Date: 2007-07-18
From: stealth site at tagg run trailhead

To: US 11, Super 8 Motel
Miles today: 20.2

I have been hiking mostly by myself now and feel like I¢m at the end of the AT pack after my two weeks off. I have met many new hikers the past couple days but no old friends except Yogi. The terrain is easy enough so I¢m able to do 15-20 miles per day. I¢m sure I will catch up to someone. Up early and on the trail at 0630. I hope today is cooler but I¢m not going to way to see. I must be feeling better because I just covered the last 3.5 miles in 1hr and 20 minutes. It¢s warm and humid already but I¢m feeling okay. The trail is taking me around some smaller hills and through some nice forested areas. Without a breeze it is just hot/humid. As I get closer to Alec Kennedy shelter I can smell smoke from a camp fire at least 15-20 minutes before I find where it¢s coming from. A couple young men are out for a few days hiking and have a fire going to boil water. I need water too and stop to filter it in the stream nearby. I take a break and talk to them for a few minutes as I drink about 2 liters. I go back and filter another 4 liters and give most of it to them so they can have cool water to drink now. I can see they are not as prepared as they should have been but that is okay. I don¢t mind helping out anyone who may need it. My calf is still bothering me and I am starting to limp more. I continue on and exit the trees and into PA farmland. I can see the clouds getting darker and this means it may be a bit cooler walking through this area. I can feel a breeze starting as I walk on the trail. Boiling Springs is a couple miles and I am glad to get there and take a break. It¢s still early in the day and I start to see where the next stop is from here. I stop at the ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office and drop my pack outside. My feet are sore and I take my shoes off and go to the flowing stream near the office and soak them for a few minutes. The water is 53 degrees and feels great. I call Tony to see when he will be in Duncannon. He¢s not sure yet but hopefully the 20th or 21st. I also decide to call mom to let her know where I am so she can update all those that are following my trek at home. As I was talking to her the skies opened up and poured for about 20 minutes. It felt like a Florida afternoon shower. After it rained I went to a small restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner while I figured out my next step. The sun came out in full force after the rain and the humidity level is high. It is now worse than it was before it rained and feels like a sauna. I decide to hike until it starts getting dark and then stealth camp somewhere. I hiked the next 8 miles in 3 hours since the trail was pretty much flat and followed the edge of fields. I kept looking at the map and the companion guide and settled on stopping at US11 and getting a hotel. My leg is really sore and I am thinking a long soak in a tub of hot water may help relieve some of the soreness and tightness in the leg. After crossing the foot bridge and walking the half mile to the hotel I finally am soaking in the tub. The leg feels a little better but the true test will be in the morning.Even though it was a 20 mile day it felt like longer with the bad leg. The feet felt better after soaking them earlier. Tomorrow will be a test to see how it feels. Wx: warm/humid-mid 80's