Date: 2004-06-23
From: US. 11/ Carlilse, PA

To: Duncanon, PA
Miles today: 17.7

It was another day of fairly level walking through fields of wheat and corn with the exception of rocky terrain that began at the ascent to the Cove Mountain shelter. The rocks slowed my progress all the way into Duncanon. I was really looking forward to a few days off in Duncanon to rest my aching feet and to take a break from hiking.I've really been quite surprised with the number of farms in southeastern Pennsylvania. I had no idea that the terrain would look like this - almost like the Midwest, but it has been nice to walk through for the past several days.However, ten miles or so south of Duncanon, the rocks on the trail became a problem. Sox was hiking just ahead of me, then she fell on her knee. She fell hard and I figured that she probably injured herself badly, but she recovered in a few minutes. She will probably have a bad bruise for quite a few days. She has successfully hiked for hundreds of miles in Chaco sandals while wearing socks.   I don't know how she does it. I have been wearing low-top boots since Waynesboro, Virginia, almost 250 miles ago (if my memory is correct).   I will begin northbound again from Duncanon after my regular, high-top boots arrive at the post office. I will need the ankle support that they provide. I want to thank Mary for the trail magic of a cooler full of drinks hidden in the woods, just 1/4 mile south of Duncanon. As always, seeing a cooler full of cold drinks is a welcome sight.Walking on the street into Duncanon was rather interesting. Duncanon is near the intersection of many busy roads. The noise of it all, after being in the woods, is unsettling. The town itself is, I guess, best desctibed as turn of the century middle class. It looks like this is where the employees of the local industry have lived for years. I suppose that the industry was iron production in the past, but I'm not sure if there is much of that going on any more. I hurried into town to get to the post office just before it closed. I arrived at 4:31pm and the post office closed one minute earlier. Luckily, I was able to tap on the glass and an employee retrieved my bounce and food boxes for me. That was a big help.Just down the street is The Doyle Hotel. I've heard that it's part of the "trail experience" to stay the night there. This hotel is almost 100 years old and looks as if not a single renovation has been done to it during that time. You need to walk into a small and smoky bar to get into the hotel. Once inside, you can see holes in some walls, stains in the roof from water damage, and exposed pipes and electrical wiring. There is a central staircase that goes from the first to the fourth floors and each floor has a community bathroom with a shower. The fourth floor has a clothes washer and dryer, fortunately.   It's definitely a fire trap, but after living in the woods for weeks, it will do. I just can't describe the feelings that came over me once I walked through this building. The town of Duncanon looks fairly rough as it is, but once inside the Doyle, all I could hear was the last verse to the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles. You know . . . "You can checkout any time you'd like, but you can never leave." Spooky.On the positive side, the Doyle has a great view of the Susquehana River and a nice second floor deck where you can relax and order a famous "Doyle Cheeseburger" from the kitchen. It was really good! Also, try an Italian sub from Sorrento's Pizza, down the street. It's the best!