I had a toss and turn kind of night. Not sure why? I was clean and smelling pretty. But sometimes after sleeping outside, when you are confined indoors in a bunkhouse, quality sleep is hard to fine. But it was much better than sleeping in my tent outside, next to the Highway.

Up and out by 6:30am and back on the trail before 7am. I had a few bonus miles today, including the road walk back to the AT. Once I arrived, it was “game on.” Today was Knifes Edge. I’m glad I didn’t know about it till last night because I would’ve been fretting for the past few days. Maybe that’s why I didn’t sleep so good.

There were a couple of warm-up Boulder fields. If I was planning to slackpack, this would’ve been the day to do it. I started with a couple of low end climbs. Look at me talking like I’m some expert climber. Far from it. But I was getting across the rocks pretty well. The kid that was at the Hostel with me, Morning Glory caught up. We talked for a minute and then he took off. I’ll probably never see him again!

Then I saw her, Knife’s Edge. She is an enormous Boulder Field that look glaciated. The Appalachian Mountains, back in the day, were thought to be taller than Mt. Everest. Think about the Khumba Icefalls but instead of ice, it’s boulders as far as the eye can see. Yep, that’s what I had the pleasure to tackle today.

I decided it was best to take it in sections. With or without poles was my dilemma?! There are places that I needed to pull myself up and then there were times where I needed to balance on these slices of jagged rocks. All I could think of was I needed some holy intervention as this is not my expertise. And this darn backpack of mine was so cumbersome. Slackpacking is the only way to conquer this problem. Too late for that, so I just took a few scenic breaks and carried on.

Finally I made it through the maze of boulders and white blazes. Once back on solid ground, I kissed the first patch of dirt I found, and thanked the Lord for escorting me through. Honestly, my friends who know me should be scratching their head, and saying who are you? This is something more than this girl can do! Only with the Director of Heavens & Earth did this girl from NorCal do the impossible today!

There were other Boulder fields to conquer, other rocks to manage but there was nothing that was going to stop me from getting to Maine. I found a fairly level little trail to walk on and thought, I made the wrong turn. But sure enough the white blaze appeared. There are many times where I’m looking around for that stripe of white paint to make sure I’m still where I need to be. Sometimes all I have to do is turn around, and I’ll see a blaze painted on a tree for the Sobo’s (South-Bounders). That’s always reassuring.

I made it to Oven-Baked Shelter. It’s a proper name because it faces the sun and if you dare sit in it, you bake! I stopped for lunch and Recon showed up. He’s a Flip-Flopper I met back at Boiling Springs. He has a friend that he is waiting for, Popeye. We talk for a second and Popeye shows up. I recognize her right away, from last year when I hiked the AT with Sid. She doesn’t remember me until I recite the evening we spent together at a Shelter before Audie Murphy’s Memorial. I remind her that she was hiking with two other guys. Yep, Recon who is sitting next to her and Paper Clip. What a crazy small world we are on the AT.

They stay for lunch and make plans to hook up in town at Palmerton. I still have another eight miles and I have no idea how many boulders and rocks to deal with. When I check my FarOut App, it shows the terrain as a ridge walk but it doesn’t include the countless rocks and obstacles you need to clear to get down the trail. Maybe that’s on purpose as if it told me all that I was going to deal with from one mile to the next, I might reconsider this journey. Well, probably not, but it would make me rethink my strategy. This way I can go into it Willy Nilly and be surprised every single day!

The terrain at the end of the day was so much different than anything I’ve seen in the past couple of weeks. I came out atop the Ridgeline and there were no trees to speak of. The weather is getting really hot. It’s suppose to be in the 90’s this weekend and it definitely felt like it this afternoon. Finally, I started heading down back into the trees, and Recon and Popeye caught up. We all headed to the one and only water source for the next 20 miles. Oh boy, this is gonna be a thing as I head north.

We all cameled up, a term used to store water in your belly. Drink now and save for later. I drank a liter and brought a liter for later. Being we are headed into town, we will load up with water at the Hostel and plan our attack for tomorrow. I will have to look at the lackluster app and make a decision. But for now, I’m looking for Antipasto, Soup and Garlic Bread. It’s funny the foods you crave while you’re out here.

I heard something rustling around last night, but never saw it. The only thing I did see was the big bright moon. No one bothered me and I slept as good as humanly possible. I drank my “Death by Coffee” mixture which is the best darn coffee I’ve had on trail. There’s no other place that comes close to the brew I concoct in my tent. It’s rich and creamy, and you only need one cup!

My first few miles were piles of rocks. Not your typical rock pile, but a two-story pile of boulders. I took a picture but you just can’t get the scale of what I have to do to get to Maine. I equate it to Cross-Fit meets Ninja Warrior while carrying a 25 pound pack! It’s truly a sight to see. I’m not sure I trained properly for this portion of the trail, but it is fun, kind of.

After covering a whopping four miles in 3 hours, yep, you read that right, I stopped at AllenTown Shelter for a much needed break. The shelter was nice and clean, equipped with a broom if you felt so inclined to do some household chores. What I was impressed with, was the Privy. I believe it is the nicest one I’ve seen this side of Harpers Ferry. It had proper steps leading up to it, of course a rock to keep the door closed when not in use, a mirror inside just in case you want to check out your grimy self, and a toilet seat that was placed over the deep dark abyss, that I don’t need to explain. It had a plaque on the outside stating the $1000 it cost to construct it, the 200 man hours to build it and all the volunteers who took the time to complete it. It reminded me of our Ski Club “Vorlage.” The sense of pride and the volunteerism of a job well done. Very impressive indeed! However our club has indoor plumbing and not an outhouse. (Just for clarification purposes.)

