Today I hiked just over 7 miles to Duncannon, PA. The trail goes right through the town and there are a couple of hostels and resupply stores catering specifically to hikers. their laundromat is called “Trail Laundry” and is right on Main Street as is our hostel (this is important later)

So the hike was slow and extra painful on the uphill portions and I was hiking up and over a mountain, so a big uphill to start my day. Extra painful because every time I start huffing and puffing my way up the mountain (literally like the Little Engine That Could, I’m thinking “I think I can! I think I can!”), I would have a coughing attack – the kind that feel like your chest is ripping open. So I was more creeping up the mountain than hiking up it, but if you creep along long enough you eventually do make it to the top of the mountain. Then it was relatively level, small PUDS but nothing major until the descent into town.

A young man named Bread Crumbs passed me on the way up and talked for a few minutes (I really think he was making sure I wasn’t going to keel over after hearing me cough). Said he was headed for the same hostel and would see me there.

I met my first ridge runner today. His name was Bradventure. He had a 74 mile stretch of trail to run. He gets paid to hike from one end of his section of the trail to the other. He stops and talks to hikers; answers their questions and educates them on Leave No Trace Camping methodology. he lets the volunteer organizations that maintain the trails know if and where there is maintenance to be done. He was new and thrilled to have the job, which I’m sure is a dream for many – getting paid to hike.

I also met No Rush. A lovely young lady who started the trail in Georgia in February and is just taking her time to get to Maine – hence, No Rush. When I met her she was just sitting on the trail, leaning against a big tree having a snack. We introduced ourselves and had a lovely conversation before hiking along. We agreed to try and run into each other again on the trail.

I took a long break at the view point (see pic above) and experimented with my new selfie hiking pole attachment, had a light lunch (knew I was going to pig out in town), and generally just relaxed for a little while before starting my descent.

About half way down the descent, Bread Crumbs caught up with me again (because he took a nap and meditated at the shelter I skipped, I really only manage to to pass other hikers when they are sitting or sleeping), and we hiked into the hostel together. He knew a couple of the other hikers there and we ended up going to dinner and doing our laundry together.

So when I say we did our laundry together, I don’t mean we walked the two blocks down main street together to do laundry (although we did), I mean we literally used one washer to wash 4 hikers clothes. I think it ended up costing us a dollar each. But basically we all only had 1 top, 1 bottom, 1 underwear, and a pair of socks – being the only female, I also had a sports bra. So between us we had barely a load of laundry. these three guys ranged in age from 20-26 and it was hilarious to tag along with them, much less do laundry with them. We crossed the street to a little mom and pop shop and had dinner.

At dinner I had a Philly cheesesteak (figured I was in PA and close enough to Philadelphia to get a good one – I was correct) and some great philosophical conversation about why families in America argue in public. One of the guys was from Uruguay, one was from Australia by way of the Netherlands, and one was from Virginia. It was fascinating to hear their observations of American families in public vs what their own experiences were in their home country. Also fascinating, as a parent, to hear them discuss how they were parented and how they believe it influenced them. Btw, my theory is that most families are over worked, over scheduled and stressed and that is why they argue in public. In the guys opinion, Americans are just very independent and opinionated, and feel like they can say whatever they want, whenever they want and this includes the kids. It was a lively debate that I think I lost 😂.

I have had so many interesting and philosophical conversations on the trail. I don’t know if it’s because hikers are physically exhausted and barriers are down and they’re willing to talk more. Maybe because hikers are alone with their own thoughts most of the day. Or maybe hikers in general are just more willing to have philosophical discussions. Maybe the two activities go together somehow. Regardless, it seems to happen all the time in camp, at shelters and in hostels.