Date: 2008-06-22
From: America's Best Inn, U.S. 11, PA

To: Darlington Shelter, PA
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a day lived at a snails pace. I woke up about 6am and got dressed and walked next door to Middlesex Diner and had a good sit-down breakfast of French toast, 2 eggs over easy, homefries, rye toast, bacon and lots of coffee. :-)I love breakfast!I walked back to America's Best Inn and stopped and got two more cups of coffee and the Sunday paper, then went to my room and spent my morning sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. Oh my...it really is a tough life out here. ;-)I read six pages of Cold Mountain and fell asleep for about 30 minutes, then started packing my stuff and checked out of the motel at 11am.I walked back to the diner and had lunch. I was hungry! :-)I ordered a Greek salad and some buffalo wings.I felt like I could walk finally, so I walked the half mile back to the Appalachian Trail and was walking north at 12:10pm.It was a beautiful day...sunny and the temperature was in the upper 70's.There was a little more humidity in the air, but I was walking slow and really enjoying myself.I walked over a stile and saw a cooler that an '04 thru hiker had set out with ice cold grape juice and some bananas. I drank a small grape juice and packed a banana for later. Thanks! :-)I walked along the Conodoguinet Creek for a while, then crossed it on a bridge and stopped at the Scott Farm for water and to sign the register there.Circumstance was just leaving as I walked up.The Scott Farm is an ATC Trail Work Center and has a picnic table, a register and running water for the passing hikers.I walked a couple more miles and crossed PA 944 and there was another cooler in the woods there!It was also iced and put there by Thoughtfoot's mom. It had a bunch of stuff, but I took a Pepsi and sat down and drank that while I signed her register, thanking her for her generosity.It was warm enough to really enjoy an ice cold soda....Thanks to you too!Wow, two different coolers with iced drinks. I guess it might be because it was Sunday?I walked on and got to the spring at the start of climbing Blue Mountain. Night Lion was there....the local ridge runner.I sat down on my pack and talked to him for about 45 minutes. He thru hiked in '05 and has been a ridge runner for two years now.Little Engine That Could was getting some water. She has been section hiking the Trail for twelve years now and has gotten this far north.Night Lion was heading out today, so he left. I filled up my water bottles because the water source at Darlington Shelter is dry.I started walking north and saw a candy bar right where Little Engine That Could's pack was, so I picked it up and carried it up the mountain for her. :-)I caught up to her at the rock seat and gave it back. She said she had wondered where she put it. :-)I sat there for about 20 minutes talking to her and enjoying the nice view before I finished climbing that mountain.I walked down the side trail to Darlington Shelter and signed the register and used a smiley face sticker.No one else was there. I had thought about walking on, but I had cell reception on top of that mountain and I could hear some thunder in the distance.I walked around and found a good flat spot pretty far away from the shelter, then set up my tent.Little Engine That Could walked in, then Ketchup and her brother. We sat there talking for a while, then I headed out to my tent to journal at 5pm.I'm in my tent now and there's thunder around and light rain.I was in no hurry today because my plan was to get into Duncannon tomorrow...and that's only about 12 miles away.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)