After my deed was completed, I packed up and headed down the trail in search of the most important element of the day, water! It has been dry as a bone here, no rain or deluge that the East Coast typically boasts about. So water is getting scarce. There has been mention of a Spring but it’s barely producing, maybe a trickle. However, there was mention that another yellow blaze marked a better flowing stream, a bit further down. After a few bonus steps, I made it to a clean fresh supply of water. Needless to say, this is not the Mojave Desert, but it is starting to resemble certain aspects of it. Lack of water, thorny plants and too many snakes!

After getting my precious drinking water, I headed back up, yes up to the trail. My pack was sitting right where I left it. That is one thing you don’t have to worry about while you are out here. Everyone has their own burdens to carry and no one wants yours, or your backpack! The following four miles were the nicest and groomest (not really a word, but sounds right) I have seen in a long, long time. It was an old forest service road that was a bit overgrown, but it sure was lovely to walk on. I was able to pick up some speed and actually look around at the scenery. I don’t dare do that on the last few sections. I am constantly looking at the ground, and not much more.

So today I heard something I’ve never heard before. While I was sitting on the trail tying my shoe, a large female white-tailed deer stopped a few hundred feet ahead of me. She couldn’t really make out who or what I was, but once she did, she had this high-pitched scream of sorts and started bolting. Her two little baby’s came running to her and off they went. I guess that’s Mama’s way of saying “stranger danger” cuz those deer knew exactly what to do and where to go. Right behind Mama’s tail.

As I was getting closer to civilization, I saw these two sweet dogs. One was a cross between a tan husky and a terrier and the other was an older sheep dog. They came running over to me and I was thrilled to get some dog time. The husky took off but the older dog wanted more scratching. I have no idea who they belong to because there was no owner in sight. The older dog reluctantly went down the trail trying to catch up with his friend and then they vanished back into the woods. I hope they have a warm home to go to, where they get fed, loved and possibly bathed. They were looking a bit dirty, but who am I to talk!

I made it to the Highway and it is a speedway. Four lanes, undivided but thank goodness, there is a guard rail I can walk behind. I made it to Lookout Hostel run by a fellow AT Hiker named Yardsale. It’s a beautiful location that looks over the sprawling valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. I planned to hang out here for the afternoon and evening, then get back at it in the morning. The next few days will be low milage as it will be nothing but wonderful, beautiful, climbing rocks till New Jersey! I can’t wait 😛

One last bit of information. I know it’s hard to believe but I busted my very important hiking pole today. Ends up that Cabela’s has my exact pole in stock. After talking with the nice lady on the phone, she would hold the last pair for me, and credit my busted poles. Now that’s service!

Now all I needed was a driver. That’s where Bryan comes to the rescue. He is a YouTuber and writes Regular Car Reviews. He also loves driving fast, so bringing me gear, is right up his alley. He went to Cabela’s, picked up my poles and delivered them to me at Lookout Hostel, in one hot minute! We talked for quite a bit. His real job, besides driving fast cars, is raising awareness for PTSD in Law Enforcement Officers. It’s so important to recognize that our Police Officers are battling stress and trauma daily. He orchestrates fundraisers and auctions super cool cars, like the one he’s driving today. This, in turn, allows their non-profit to get Officers the support they really need. Way to go Bryan and thanks for your help today. Now I can relax, hang out in the nice hammock, drink a cold soda and enjoy all the hard-work I did. My day is done.

Sometimes it is “bust your butt” kind of half-day! Today was some super tough miles, with lots of rocks and elevation. Both up and down. I’m not sure how I got here, maybe a wing and a prayer, but it was definitely my hardest day yet. If my knee was flexing better, it may not have been as tough. No, it still would’ve been hard, anyway you slice it.

The morning started with a whammy. The USPO doesn’t open till 1230. Seriously, I’ve heard of banker hours but this is the job everyone would want. Sleep in, hit the trails for a morning hike or run up the rocks, come home, shower, shave-if you’re a guy, and after lunch, mosey on in to work. Perfect! Thank goodness the gal Angie who is the only one working at this fine establishment, shows up early. Being there was a three day weekend, Angie was anticipating a few extra pieces of mail to sort. I was waiting at noon and she did open a bit early, but surprise, surprise, surprise, my box was not there. I did receive a couple of cards from my Prayer Warrior Mary, which was exactly what I needed, before I went Postal. Angie said she’ll keep looking and if anything shows up, she’ll bounce it to Delaware Water Gap. The next town up the trail. So the saga continues.

I was running late so I hit Walmart first. Luckily it was right down the road and Shuttle Steve was there at my rescue. Once restocked, I headed straight up the hill. It’s gonna be one of those days. Not all days are unicorns and butterflies. Some days are dungeons and dragons, Fire-breathing dragons! I wasn’t in the mood to talk with anyone, let alone be the kinder and gentler person. I had work to do and that took more energy than I even knew I had. Lord willing, I was going to find some joy on this trail. Sure enough, once I got into my slower than usual pace, I forgot about my worries of missed boxes and days without green juices.

Have I told you about the rocks in Pennsylvania? Geese, this next hundred miles is what everyone talks about. It is a true mine field for over a hundred miles. You totally have to be “in the game” because this could end your long-distant career in a heartbeat. It’s game on, all day long. I should be a pro at jumping, well rather stepping, from one unsteady rock to another by the time I exit this fine state. It’s truly a mind game and if you don’t mind, it won’t drive you insane. I have decided that I love rocks, all kinds of rocks, big ones, little ones, ones that rock and roll, all shapes and sizes! You have to accept what you can’t change and there ain’t changing these rocks. It is what it is and I am not turning back! So there rocks, I’m gonna love you like no one else has ever loved you.

