Date: 2014-06-06
From: Allenberry Resort

To: The Doyle
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I which I see a porcupine and walk a marathon after a late start.It was really hard leaving the comforts of the Allenberry Resort but Murphy and I finally did at 1000. So much for an early start. Oh well, such a shame to leave before the official check out time but we have some walking to do today. The first 14 miles were flat and wonderful for Pennsylvania standards. It was a lovely walk through corn fields, woods and along the streets. We kept noticing a military type helicopter flying circles over head. It was circling for quite a while. Word on the trail was that a "killer" was loose in the woods! That was really freaky! I don't really know what the story behind that is. I just know that it was eerie hiking in the woods with no one around wondering who was lurking around the next corner. It also made me hike quickly so that's what I did, constantly on guard and scoping out the bushes.The helicopter eventually disappeared and we walked all the way across Cumberland Valley, 17 miles to be exact. Then we ascended a ridge with no switchbacks and down the other side to some beautiful fields with waves of grains and wildflowers. The fields were gorgeous with all kinds of purple flowers, little daisies, yellow flowers and clover blowing in the wind like waves of an ocean rolling into shore. This was truly beautiful.My senses were treated to an astounding feast today. There were the sounds of the helicopter, airplanes, train, lawnmowers and John Deere tractors, not to mention the UPS loading facility busy at work with semi trucks pulling up. We walked over the PA turnpike and I-81 with traffic whizzing by where a truck would blow it's horn as we hiked over the bridge. The birds were out in full force singing some beautiful songs. A few cows were mooing and red winged black birds sat quickly on the plants in the fields. There was the pleasant smell of honey suckles, fragrant wildflowers along with cow and horse manure. Horses were naying, a woodchuck ambled by and on the descent into Duncannon a porcupine was running up the trail ahead of us until it disappeared down a very steep slope. In addition there was the sound of people chattering in the distance, water in the streams babbling and every once in a while we were treated to a "peak-a-view" down into the valley below or the upcoming city of Duncannon below. Quite an overwhelming day.The descent into Duncannon was rather intense. We did get a great view of the city below from a rock on the mountain above. That was great, then came the rocks! The descent was steep with rolling rocks, mean rocks-ankle rollers, twisters and foot bruising rocks. That was not so fun but as it was approaching twilight we reached our destination of The Doyle hotel, definitely not a destination hotel! but our respite for the day.We entered the bar door around 8pm as all the guys in the bar turned their heads as we walked in. That was another scene from a movie. So we walked in like we owned the place and ordered our long dreamt about food as the kitchen was getting ready to close for the night. Vicky and Pat got us set up with a room and I thoroughly enjoyed my buffalo blue burger and sweet potatoe fries! Yummmm! That was so worth it! Then we checked out our room. It lived up to my expectations. This place was a dump but a legend on the trail. We couldn't pass it up but I certainly won't be back. Last stop for the night was the Quick Mart for a pint of ice cream. Better brownie was good but not as good as B&J New York Super Fudge Chunk! But it was ice cream and I killed it all. Time to go play with my food drop and go to bed. My feet are throbbing.