Date: 2009-06-18
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Near PA325
Miles today: 15.9

June 18 --The common bathrooms were over used, under cleaned and I decided early in the morning that this is no place for a zer0 day, so after a huge breakfast at Goodie's, laundry and PO business, I got the new flouresent green Dirty Girl gaiters, I followed the white blazes down Duncannon residential streets for ~1m to US22/322 and Clark's Ferry Bridge where I went left, instead of crossing the Susquehanna River, to the Pilot Truck Stop to recompose. It was hot, humid and I felt tired, but at the booth inside the air conditioned restaurant I ordered a tall glass of sweetened ice tea, an egg and cheese on toast and a large glass of water, and cooled down considerably, took time to plan my nights to NJ, and after a 2nd iced tea, called Soni to announce that I would be at the Delaware Water Gap Friday at 18:30, which sent me out at 15:12 and crossing the broad Susquehanna River with renewed vigor, singing loudly out loud as the noisy traffic roared by, realizing uncaringly that I would need to travel well into darkness to keep my new schedule. Over the bridge I crossed a terrible highway approach intersection, then the Norfolk Southern RR tracks to the steps that lead into the woods for the ~900' climb. As I began the few steps, I was reminded of something that occurred to me while visiting with cousin Sandy in MD a week or so ago. The 3 or 4 steps ahead of me were magic, they are the transition from them to us, and it was in conversation with Sandy that I described as the cornfield scenes of the old ballplayers, and later Terrence Mann, in Kevin Costner's "Field of Dreams". We hikers are visible one moment and then slowly, calmly fade away and disappear, drive by 2 seconds too late and you will never know, but inside the cornfield/woods it is a timeless protected world void of useless objects of progress, litter, billboards, unnatural combinations of color, sound or smell and full of harmony, beauty, tranquility and, for the most part, peace. The similarity to the movie is so obvious I dont know why it took so long to see it, but I now think of it at every road crossing. The climb ended with a nice view overlooking the river bridge and Duncannon, after a brief passing shower on the way. Duncannon is an Indian name that means disappointment. No, that's a lie, I made that up. I dun Duncannon. On the ridge the trail became a little serious with some large slabs of angle rocks, but tolerable for the most part. I rejoiced when I reached the PA225 foot bridge on Peters Mtn, for this is the southern most point where I section hiked over many years, from here north to Stormville, NY I have seen before, so it was exciting to recognize Table Rock, power line crossings and Peters Mtn Shelter, where I stopped for a break, again before moving on at sundown. I saw Trigger, met Mr. Ed and his lady, two famous horses at one time, wow! I had thoughts as I left that I might have second thoughts while travelling the 6+m with headlamp, and I did while crossing some bad rock piles, but arrived within the sound of passing cars on PA325 at a reasonable ~23:30 and shortly came across a large plastic storage container on the trail which, to my amazement, was chock full of snacks, candy bars, powerbars, cookies on 2 trays with iced drinks beneath. I looked to the right and found a flat place, perfect, to tent, dropped my pack and walked ~20' to spring water. Moral: Wait long enough, things come together! I snacked, ate dinner, skipped writing the journal(again!) and lights out at 1:49, 6/19, PA325, Clark's Valley.