I’ve gone mad, truly crazy and looney. Lock me up and throw away the key. Well maybe not that fast. I started talking again to the nice and not-so-nice people of the trail. Honestly everyone, for the most part, are pretty darn nice people. I met another flip-flopper who started the same week as me. She doesn’t have a Trail Name yet, and for the life of me I can’t remember her real name. That’s the thing. Trail Names are easy to remember. There’s a story that goes with it. Okay, it Hallie or Holly, something like that. She’s stopping at the Eckville Shelter for a Shower in a Shed. It’s amazing what ingenious ideas Trail Angels come up with to pamper their guests.

I visited a few vistas along the way, just to have a break from the wonderful world of rocks. The temperature was warm and they are guessing, weather people are not all that accurate, that this weekend we will be hitting 90’s. Oh my, that’s a bit warm for my likings and add a little bit of humidity to that mix, watch out. It’s gonna be a thing.

I arrived at a pristine vista, Dan’s Pulpit. It overlooks the farmlands below and has a great place to sit and ponder. I was done for the day so I found a relatively flattish spot to pitch my tent for the night. It boggles my mind why everyone wants to camp in a shelter when you have beautiful places like this to rest your weary body. I’ll be relaxing and enjoying the sunset.

Another day on the trail. I slept okay. It was a bit warmer and with my capeline long johns and poly shirt, I was a bit toasty. I think the heat is encroaching and I’m gonna need to rethink my sleeping attire. This has been the warmest and driest month in Pennsylvania history. They have only had .19” of rain, which is unheard of for the month of May. Good for me, but not good for the locals!

I hit the trail before 7am. It was empty except for those darn spider webs. The trail was pretty mundane, nothing to report on. But all of a sudden I hit the Training Hill climb of the AT. I was huffing and puffing and heard these young spry boys behind me hooting and hollering, like they were having fun! What in the world, this is tough stuff. I pulled to the side and they flew past me. I was half way up and heard another but he was much more respectable. I was gonna pull over and he told me to carry on. He had no intention of passing me like the turtle I was. And we all met at the top. Once again, the AT has not considered Switchbacks and believes straight up the mountain is the way to conquer the universe. Oh my goodness, just one switchback, please!

I caught my breath and continued on. There was a great vista called Auburn. Hmm, can I see home? No such luck but it was a nice thought and memory of my home back home. There was this crazy sculpture that I kept wondering, who in their right mind would carry this to the top of the hill? There were no roads, and maybe just maybe, they whittled and painted it up here? Probably not, but what a thought.

Now was the crazy downhill. So my knee. It has been doing a-okay but I kept reading about how people had to go to Urgent Care after descending this monster of a mountain. Oh boy, I asked the Lord to send all his angels and surround me as I tackled this Bohemia of a downward spiral. I stopped for a moment, checked my body and pack one last time, adjusted all my straps and ever so carefully, I made my way down. As I was about halfway down, I received a text from my sweet friend Dee. She said she has been thinking of me and was praying for me this morning. She was definitely one of the angels that Jesus called upon!

How hard could this be? Worse than the steps heading from Vernal and Yosemite Falls back to the Village? Could it be like the 99 switchbacks from Mt. Whitney? Or the descent from Mt. Rainier when I told Sally & Roy I was going to just going to sleep for the night! Well, once I descended that crazy 1000’ in less than 1/2 mile, I thanked God for his many angels that carried me down. I made it without any slips or slides, no broken poles or busted up knees, all in tact and ready to hit the town of Port Clinton.

Once I crossed over the multi-train tracks, my hubby would be cringing right now, I entered the one-horse town of Port Clinton. It is Memorial Day and as it should be, they are closed and reflecting on the many men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. It hit me when I saw the flags and remembrance of what this day truly is.

I made my way to the roadway and met Eric. He was more than happy to get me to Cabelas where I could restock and prepare for the next week ahead. As we drove up, there were flags everywhere, with military tributes to each branch of the service. I am so grateful to live in a country who honors the people who served us and fought for the very freedoms that other countries can only dream of. What an honor!

I did a bit of shopping in what I would consider the largest Cabela’s Store I have ever walked into. I met a few of my hiking friends and we all gathered at the Camping Section of the store. We talked about water filters, purification and what bladders to buy. Yep, that’s our life right now. Nobody wants Montezuma’s Revenge, and it’s time to replace filters that are clogged and not performing up to par.

After my purchase of a new filter, I was on my way to another watering hole. My driver recommended the Cigar House which has many types of Beer. Thank you Eric. I hightailed it, with a bit of cross country walking. There were a bunch of Bikers hanging out and I walked inside of the coolest Cigar Shop I’ve ever seen. Too bad I don’t smoke! I sat at the bar and ordered an IPA.

After a bit of time, two locals showed up, Javier and Angel. They sat next to me and ends up that Javier is an avid outdoors person. He loves hiking and was quite enthralled with my journey. We talked for a bit and they headed upstairs to the outside balcony. I was ready to find a place to lay my head and headed out the door.

They shouted, Kelly, where are you going? Do you need a ride? Now this is the perfect ride sharing option. Someone you’ve met and talked with and seem like stand-up guys! As a matter of fact, I’d love a ride. Without hesitation, I acquired a Uber. I head upstairs, share some food and talk a bit more. They are from NJ and came out for the day. Before long, I have a ride and I’m not having to walk anymore bonus miles!

Another perfect day. Injury free and I am happy to say that I will be sleeping well tonight. As this day comes to a close, I want to thank all of our friends and families who have served in the military. Walking the AT, is such a reminder of the countless battles that we fought here in America. I sometimes forget how much our men & women have done to preserve this incredible and beautiful nation we live in. Travel the world and you will truly understand how great United States is. God bless America!

You just need to know when to stay and when to go. Staying at JZ’s home for the past two nights was exactly what my knee required. I took an Epson Salt bath and I was singing songs of joy. First of all, I am a bath kind of gal. Every night at home, I talk a bath with bath bombs, that sweet George finds online for me and sometimes, bubbles too. Last night was the first bath I’ve had since I’ve been on trail and my body really appreciated it. Afterwards, I attempted to watch Hockey with JZ, but I went to bed at my normal 8:30pm. I’m quite the party pooper.

