Date: 2015-05-25
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 17.7

5/25, 17.7, Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, PAHiking has become a bit strange. I find myself hiking amongst a different group of people and tonight, it is a group of flip flop hikers who started at Harper's Ferry 10 days ago. A flip flop thru hike begins at Harpers Ferry heading north and then when finished in Maine, returns to Harpers Ferry and completes the southern half to Georgia. It is a newer way to thru hike and avoids some of the crowding, weather and difficulties in a traditional Georgia to Maine hike. I joined them for dinner, but the conversation is very different when after nearly 90 days of hiking is trying I am trying to remember the first ten. Don't get me wrong they are very nice people and pleasant to talk to, as are most hikers, it is just a bit strange. But I am way ahead of myself. Today my plan was to try a different preventative bandage on my toe and hike the almost 18 miles to Duncannon. This would gain me two things, a measure of my remedy over some rocky trails, and the opportunity to stay a night at the Doyle Hotel. The Doyle has long been a stop for thru hikers so I decided to give it a try. I started from Carlisle at 8:20 this morning after a really poor night of sleep. I am not sure why but falling asleep was very difficult, and staying there was next to impossible. I may have slept four hours total so I started late, and not very energetic. I did take advantage of the continental breakfast with waffles, cereal and coffee, then packed up and hiked out. The first several miles were the remaining Cumberland Valley to the West, so hiking was pleasant. The trail rolled through woodlands and alongside more farm fields as it made its way to the far ridge. My new foot bandage was performing as desired and I was pain free, even when hitting the occasional uneven rock. As I reached the far side of the valley the trail began to climb. It was now around 9:30 on Memorial Day so the trail started to come to life. I encountered several families out for a hike, and many trail runners out for a morning run. Everyone was headed south which made me wonder if I was going the wrong way. I reached the first shelter nine miles into my day and stopped to rest and have a snack. The next section of trail was apparently going to be rocky enough to have it's own special mention in the guide. The trail did not disappoint and rocky it was. I was glad to have the challenge to determine how my bandage would hold up. It was still doing fine and I made a mental note that by late morning, the same time yesterday, my foot was getting sore. Improvement is always good for the mood. I hiked into a clearing that was a cut through the woods for a pipeline, and came upon a nice local family trying to prop up their camera to take a photo. I volunteered to snap it for them, and we had a nice visit about hiking. They had section hiked much of the trail, especially to the north, and had lots of good suggestions. After they left I finished my lunch and continued north. As the afternoon progressed with temperatures approaching 80 degrees, the gnats were becoming a bit aggressive. I donned my handkerchief under my hat to cover my ears and neck, but it seems there is something fascinating about my left eye to a gnat. I was constantly distracted by gnats, I assume more than one, hovering in front of my left eye as I walked. No interest in my right eye, just hovering over the left. I have no explanation but wondered if the reflection was hitting that lens just right or something like that. It did make it difficult to concentrate on each step having a gnat flitting about in front of one eye. I rested for a moment at the side trail for another shelter, 16 miles into my day, and set about to finish the last 3 miles into Duncannon. This stretch of trail seems to be popular with the locals, and I passed several more families and groups of friends out to enjoy Memorial Day on the mountain. Once into town I stopped at the first convenience store and grabbed a cup of fruit, a bag of Doritos and a Mt. Dew. When that was done I hiked into town, checked into the Doyle and discovered that this historic hotel is in need of a facelift all around. It is not dirty, just run down. OK, it¢s a little dirty too. The current owners are very nice and cater to hikers as best they can, but hikers alone will not make a property prosperous. The bar on the street level is probably the money maker, and stayed busy while I was checking in but Duncannon is not exactly booming with tourist traffic. I settled in by 3:45 and was able to catch the free shuttle to the grocery, several miles away, to get a few things to resupply. After my shower I joined the flip floppers for dinner, but that is where today¢s story began. After dinner we sat for a short time on the hotel porch talking about hiking, diet and such. Eventually I excused myself so I could call Bonobo, and turn in early. The restaurant across the street opens at 6 am and I hope to be ready to hike when I sit down to order, at 6. For now I will turn up the fan to cover the street noise coming in through the open window, which must be kept open to cool the room. AC here at the Doyle is dependent on the weather, and looks a lot like the AC I remember in my home growing up, open windows and fans. It¢s all good though and I look forward to another day of hiking.Silverback