“My Journey Is My Destination...” continued
Day 81 18.5 miles Peter’s Mountain Shelter (Planned trip home)
Slow start this morning. I had a plan, it was to hike 30mi and get to Duncannon, PA, hitch ride down
highway 81 back to TN.
I hiked fast. Storms were brewing in the valley. I got to Peter’s mountain shelter. 'Contact' was there. He told me if I missed my leaving flight to Tennessee, they might cancel my
return.
I used his phone and found out that was true. So there went my plan, so I just stayed. Storms blew in hard, I felt lucky to be sheltered.
Day 82 11.4 miles The Doyle Hotel Duncannon, PA
Me and Contact rolled into Duncannon and caught the trucker buffet breakfast. I had 7 plates. I wasn’t full, but tired of breakfast food. I checked into the Doyle Hotel, an old Anheuser Busch hotel from the 1800’s. This hotel is a mainstay on the Appalachian Trail. Every Thru hiker should make a stop here, and almost all have. I met back up with 'Obie' and 'Traveler.' 'Pyro' came in at dark and we’re taking it easy.
Day 83, 84, 85 0 Day Doyle Hotel
'Alpine' and 'Princess Brat' came in today; the “Superbad” team is together again. I spent all of these days hanging out with these guys. I’ve managed to keep them here around me while I wait on my plane to leave from
Harrisburg.
I couldn’t find a ride. The Doyle is a great place to be stuck. I gained 8 pounds while here. I was offered a slackpack. What that entails is to be shuttled 25 miles south
and hike back north to the Doyle with no pack.
This is to just get the miles in and complete that section of the trail. My journey moves one direction and I’m not hiking just to complete the miles. So it just doesn’t work for me.
I met Chris, the barber in town. I got a haircut. He’s 31 and moved here to find cheap rent and to be a barber. It’s good to see a young man take up that trade. For many communities after the old timers retire, thereÕs no barber left. He’s the dad of
a 5 month- old-daughter, Jordan Alexi Olivia. He hooked me up with the local trail angel in town, Mary. She’s going to give me a ride to the airport.
While we were here, 'Alpine' and 'Brat' picked up a Siberian Husky to hike
with.
It has lived in a kennel for 18 months so it’ll be interesting to see how it handles being free on the trail. I’ve enjoyed being with my family here at the Doyle. I think I’ve made some lifelong friends.
Day 86 0 Day
My day to finally leave Duncannon. Boy, I'm looking forward to seeing Becky. I headed down to Mary’s about 10 am after telling everyone goodbye for now. I rode in a 1980 something Dodge Diplomat with a gold top. If I wanted a ride I had to sign the top of it. My flight didn’t leave until 4 pm so I told her I could run some errands with her. We went to Bob Evans where she made an Avon sales call. I got to watch her hustle make up, and she was good at it.
She dropped me off about 1 pm. I noticed on the flight from Harrisburg to Detroit, MI and in the airport that
being around so many people enclosed in their personal space is now alien to
me.
I am used to sharing space, conversating, and being close to people around me. I miss the trail already even as I go to see my wife.
So now I’m flying on the ever popular Saab propeller plane over Lake Michigan to TRI. The anticipation of seeing, hugging, and simply smelling her is enough to blank
my mind of any other thought.
I hope she’ll recognize me! <<<back
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