I left my window open so I could hear the bear return but I guess he got all he could handle the night before. JZ was up at 6am feeding the birds and I was packing to leave. He made me another delightful meal, scrambled eggs, avocado toast and blueberry-banana pancakes. And I think he put the entire carton of blueberries in those flap jacks! They were so good.

After checking my FarOut App, I decided to jump close to 20 miles. Why you may ask? It’s all about the terrain. I was looking for something that didn’t have a crazy descent for my return to the trail. Starting at Road 645 allowed me very little ups and downs today. It truly was the best route to walk, now that I’m sitting in my tent writing about it.

I had a gradual uphill which doesn’t bother my knee much at all, and then it leveled out. The first big clearing was Fisher Overlook. It is a place, where if you’re crazy enough, you can run and jump off with your parasail. Hmm, I think I’ll admire the view and call it good.

As I was checking it out, a hiker FEMA Dawg chatted for a bit. I’ve seen him off and on the trail but never talked much. Ends up he’s retired FD in Aspen, and worked for FEMA Search & Rescue, typically called out during wild land fires and floods. He’s been all over for the past ten years and also trains dogs, hence his Trail Name. But he’s getting off the trail at the next road crossing. He was a Medic and says every 4-5 days he can’t catch his breath. His heart starts skipping and he has self-diagnosed himself with a Second Degree Heart Block. It’s pretty serious stuff and is quite prudent for getting checked out. This trail takes it out of you, one way or another.

We nodded farewell and I’m was grateful that all I have is a bum knee. Honestly, my knee is feeling much more alive today. My only really complaint is the lack of movement. It doesn’t want to bend much so I’m working on that in my tent. Ouch!

The day went well. I talked to quite of few of the locals. A gal named FireMoth which she swears there is such a thing. She was backpacking for the weekend, with her husband and two huge dogs. I met quite a few couples heading up to the overlooks and viewing areas. There were tons of people on the trail today. With Memorial Day Weekend, everyone wants to get out.

Just before I stopped for lunch, I met Mr. And Mrs. Chem from Korea. I don’t know how old they were but I was trying to do the math in my head. He fled from North Korea during WWII in 1938. He said if he hadn’t left, he would’ve been killed. So I’m thinking his family must’ve snuck out one way or another. He lived in South Korea and eventually came to America. He has a daughter in SF and they love visiting and hiking in Lake Tahoe. Both him and his wife are retired so they hike twice a week. And plan to do a few day overnighter this summer in Vermont. So I never asked them, but if he fled, let’s just say when he was a baby, he’s close to 85yo. Another conformation that Pennsylvania people are the healthiest! I love talking with other hikers. It amazes me the story’s we can share in such a short period of time.

The watering hole was shallow, but what helped is when someone place a broadleaf that allow the water to pour a steady steam of water. And that’s what someone concocted. I filled my bladders up, took a little lunch break and planned my afternoon. There was a slight climb out and then I would be walking on the Ridgeline. These ridges are nice and pretty level but they are scattered with rocks and boulders. There is no speed that I can make walking up and over these constant rocks. So I just take it slow and easy, not to knock my knee on anything!

I eventually made it to camp. This nice couple were having dinner near the fire ring and I asked if I could join them? By all means. Pitch your tent wherever you’d like. I found a flat piece of ground and within a few minutes, I was in my tent. We talked a bit, and I shared my iPhone charging cable. Somehow she left hers at home and everyone she’s asked, only have androids, including her husband. She was in luck cuz I have an extra. One is super short so I can charge while I’m hiking and the long one is when I’m in town. It has a longer reach because sometimes you need that. So she was a happy camper and I’m glad to be in my little house for the night. No bath tonight but I do have “Wet Wipes” and they do the trick in a pinch. These happen to be cucumber scented. I’m sure the bears will love that.

Yep, you read that right. After a restless night, with my knee injury, I realized I should probably seek professional help. My friend Couch to Trail suggested that I should get a ride out. “Why don’t you call JZ?” After sitting in my tent for an hour or so, I succumbed and made the call. JZ was more than accommodating, especially due to the fact, he was just waking up. I slowly, ever so slowly packed up my belongings and gimped over to the parking lot. Within a few minutes, my ride was here.

JZ is one of the kindest souls I’ve met out here. He suggested that we first go to the Urgent Care. Dang it, that’s number two person that’s thinking the same thing I’m wondering. Ends up there’s one that he’s heard about, on the way. We stop in and I’m the only one in the Lobby. What’s the chances of that? Looks like they will see you right away. Love these small towns and their efficiency.

The Doc is an Ultramarathon Runner. I am starting to think this State of Pennsylvania is the fittest state next to Colorado. He pokes and prods at my knee, irrigates the snot or dirt out of it, and comments on the inflammation. I don’t think you need a stitch, but being you haven’t had a Tetanus for over 10 years, you’re due for that. Also, I want an X-ray to make sure you didn’t crack your kneecap! Say what? That would be the end of this little adventure.

The nice lady comes in and she takes some photos. The last one in a doozie as I lay on my belly and bend my knee. That’s not happening. This is when I realize I have really done something wrong. She props my leg up and takes the X-ray. I roll off the table with very little grace, and wait.

The Nurse comes in and gives me my Tetanus Shot. That was painless. She’s really good, or has had a lot of practice. Shortly afterwards, the Doc returns. He has good news. All looks fine with my knee, my knee cap, just the normal arthritis that we get when we do what we do. That’s the best news ever. He does suggest that I take a couple of days off as the Rocks in Pennsylvania are “No Joke!” And he prescribes me Doxycycline as a preventative for Lyme Disease. He states that this is the number one area for Ticks and Lyme. I’ll take the meds! The plan is, if in fact I get a tick embedded in my skin, I remove it immediately, and take two pills. If after 5-10 days I get a low grade fever, rash, headache or anything that suggests it was an infective tick, I take the rest of the pills for 2 weeks. Seems a bit overkill but Lyme Disease is one of the fastest growing illnesses in these parts. Something like Pickleball is to me, Lyme Disease is to Doctors. It’s not anything to mess around with!

