Date: 2004-07-21
From: US Route 11, Harrisburg Pike, PA

To: Walking a Treadmill
Miles today: 17.6

I hiked today with Gather and Wipeout. Like me, they had both stayed at the motel. Like me, they did not sleep well.The trail took us through a mixture of terrain including agricultural fields, wooded ridgelines, and low forests. The toughest obstacle, besides our tiredness, was hot weather; it climbed to 88 degrees and was humid.Shortly after the start of hiking, we passed through a stretch of field where puddles of water covered the ground. The water was putrid and colored with a purple hue; it contained a mix of cow manure and probably fertilizer. We did not want this disgusting fluid saturating our shoes and socks, so we attempted to avoid it by stepping on clumps of grass that were barely visible under the shafts of grass. The clumps kept our feet above the water. Within seconds, I lost sight of the clumps and rushed forward, more or less guessing where the clumps lay hidden and placing my shoes on those spots. I got lucky and survived this noxious mine field; my shoes stayed dry.At midday, we entered a forest and climbed a wooded ridge. The heat and humidity were peaking. Our energy levels waned, and we stopped often to rest. At one point, I asked Gather if he knew how far we had traveled so far on this day. He told me we had walked six miles. I had thought the distance was more like eleven miles. Our tired bodies, the frequent rest stops, and the humidity, made it seem like we were walking on a treadmill, exerting ourselves but getting nowhere.The bugs were aggressive. At one rest stop, Wipeout took off her pack, sat down, and immediately got assaulted by the insects. She got back up again and hiked off hoping to find a spot where the bugs were less prevalent.I have lately been hiking in short pants instead of wearing my long, nylon pants. The short pants keep me cooler but enable the insects to access my legs. I am thinking about wearing the long pants again because my legs are getting hammered by the bugs. I often hike with a bandana in my hand to wipe sweat off of my face. Today, while walking, I would slap the bandana against my exposed legs to remove the bugs that were landing on them.Our intention had been to hike over 20 miles to a shelter beyond Duncannon, PA. By the time we arrived in town, having hiked seventeen miles, we were exhausted. There is a low budget hotel in town called The Doyle. It has a legendary reputation among hikers. Bare bulbs light the rooms and halls, the ceilings over the shared shower rooms are rotting. The place desperately needs renovation. We entered the downstairs bar. There was a mix of patrons inside, including some hikers we recognized and some local men. We spoke to the bartender about booking a room. She told us the cost would be thirty-one dollars for three people.We ordered supper in the bar. The food was good and plentiful. The service was friendly. In the room, there were only two beds for the three of us. Someone had to sleep on the floor. I suggested that we each flip a coin into the air and see which one lands as the odd head or tail. The loser with the odd coin would sleep on the floor but not have to pay for the room. Gather and Wipeout agreed to this. We flipped the coins and mine came up odd.I am sleeping tonight on a Thermarest pad. Under the pad I have placed a blanket to provide a buffer from the dusty wooden floor. Next to my head is an old radiator pipe; it will provide a useful prop for my pillow. I would prefer a bed, but I am so tired that I will still sleep well.