Date: 2018-10-04
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0

The eleven zero days flew by quickly. The first two days I checked flood damage at home and on the Cold Run Trail I built last year at World's End State Park. There was only mild damage. Another day I went with a county official to GPS another section of the planned Endless Mountains Trail. It was a beautiful section going by Lopez Pond. Later we descended Lopez Pond Branch Run to an old lumber railroad yard. Then we ascended up Muncy Creek at one point going through a miniature gorge before ending at Cherry Ridge Road. Last Thursday and Friday I drove with Heartrock to Florida where she works October until the end of May. The next couple of days we relaxed and took her dog Brody on walks. Florida temperatures were in the 90s, too hot for me. I tried to and thought I did put some weight back on but as of this morning I still am down 30 pounds. I also had to buy new Merrell boots because my other new ones were not the wide width I had asked for. I also bought a new knee brace to ease the stress on my right knee. Heartrock had ordered me new trekking poles. This morning Heartrock dropped me off at the Punta Gorda airport. Goodbyes once again. My ticket said TSA Precheck meaning I should get through rather quickly, not even having to take my shoes off. But as in the past this was not true for me. I was sent back through the scanner, shoes off and sent back, frisked, padded down, scanned with a wand and hands checked for explosives. This has happened previous times despite having a TSA Precheck memo on my ticket. I guess I must look dangerously suspicious. But, I am glad the TSA is doing its job. The flight arrived in Harrisburg, PA on time. A few days earlier I contacted Trail Angel Mary and arranged for a ride from the airport to the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon. I texted her from the front of the airport and she was there within minutes. After she dropped me off in Duncannon it was 10:30 a.m. so I went to Goodies for breakfast. I had their Texas French toast. A piece of French toast in the middle and the outsides are pancakes all cooked into one piece. Afterwords I got permethrin at a local outfitter, Outdoorsy. Permethrin kills ticks and mosquitoes on clothes and gear up to 42 days or 6 washings. I went to the Doyle Hotel and got a room. Pat and Vicky greeted me. Indian went and got my backpack I dropped off last week. Up in the room I sprayed my gear and clothes with the permethrin. Then I went to the convenience store for two days worth of food. I went back to Nancy's, who made me the breakfast last week, as I had promised. I bought two of her homemade pretzels and a cherry soda. Then back across the street to the Doyle. I was done with everything so early I wished I had started hiking today.     After packing up my reunited backpack I planned ahead a few days. Looks like Maryland early next week, followed quickly by West Virginia and Virginia. While Maryland and West Virginia are short Virginia is over a month of hiking.     I recovered from several naps and headed down to the dining room. Earlier I met Sammertime and now he was about to leave. He is hiking from Quebec to Florida similar to what I did in the opposite direction in 2012.    For supper I had a big burger, fries, coke and a hard cider of some kind. Now I am on the porch of the hotel as evening descends on the little borough. I can hear the katydids calling between the frequent clickety-clacks and horns of the nearby railroad.     Tomorrow I'll get as close to the Cumberland Valley as possible. No camping is permitted through the suburban valley so I'll tackle that Saturday planning to go beyond Boiling Springs.     Also have new boots, socks, and trekking poles. I added my fleece jacket and newer warmer sleeping bag. But now a week of above normal temps will not require much use out of either as the warmer weather will escort me perhaps to the Virginia border. No matter what, I am anxious to get back to hiking.