Once I’m discharged, my new friend JZ drives me to CVS Pharmacy to get my preventative prescription. I pick up some Vitamin I, also known as Ibuprofen, and we are off again. JZ shows me the finest parts of his county and we arrive at his Homestead near Dauphin.

1985, before the internet, JZ was looking for land. He wanted something that backed up to USFS Property where he had no real neighbors, just the critters and birds. After looking through real estate magazines, he landed on this parcel. He originally bought 25 Acres, but eventually purchased the adjacent 25 Acres. It’s quite the place.

He built his home, as his Dad was a Framer and learned much from him. JZ had friends that helped him with the electrical and plumbing. It’s a beautiful log cabin, with wrap around porch and all the wildlife you can handle.

As I sat outside, I can’t tell you the countless variety and species of birds. They flock to his bird feeders and water bowls, like a sanctuary. He’s the modern day Noah, as they seem to know him by name. His daily purpose is caring for the wildlife, that seems to never cease.

Around 5pm, JZ’s bother Jim and his friend Jim came over for dinner. JZ did all the cooking. BBQ Chicken, Asparagus and Small Potatoes. I found a box of Spiced Pumpkin Cake in the cupboard and made dessert. For all of you who know me, this is not my forte. I’m not by any stretch a baker but I did the best I could. We sat around and shared stories of our travels, talked a bit about Vanguard Money Market Accounts, and when am I going back to the trail. Dinner was great and the men stayed late talking Man-Talk. I retired to the kitchen and do what I do best. Clean-up after a wonderful feast of food!

I had some sleep to catch up with so after the guys left, JZ watched some Women’s Basketball. I attempted but decided by 8:30pm, I was ready for bed. The circadian rhythms are very pronounced in the woods. I wake up at the crack of dawn, and when the moon comes up, I am looking for a place to lay my head. It works well for me, and it seems to support my hiking habit too.

Last night, a bear showed up. It attempted to knock down one of the bird feeders. I guess they want to be fed too. It’s a common occurrence around here. JZ wasn’t surprised. There’s a bear that frequents his property but the difference between the Pennsylvania Black Bears and the Tahoe Black Bears, they don’t try to break into your house. This Bear and others are quite content with finding whatever they can outside and going back to their dens, caves or whenever they lay their heads. These are good mannered and well-behaved bears out in these parts of the woods.

Day Two: I’m just sitting around the cabin today, ice pack on my knee and watching the birds and deer hang out. JZ is playing Basketball with his buddy’s. He plays 2-3 times a week. Ends up that basketball has been his game since high school. We all have our sport or two, maybe three, so it’s his thing! Along with backpacking every long-distant trail you can name. He’s definitely beat me at that!

So the game plan is…Come Sunday, JZ will take me back to the trail. I will be overjoyed to get backpacking again and make my way to Port Clinton. From looking at my FarOut App, the trail continues on the Ridgeline for the most part. The next 30-40 miles will be slow going until I can get my knee bending again. Just in time for the Real McCoy Rocks of Pennsylvania. I may be looking at Slackpacking options, for the last 100 miles of this fine state. I’ll let you know 🤔

I slept in a bed last night. There is something pretty special about laying on a squeaky bed and appreciating every sound it makes. At 5:30am, the siren went off, like what you would hear if there was an air raid. Only one burst of song and then it stopped. I laid in bed and wondered if I should get up but decided, if it was really important, it would blast again. About five minutes later, a Fire Truck was blaring its horn heading down Main Street. Maybe they have a Volunteer FD and that’s how they notify the crew, that they have a call. Excitement in Duncannon.

I rolled out of bed, I love writing that, and headed across the street to the Cafe. Konza, Bergie and Couch to Trail were there. We all had our gourmet meals and hit the trail. Couch to Trail ended up finding a guy to slackpack her. Dang, I would’ve jumped on that if I knew earlier. Next time. Slackpacking is when you carry bare bones gear, water, food and a jacket. All your other provisions are released to a trustworthy person who, after you’re done hiking, will bring it back to you. She paid $30 to have the pleasure of not carrying 30 pounds on her back. A buck a pound. Once we hit the real deal Pennsylvania Rocks, I’ll be looking at slackpacking!

I left Duncannon after breakfast, with my pack and all. The trail walks through town, in front of homes and schools. It reminds me of Americana, this town of Duncannon. It’s as close to Mayberry RFD that I’ve ever experienced.

I crossed over a couple of bridges and the confluence of rivers , crossed the railroad tracks and made my way back up into the woods. It was a good climb with rocks made into stairs. I passed Six Mile who was going slower than I. She does about Six Miles a day, and stops at pretty much every shelter along the AT. But bless her heart, she’s doing it, with a smile on her face.

Around lunch, just after crossing the big highway, Trail Angel Twizzler set up some chairs and was giving hikers magic. He had sodas, peanut butter crackers, oranges and apples, and homemade banana bread his wife made this morning. It would’ve been rude not to partake so I had one of everything. Couch to Trail, Medusa, Slip and I hung out and heard stories from Twizzler. He’s lived here for the past 40 years and knows every inch of the trail we’re walking on today. He does trail maintenance with his wife, hunts in these parts and has a heart for hikers. What a sweet guy.

I stayed way too long as I still had another 9-10 miles to go, but it was hard to leave. Typically lunch is on the trail, maybe sitting on a rock or laying my mat on the ground, but when you can sit in a proper chair, that’s heavenly. Oh the simple pleasures.

