be. Technically, we aren't supposed to camp within 500 yards of roads or water sources )PA Game Lands Regulations), but I was willing to risk it. But steam was rising from the clear flowing water, and the white rhododendrons called to me like a siren's song. I must get in this water ASAP. I dropped my pack in a flat hidden spot, shed my clothes, all of them except my crocs, and walked into the icy water. Heaven. My feet and ankles and Knee ached from the cold water, but I swore I could feel the knots loosening. I washed off and immediately felt a million times better. Hipsy Gypsy and Oak showed up. They were in a fight. I wondered how many fights Tom and I would get into out here. Probably a lot, but most would stem from me blaming Tom for things that were definitely not his fault. But I would be frustrated and he would catch the brunt of it. Maybe he was safer in Afghanistan. I set up my tent and made dinner. I relished being so close to a water source. I just hope a ranger doesn't come along and kick us out of our lovely oasis.