Date: 2010-06-28
From: Scott Farm Trail Work Center

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

After my third breakfast in three days at Caffe 101 in Boiling Springs, Joann and I headed to the Scott Farm Trail Work Center where she dropped me off before returning home. It¢s always difficult to turn away and walk back into the woods when she leaves. I'm grateful for all the support she gives me and miss her when she's not here. I could not do this without the support of everyone; trail maintainers, trail angels, hostel and motel operators, friends and journal readers who encourage me by signing my guestbook, and most of all, Joann. Thanks!By the way, if you're ever in Boiling Springs, Caffe 101 is a great coffee shop. I wish we had one like it at home. Anyway, I was moving out today. I made quick time for the first few miles, and still moved well up the two climbs today. I passed the first shelter without even stopping and finally stopped at a creek for lunch and a break. Following lunch, I had another climb which I moved up quickly, feeling good. I'm wearing boots for the first time on this hike in preparation for this section of the trail for which Pennsylvania is known - rocks. The Vasque Breeze boots have stiffer soles and provide more ankle support than my hiking shoes. I'll swap them out again in New Jersey. As I was nearing the side trail to the Come Mountain Shelter, I shifted my attention from my foot placement on the rocky trail to a blue blazed trail marker which my trail guide made no mention. That's all it took. Down I went - hard. Even my hiking poles couldn't save me. My right knee hit the ground first. Then the forces of inertia and the 25 pound pack on my back catapulted me prone. Then, to add insult to injury, my water bottle in the side pocket of my pack flew out and beamed me on my head. I laid there momentarily wondering whether I was hurt. Turned out that the only thing bruised was my ego   that and a small abrasion on my knee. I felt very lucky. It started sprinkling as I neared the side trail to the shelter and the forecast was for thunderstorms, so I headed the .2 miles to the shelter to wait things out. By the time I made it to the shelter, the sun came out again, so I headed back up to the trail. Shortly thereafter, I began the descent to Duncannon. Once in Duncannon, I headed for the Doyle Hotel, considered a part of the trail experience. I was warmly greeted by proprietors Ray and Vicki and handed a tall cup of ice water. Nice! Other thru hikers there in the bar were Unicroc, Scat Tracker, Cody, and Beans. Ray informed me that the daily shuttle to the only grocery store in town was due to arrive any minute, so I chugged my draft beer and walked outside to wait. I hadn't even looked at my guide to see how many days I needed for resupply, so I asked everyone else and 5 days seemed to be the consensus, so I went with that. That's longer than I've had to resupply in quite some time. Once I checked into my room, I realized that this would be a one night stand. Just like Uncle Johnny's in Erwin, TN, I was willing to suffer the trail experience one night only. No more. My room at the DoyleI had a dinner salad at the Doyle and a couple draft beers while Mrs. Joy described to everyone how she happened to find a corpse in a shelter in Southern Virginia. Also, she's had to get off the trail for awhile since she contracted Lyme disease. She hopes to jump back on somewhere north of here once she completes her antibiotic regimen. She just drove up for the day to see Cody.After dinner, several of us walked down the street for ice cream. Sweet!