The rest of the day was pretty much a ridge walk until the last downhill. The trail was manageable but there’s always some boulders, or fallen rocks or downed trees that you need to attack. I had one little root that grabbed ahold of me, and I went down like a downed Sequoia! Ouch, my knee found the one pointed rock on the trail and gouged it pretty bad. Now this is ironic, as I went down for the count, I rolled over to access myself and my First Aid kit popped out of my front pouch! I cleaned up my wound, put some Neosporin on it, placed one of my big bandaids over the cut and wrapped my leg with tape. A bit overkill, but I figured it would hold me over till I hobbled to camp.

I made it to camp around 7pm, which is a bit later than usual. I set up my home and…. Blew up my brand new air mattress. Oh my goodness, what a wonderful thing to lay on a cushion of air. I reinspected my wound and cleaned it again, put a new bandaid on it and wrapped it. Now to get all comfy and cozy. All is good except for the fact that some military helicopter keeps buzzing the campground. In between their night maneuvers, there’s a frog who has a lot to sing about. Thankfully I’m lying on a fully inflated pad so all is good in my noisy and wonderful world.

I slept pretty darn good. I’m wondering if maybe I’m getting used to this mat of mine? That’s funny! No, I’m just accepting it. Packed up and hit the trail at 6:30am. I’m getting stuff packed up much faster these mornings and wasn’t too terribly hungry. I’ll eat breakfast on the trail which is a Biscotti, Peanut Butter and a Fruit Roll-Up. Eat-N-Go. Oh, that’s not my typical breakfast but it works in a pinch. And yes, my very important green juice!

Spider-Web Slayer. That’s who I am today. The first hiker on the trail deals with the breaking through the many webs that the countless spiders have spun overnight. It’s a wicked job but someone has to do it. Today, that’s me. Once I broke through the forest, the trail opened up to the Pennsylvania Fields of Grain. As I was recording my morning video, a hiker comes up behind me. “I just love Pennsylvania and all these fields!” That’s the attitude. Most people gripe about the Pennsylvania rocks, but she sings praises over the wide open spaces and the never-ending fields. Her husband is a bit behind. His pace is more like mine, slow and steady. She continues on, he attempts to catch her, and I stop to take photos.

Today is a great day for hiking. I really haven’t had any rain besides the one evening. The heat is acceptable however the humidity is coming. Typically by the days end, I am a sweaty mess. I’m thinking it’s a matter of time and I’ll be used to the 100% drench fest, and my skin will be thanking me for the added moisture.

I had a bit of a climb and made it to this beautiful overlook. You could see the Susquehanna River and the upcoming town of Duncannon below. It was one of the best views I’ve seen from the trail this week. I sat for a bit and was able to get a voice mail from Shelly, my friend from the Post Office. She said that my package has left Sacramento and is headed to Carlisle, which is close to Boiling Springs. There may be a possibility that I could be sleeping on air tonight!

The trail follows the Ridgeline for quite sometime. It’s rocky and not much chance of gaining any speed. I met a Sobo Hiker who has a Triple Crown ball cap on his head. Hmm, is he the real deal? Ends up he sure is. His Trail Name is 2 Weeks & 3 Days. When he left home to hike the AT, his wife said, “I’ll give you two weeks and three days and you’ll be coming home!” Well he kept walking and finished the AT, then continued on to hike the PCT and finally the CDT. Now he section hikes smaller 200-300 miles at a time. He was so much fun to talk with.

Another guy shows up who is a day hiker. He stops to talk with us and ends up he’s a Triple Crowner too and has hiked the PCT four times, starting back in 1977. I am among greatness on the trail. I curtsy and applaud them for their amazing feats! The new guy’s name is JZ which was a name he had in school. His real name is Jeff Zimmerman and seems like it was a good fit for a Trail Name. He lives near Duncannon.

This is my opportunity. So JZ, what are you doing today? I’m hoping my package will be delivered in Boiling Springs and could use a ride? JZ is thrilled to help me. Being a fellow thru-hiker many times over, he had many people that helped him along the way, and wants to pay it forward. JZ is a much faster hiker than I, surprise, surprise, and tells me he’ll meet me at his car at the bottom of the trail. Perfect plan. I scoot on after him and manage to arrive 10-15 minutes later.

JZ has mapped out our route, stops at the Convenience Store so we can get some cold drinks, and we are off for our road trip. As we are talking, I realize he is a true legend in the hiking community. JZ started hiking in the 70’s and has backpacked with Stridor and Monty. The three of them are the brains to the ADZPCTKO Annual Day Zero PCT Kick-Off. This was a festival at Moreno Park near the Mexico Border and welcomed hikers of all abilities. They have seminars on hiking in the desert, where to find water, how to prepare for the Sierras, and all things PCT. It was where I went the year before I hiked the PCT to figure out what I was getting myself into.

JZ and I shared stories all the way to Boiling Springs. Ends up that when I hiked the PCT in 2015, I met Monty. He and another hiker were carrying Strider’s ashes to the northern terminus of the PCT, the day I finished. I was hiking over the final pass, and as I was descending to the monument, I stopped and talked with Monty. I remember him telling me they had just returned from the last request that their friend had asked of them. Take me to the monument one more time. And being best of friends, that was exactly what they did. They carried Strider and spread his ashes where he wanted. The place he loved the most.

JZ drove me to Boiling Springs and I retrieved my prize possession, a brand new inflatable mattress. Hallelujah, I will in fact be sleeping on air tonight! We stopped and had lunch at Cafe 101, the same place I had breakfast yesterday. We tried calling Monty but he wasn’t home and left him a message. What a small world we love in. I would’ve never ever dreamed that I would be sitting here with JZ, reminiscing of people we missed, on our many trails. What a day we shared, indeed

JZ got me back to Duncannon. Being it was getting late, I decided to stay at the infamous Doyle Hotel. It was built in 1903 and has had an interesting past. Many famous people have spent the night here with the shared baths and a very loud bar! I ran into a couple of thru-hikers Konza and Bergie. They invited me to sit and have a beer. Hmm, I think I can do that. I ordered the most scrumptious Burger ever and drank a local IPA. They had Karaoke playing and we were entertained by the locals. What an end to the most perfect day!

