Thursday, April 24
While getting her pack back on immediately following our thunderstorm on Wednesday, Liz lost a battle with the uneven ground and a Pennsylvania rock leaving her shin bruised and body sore. Add in the fact of an already iffy knee and a full water bottle dropping from the shelter loft onto her neck and you have the recipe for getting off the trail. So, Thursday, Liz and I stayed back with Sam C., Cody and Sam M.'s dad Aaron at the River Front Campground while Greg shuttled everyone to a drop off point for a shortened hike into Clarks Ferry Shelter from the north. Sam and Cody were quite excited to learn that Greg had given them permission to take a dip in the Susquehanna River once the other kids left. I took a seat on a rock near the edge and stuck my foot in. I pulled it out just as quickly. The water was about as warm as the Maine ocean in late August.
The boys took the plunge. Sam was in first and out mighty fast. Cody went next and I'm pretty sure he was on his way back out before he was all the way in. Being guys, they had to go in for a second round, of course and never wanting to be outdone, Sam had a third round.
The quick, cold dip refreshed them to hike up the longer path to Clarks Ferry Shelter with Aaron and Greg while Liz and I headed into Duncannon.
Though we missed hiking with the group, we made our own off-trail experience by visiting one of the AT's most famous stopping places, the Doyle Hotel, which caters to its hikers. It's a quaint, old building in some disrepair on the main street of Duncannon. The atmosphere is completely relaxed, as you would expect. The decor is a combination of trail memorabilia and green aliens lining the shelves behind the bar. Liz and I had THE BEST cheeseburger and spent a bit of time "talking trail" with the older couple who own the place. Great day!
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