Date: 2013-05-24
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

1142.5 Miles   Duncannon, PA 5/24/13Left the Alec Kennedy Shelter and hiked the 4 miles into Boiling Springs. The first stop was the ATC Eastern Regional Office where Mot bought a new trail guide. Then it was on to the 101 Cafe for breakfast. We had the "hikers breakfast" which consisted of 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, sausage or bacon, home fries and toast. We ate that up with coffee and OJ, then I when to the convenience store and bought some snacks. We walked out of town and got back on the trail. The next 17 miles were the easiest hiking I've had since I started the trail. Nice flat and level walking. We walked around, across, and through corn fields and pastures. Very nice walking. We crossed under the PA Turnpike, over Rtes. 11/15, and over I-81. Right after we crossed I-81, we ran out of water. Our trail guides didn't show any water sources ahead and we were getting nervous because it was getting very hot. We were walking down a secondary road when I told Mot, "I got an idea". There was a house for sale along the road, and there was a truck with a trailer parked in the driveway. I figured the real estate company hired some one to mow the lawn, and that person wouldn't mind if we got some water from the house. So we walked down the driveway and looked around, but there wasn't anyone around. Mot rang the back doorbell and no one answered. I went around to the front door and rang the bell. No one was around. I told Mot to fill up his bottles and drink as much as he could here, and I did the same. Then we got out of there. Some times you have to do what you have to do. We hiked 17 miles across the Cumberland Valley and it was nice and easy. We had a 1200 plus foot climb on the other side of the valley. It was a little hard because it went up fast, but I wanted to make it to the Darlington Shelter for the night. That would give me only 11 miles into Duncannon in the morning. The Darlington Shelter has a privy called the "Taj Mahal". It's a 2 seater and I think 4 or 5 hikers could sleep in there if they could stand it.   We made that shelter about 5:30 and there was only one other person there. A thru hiker named Blake, from Dallas, TX was the only one there. He was nursing some blisters on his feet. He was getting off the trail at Duncannon and was going into Harrisburg to catch a train to Pittsburgh to visit a friend that lives in Murrysville. I gave him a crash course in "pittsburghese". By the time we reached Duncannon he was saying "Yunz", "pop", and "crick". I also told him to make sure his friend takes him to the Strip District and gets him a Primanti Brothers sandwich.It was cold and raining when we left the shelter this morning. All I can remember is the saying I've heard since I left Georgia, " You can't get to Maine without walking in the rain". We made it into Duncannon about 1:30 and found our way to the Doyle Hotel. It's a turn of the century Hotel that caters to hikers. We were sitting in the bar and Zee came , then Gummy Bear, and Warbler. The place soon filled up with hikers, a lot that we knew. When I checked in, the manager said that there was something here for me. Harvey Haag, a friend that works with me at Habitat For Humanity, had been here earlier looking for me and left me some money to buy a meal. Later, when I was coming out of the laundramat, I met Harvey coming up the street. We went across the street to a pizza shop and had a great visit. He told me about all my good friends at Habitat and how they are following me.Harvey is now my second Trail Angel from Clearfield County Habitat for Humanity.Thanks Harvey!!Tomorrow my wife Gloria, my brother Anthony, and my grand daughter Ali will come down to meet me in the morning. It will be great to see them all. They will bring me a few things and I will send a few things home, including my knee brace. I haven't worn the brace for the last 3 days and my knee fills good. If I need it, Gloria can mail it to me in a day. The rest of the trail through PA is supposed to be pretty rocky but I will make it through. I'm looking forward to the Delaware Water Gap.