Lisa’s Hostel was nice and cozy. I was the only one there for the night. It’s something special to have a place to lay out all your gear, clothing, food and stuff. Just me, myself and the Holy Spirit. Lisa and her husband Sean live in the house. She’ll come out and check on me, make sure all is well and goes back to her space. It works well. This morning, move out time is 8am. That works fine being the Post Office doesn’t open till 9am. We hit the road and she drops me off at Cafe 101. The only restaurant in town.

I walk inside and Won’t Get Up-Will and a new hiker that I haven’t met is sitting with her. They invite me for breakfast as they just got there too. Before I know it, the table is full of hikers, six of us in all. It’s great getting to meet new hikers daily. Ends up the three that just sat down started two days before me in Harpers Ferry. I’m sure we will all be hiking around each other as I saw the three of them a couple of days ago at the Half-Gallon Challenge. Everyone orders tons of food, like they are getting ready for battle. In a sense, I guess we are.

The conversation was, are you getting off trail to take a Zero? I’ve decided I’d rather take Nero’s (half days off) as my body seems to prefer that more than an entire day off (Zero). I’ll see. That can always change. My only concern at this point is getting to the Post Office to retrieve my very important and must have, new inflatable mattress. We all devour more food than is humanly possible and I head to the PO. Won’t Get Up-Will is doing the same. She has her resupply box waiting.

Will gets her box and I get a blank stare. The guy behind the counter is confused why my Overnight Express Box is still in Sacramento. Well that makes two of us. Shelly, the gal who I talked with the day prior has little hope that I’ll be getting my box today or tomorrow. So, sad faced and all, I call home. George is covering the Cafe at Bayside while I’m gone, and promises to get to the bottom of this. The wrath of George is a fierce reckoning that one doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of. Thanks babe for going to battle for me.

I call one of the local drivers in town Michael. He was recommended by Lisa for a ride or slackpack options. Michael who is well known at the PO, and I come up with a plan. Once my box arrives, he will transport it to me, wherever I happen to be. Now that’s better service than the PO and I betcha he won’t charge me $65. Problem solved. Now I just wait.

Heading back to the trail is the best part of my day. It’s flat, mostly shaded and all my worries disappear. The new lady I met at the restaurant is right behind me. We start talking and her trail name is “Couch to Trail.” No explanation required. She just lost both her Mom and Dad this past year. She felt that she had to do something to process her grief, so both her and her husband started in February at Georgia. After two weeks, her husband lost interest but she continued on. She’s been off and on due to injuries but she has all intentions of getting to Mt Katahdin by mid-August. She’s feisty enough that I’m sure she’ll make it happen,

Couch to Trail is a Christian. Yeah! I have my people out here. We shared our stories of my losing my Mom and her, both parents. It was such a blessing to meet someone out here that understands the pain and loss that we both are experiencing. It’s interesting how the Lord has placed these powerful women amidst this trail. Won’t Get Up-Will is carrying her fathers ashes with her. She’s retracing the route her and her father did in the early 2000’s. We all have stories if we just take the time and share them.

Around 2pm, we make a left tun onto the Highway and I see this picnic table and a Milk/Bee Stand. It’s a Shed that has a Refrigerator/Freezer and another Stand-up Cooler for drinks. It’s called Trail View Market and they sell Homemade Ice Cream along with Raw Milk, Farm Eggs, and other items that hikers, and locals desire. Oh my, no one’s tending the place and it’s all on the Honor System. There’s a cash box with a notebook. Write in your purchase and place the money in the box.

I proceed to have a small container of Cookies and Cream. As soon as I taste it, I realize this is homemade ice cream. It melts in your mouth and you are craving more. I can’t help myself, and go back for another container of Vanilla, Couch to Trail gets Chocolate and two other older guys show up and indulge.

Then these two young boys show up. They are Mignonettes and are part of the family that own this store. The older boy Titus tells me his older sister makes the ice cream. He apologizes that he doesn’t have any Chocolate Milk because they are out of glass bottles. Oh, I have a plastic bottle. Would you be able to get me some? You know it. He says he just needs about five minutes and he’ll be back with my Chocolate Milk. Titus and his brother Joshua run off barefooted, with my bottle and before you know, they are back with Cold Raw Chocolate Milk. I tell you, it was the best Chocolate Milk I’ve ever had. It wasn’t so sweet. Titus tells me that’s because they want the customers to taste the milk too! These boys are so smart, and going to be great business men. We talked for quite some time, about life on the Dairy Farm with his ten brothers and sisters, five of each. It doesn’t sound like Momma is done anytime soon since Grandma had 19 children! I think they are gonna need to get some glass bottles to support all them kids. What engaging boys indeed. I had such a great time talking with the two of them.

We still had more miles to hike so we took off through the Dairy Fields. it was hot, exposed walking through the grasses. Luckily, within a mile or so, we headed back into our Green Tunnel and the temperature dropped 10-15 degrees. Thank you trees!

I had a pretty spectacular day today. Lots of new people I met and I’m thinking I’m in the right bubble for now. I made it to camp around 6pm and erected my tent, I crawled in it, bathed the best I could with wet-wipes and made Cilantro Chicken with Rice. I had some green tea and was snug as a bug in a rug, except for my back. I tell you, when that mattress arrives, I’m gonna to a hip hap happy dance and I just might take a Zero in my tent laying on my mattress for 24 hours! I can’t wait! This Z-Lite pad is for children, but grown adults require more cushion for their mushion. Okay that might not be a word but you get the picture. For now I am ever-so-grateful for what I have. Shelter, Food & Water, and a wonderful place to lay my head for the night.

