Date: 2006-06-27
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Everything is wet, but it's not raining. I hiked out though with my rain cover on. I was paying particular attention to where I put my feet in this slopping rain soaked river of a trail, when I almost jumped out of my skin! A rattle snake was lying in the trail and I almost stepped on it. Instead I just kinda jumped sideways with a "Whoa!" and then skipped ahead before the adrenalin wore off and I got my camera out! The rain made the turtles come out of their shells too! I was thirsty. I had not hydrated well last night and I was hoping to make it to a clean water source, but everything was flooded and questionable. I crossed farmer's fields, just tenths of a mile from houses and considered knocking on a door, but just pushed on, knowing I could make it to Duncannon if I had to! You know, 3 days without water, might sound good in a survival book, but don't try to hike these hills without it for even half a day! I passed two styrofoam coolers of emty trail magic garbage and that was even more discouraging. Then, like all the other amazing days on the trail, just when I was the most thirsty, I found Trail Angel Mary's freshly stocked magic cooler with Strawberry Kiwi juice and jello bites! I can't tell you how truly wonderful that liquid was, so refreshing, so completely satisfying. As I walked into town I was thinking I'd get a quick shower at the Doyle, eat lunch and maybe catch up to Montreal at Peter's Shelter. I know I'm not supposed to be trying to hike his itinerary, and I'm not, it's just that my hike is converging on his, and I miss his company. But that's not how things worked out anyway! I got caught in the Doyle Vortex as it's called. It sucks in hikers and doesn't spit them out till the party's over! And I'm really not a party hiker! Though it seems, I'm becoming more and more of one! And enjoying it, I might add. I got a shower all right after waiting for the bar to open at 11:00. Then became their first customer with an odd request for a margarita. Vicky was great, she even found some flavored salt to make it complete! She took my photo for their book and then when I asked to see last year's book, She recognized me! That was it for proceeding on today. I had to look at all the photos of my friends from last year! Moss, Timshel, Linus, Sweep, Ziplock, Hopeful Hiker, Santa and Bigfoot, Slap Happy, and on and on. Seeing my photo with Bisbee made me miss my dog, but he would have absolutely hated all this rain! Montreal might be ahead, but so many other friends were right behind me! They started rolling in. Bare Bear, Shasta, H-bomb, Dirt Diva, Compass Rose, Burner and Fung Shui. Baltimore Jack was there of course and he introduced us to Trail Angel Mary. Man, I wanted to hug her! I'm still recovering from dehydration, but now it's on account of a margarita or two or three. Not four! I didn't want to hit the floor! So I switched to beer. Since I owed Bare Bear beer, it was time I paid up anyways. Dirt Diva and Compass Rose got the most awesome care package. A whole bunch of candy and trail snacks taped on to tyvek in the shape of a stick person! They shared some of the booty with me! Dick Tracy, Junco, Mule, River Weasel, and FDR rolled in, in no particular order, when a call came from G-walk saying that Clark's Creek was impassable due to the flood! The TV was showing news about the fires in Central Oregon and I saw my old friend Tom on TV, from search and rescue telling how bad the fire season was in Central Oregon. It's a small small world. So, we went to the internet! It's a flood alright! They're calling it a 300 year flood! and it's supposed to crest tomorrow at the Doyle! There's now talk of sand bags and water on the floor of the Doyle and Baltimore Jack and Trail Angel Mary are on their way to make a safety line on Clark's Creek. News travels on the trail and when it hits towns like Duncannon, it spreads like wildfire! Well, I'm staying the night anyways. Went with Bare Bear to the library to get internet, stopped at the hardware store for fuel and then went for Pizza. Back to the Doyle for more good times and got to catch up with Burner. We've shared a lot of trail in the beginning and it was good to see him again, but he'll zero tomorrow and I won't so here we go again! The everlasting trail nazi that I have become. I know what's ahead, Those blood sucking mosquitoes and hot july days are coming and I know they will slow me down. If I get across Clark's Creek that is!