Sleep was a wonderful thing last night. Somehow being directly across the street from a train line that runs every 30 minutes had no impact. I vacated my room before the 10am checkout, and crossed the street to pick up some breakfast. I ordered a dish that came with 2 pancakes, but these pancakes were the size of 4.. each! I had to leave some of a pancake behind, my hiker hunger having been defeated. I then did a very quick resupply at a Quick Shop, and waved goodbye to the Doyle.
I started out, the first couple of miles, just following the trail through the streets of Duncannon. After crossing two long bridges, one over the Susquehanna, I was able to get under tree-cover. Back up into the hills, I eventually came across my lunch shelter. I was surprised to see Slim Shady and Jukebox both hanging out, and learned that Jukebox got poison ivy and they had gotten off the trail for a week. They moved on, but we were headed to the same shelter, so I relaxed, snacked, and watched an episode of Louie on my phone.
It was only another 6.7 miles to my final destination for the day, so I was able to hike a pretty leisurely pace and still arrive at 5:30pm. Slim Shady and Jukebox were already there, but soon after we were joined by NPR, Switchback, Steady Yeti, and 2 SoBos. It would have been a full shelter if this one didn't happen to have a second story and room for 20. It's as fancy as it sounds.
Everyone got under cover just before it started pouring rain. The rain was so heavy, and the wind so strong, that even tucked way back into the shelter I can feel a wet mist hitting my face. I'm bracing for a damp morning. Until then, and the 18 mile day that waits, I'll dither away the time with some Nerdist podcast, and maybe an episode of Wilfred.
