Darlington Shelter
The freight trains 50 yards from my head certainly woke me up several times last night but feel refreshed. I waited for and hiked with Twiglet, Nightrider, and the other guy who's name I have forgotten. On the way out the campsite I saw a groundhog. I got a little closer to get a better shot but when it didn't show any sign of fear I decided that it thought it could win and I backed off. I had seen one yesterday too as it darted across he trail maybe 3 feet behind me but then it moved fast enough that I hadn't gotten a good look.
The rest of the guys and I did the .5 to Boiling Springs where we had breakfast and parted ways. They decided that they would hitch to Duncannon, the town 25 miles up the trail, so they could make for the Doyle Hotel's bar special. It irks me a little that when we reach Katahdin they will claim to have hiked the whole AT.I spent the day lounging and eating as the weather report called for temps in the 90s. I figured I would hike overnight when it was cooler.
While I wandered around town I came across what I assume is the largest spring in town and it was huge! They had built a walkway around 20' wide patch of rocky ground out of which swelled hundreds if not a thousand gallons of water per minute. It was so big that the flowing river I had crossed on the way into town was created solely by this spring. Where the spring flowed the city had build a park and walkway which was simply breathtaking. The water in the river and small lake in town was crystal clear allowing me to see the numerous of foot long fish swimming around. Birds also liked the pond and there where ducks and geese paddling around enjoying the water. It looked like the scene from a movie or something that would inspire impressionist.
Finally at 5:30 the temps started to drop so I filled up with 3 liters of water and set of to do 14 miles. The miles went very fast and I made good time because until the last mile or two the vast majority of the walking was in mowed paths through farmer's fields. Many areas included a small buffer around the trail that was left to grow wild. In these wild flowers and bushes blooming riming many stretches of trail in white, yellow, and purple.
The end of today involved a short steep climb up onto the ridgeline. By then it had gotten dark so I did all my climbing by headlamp. I assumed that I would hear and see lots of wildlife out on the prowl but it turned out to be very quiet with only some bugs to keep me company. Something interesting I observed was moths and spider eyes glow in the light of a headlamp. With spiders it was particularly remarkable because the trail was littered with thousands of them looking up at me. I don't know if they hide during the day or if it is just that I can find them more easily in the dark but I took several pictures of the more stunning and/or large ones. I suspect none of them were going hungry as it is a very buggy night.
Finally at 10:30 I made it to the Shelter. Martin and Rossi were already asleep and I woke them. Sorry. I am very tired and it is late so I am skipping dinner and going straight to hitting the sack.
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