Lovely night of sleep. Woke up once to an Owl doing its Hooty-Hoot thing. Pretty cool. Evening temps have been perfect. Not too hot and not too cool, just right, as Goldilocks would say. I woke up before the birds. I’m so anxious to get into town. Much awaits for me. Real food, a new air mattress and the most needed, a hot shower!

I only have 10 miles to go today, easy peasy. So I thought. The first couple of miles were level, almost able to skip down the trail. But I’m known for getting a few mishaps so I’ll just keep my feet firmly planted. I crossed a couple of roads early this morning. Everyone is headed to work, school or wherever they need to be, in such a hurry. There are two things I don’t like to do while hiking. #1 is crossing the highways. There’s a lot of roadway crossings, railroad crossings and everything in between. These cars zip by at crazy neck speeds, without any caution to me and my hiking sticks! And #2 is hitchhiking. I can usually ask someone for a ride, or call for a shuttle, but every once in awhile, you just have to stick your thumb out and bum a ride. That’s when you need to always have a Plan B, when a sketchy driver stops. I either say, “Oops, I forgot something” or “do you mind if I take a picture of you and your license plate? My husband works for Homeland Security and he wants to know whenever I get into a car with a random stranger.” I’ve only had one person say no and sped away. Guess he wasn’t too keen on George hunting him down! Everyone else thinks it’s a grand idea.

After crossing my third highway, the trail took an advert left-hand turn and started climbing. The climbing isn’t so bad, but it’s Pennsylvania style. A rock/bouldering exercise. This means put your sticks away, kind of climbing. There’s a location on trail called the “Lemon Squeezer” but I don’t think I’m suppose to be there quite yet. What I figured is, the AT, wants me to start practicing now, so when it comes, I’ll be prepared.

I was huffing and puffing, trying to get my not-so-big butt up and over these boulders. I had to really psych myself out to get my foot up 2-3’, with my backpack on, and somehow someway pull my body up into a slot-like canyon. It’s hard to describe but boy oh boy, I was wishing for some burly guy or even a girl to come by and either pull me up or push me up. No such luck. So I just huffed and puffed and pulled myself up and over! And that was round one.

Welcome to the AT. This ain’t no easy task to get from south to north. It takes much more effort than I was expecting. But honestly, after hiking some 700 miles last year, I knew what I signed up for. Where’s Sid when I need him? He would’ve climbed it like a monkey and pulled me along. But then he’d want to take a nap after the first hour or two. That kid can sleep like no one’s business. Teenagers! But I had no Sid and there were no other hikers around, so this Grandma did what she had to do. Honestly, it was, we’ll just maybe, a little bit of fun. And that’s how my morning went.

After climbing up and over my fifth rock pile, I finally reached a summit of sorts. There was a plaque on the rock pile called Center Point Knob. What a welcome sight that was as it was the culmination of today’s Rocky Mountains. Okay, they’re not actually mountains as I don’t think a single one of my climbs were over 2,000’ but they felt like mountains to me.

The last three miles were downhill. I stopped and talked with an older guy in his mid-70’s or 80’s, who was staring at the top of the trees. He’s either Bird-Watching or there’s another bear in a tree. He convinced me he was just watching birds and cleaning up trash on the trail. He’s a local trailblazer and comes out regularly for his morning walks. All of the locals I have met are fit. It must have something to do with the fresh air, the dairy farms and the wholesome living. These locals are able bodied and willing to hike!

Another gal I talked with had a JanSport backpack on. I had one of those back in the 70’s. She said she plans to hike this summer and the pack belonged to her Dad. She was testing it out to see if it would suffice. So far she’s quite happy with it. It’s an external frame with lots of pockets and fits her quite well. She had to get scooting, as she had kiddos at home and needed to get them off to school.

My last mile or so was through farmland. It was laced with tics! That’s #3 scariest thing on the AT! The grasses were being mowed as I was walking through but I still managed to brush up against the un-mowed section of trail. Within a minute, I had my first tic encounter, on my hand. I knocked that bugger off me so fast and high tailed it out of those grasses. The trail takes me right through the town of Boiling Springs.

Boiling Springs is not the thriving metropolis that I was thinking. It’s a small community with a Post Office, Fly Fishing Outpost and a Cafe. I headed to the Outpost as my fuel ran out this morning just as I was making my morning brew. Perfect timing as I was heading to town and could resupply. My second stop was the Post Office but they are closed for lunch between 12-1pm. So I walked to the Cafe. “Sit where you want and I’ll get to you ASAP.” It was nice to sit down on a chair with a proper table. The small things. The gal came out, gave me a menu and I ordered Iced Tea with splash of lemonade-Arnold Palmer style. Then I texted Lisa, the owner of the Hostel I planned to stay at. She called me back immediately and said her husband will be there in five minutes. Okay, I’ll eat my trail food instead, ugh. The waitress said not to worry about the Iced Tea. It was on the house. Thanks, and I donned my backpack and within a couple of minutes, Lisa’s hubby arrived. He whisked me to the Post Office but I guess overnight express doesn’t count in Boiling Springs. No box, no mattress, hopefully tomorrow.

Lisa’s husband drove me to their home, showed me around quickly, jumped back in his truck and went to work. I’m here alone on their beautifully manicured property with access to a hot shower and a flush toilet. First things first, take a shower. Oh what heaven. They have loaner clothes so you don’t have to put your funky dirty clothes on after showering. Lisa promised to do my laundry when she gets home. What the life of luxury. I could get used to this.

I still have a lot more miles, so I’ll enjoy the smell of a freshly bathed body, clean clothes and electricity. No town food but there’s a George Foreman Grill, bread and cheese. Oh boy, it’s gonna be a joyful night!