AT Weekend Hike around Duncannon, PA

A few weeks ago we hit the AT again for another few days of camping.  We were supposed to go for 3 days and 2 nights but due to a few blisters we had to cut it short.  There was a nice little campsite a few miles in and we spent the night there with a great fire.  The next morning we woke up and hiked across the bridge into Duncannon, taking a stroll down main street.  

We were just about to head up Hawk Mountain to see if we could find the camping site but decided after a few minutes it was a bad idea.  So, we turned around, walked back through Duncannon, passing the Doyle Hotel, and made our way back to the car.  The trip was a great time and we had a lot of fun!  Enjoy the photos from our camping excursion!  

(Passed this guy on our way to the campsite)

(Photo op)

(Sometimes it amazes me how great a view a person can have after only a few hours of walking.  I think that is part of the reason I enjoy hiking so much - the views.)

(After we set up camp we headed up the stove and had a bit to eat and made some hot coffee)

(Then we played some cribbage)

(Fire time and Rebecca is showing off our tasty treats)

(Had to make sure I had my head lamp on for when it got dark outside)

(Rebecca got an artsy shot of the smoke coming off the fire)

(I warmed myself up by the fire)

(We had a nice little fire going)

(Shot in the tent before we hit the sack)

(Rebecca making some coffee the next morning)

(Definitely on the Appalachian Trail)  

(Hey oh - Maine to Georgia)

(Rebecca had to take her shoes off...)

(View as we crossed the river)

(Me walking across the bridge)

(Stopped to get some water and take in the view)

(Rebecca was doing a bit of blister work)

(Hey!  Look at that Hiker in front of the Doyle Hotel)

(Entrance to the Doyle Hotel)

(Passed this as we made our way down North Market Street - the Old Sled Works)

(Perry County Hilton)

Rebecca's First Trip to PA

The beginning of June Rebecca made her way to Pennsylvania for a week long furlough to see if it was a place where she could spend a few months.  The week went by rather fast, as is always case and after visiting family and going on a short camping trip, there wasn't much time for much else.  However, we did do the typical touristy things:  Chocolate World, The Ride (as I like to call it), a quick tour of Hummelstown, th State Capitol building in Harrisburg, etc.  The trip must have gone well enough because she decided to come back a few weeks later.  

Alas, here are a few photos from Chocolate World and our short camping stint on the Appalachian Trail:

Rebecca at the entrance to Chocolate World

(Somebody is super pumped for some free chocolate!)

(World's Largest Hershey's Bar)

(5 pounds of milk chocolatey goodness)

(As we prepared to take the ride at Chocolate World)

(Who wants to buy the photos when you get just take a photo of the photo?)

(Twizzlers photo opportunity)

(For some reason, Rebecca had this ideal of Waffle House.  I think she took a road trip years ago and remembers Waffle House as being the best thing.  So, we went...)

(Since it was my first time there, ever, I got a free hat.  Let's just say while the food wasn't bad, the best part of the meal was the free hat...)

(Our journey on the trail)

(Rebecca found Prince Charming...)

(An orange salamander of sorts)

(I'd been trying to explain to her about 'Trail Magic' and luckily we ran across some - pop corn and peanut butter eggs)

(Ferns, ferns, and more ferns)

(A view from one of the lookouts)

(A mega centipede of sorts)

(Four leaf clover, one of Rebecca's many talents is spotting these lucky charms)

(We took my nephew to Adventure Sports one day and played arcade games)

(A bridge shot as we walked across from City Island to downtown Harrisburg)

(The dome at the Capitol)

(One of the houses, can't remember which one...)

(Rebecca was enthralled with all the art work and details)

(Some more intricate details)

(Saw a groundhog which was big news!!!)

(Rebecca taking a look out at City Island)

Blue Rock Campground

A few weekends ago, we went on a little 'camping' excursion.  It was unlike any other 'camping' trip I've ever been on, but I still had a lot of fun.  I think it took about 4 hours to pack the trailer and get it road ready.  I'm used to just throwing a tent in the back of a car, grabbing some food, and hitting the road.  I will say, the meals were of a much better quality than what I'm used to - we had steak one night and pork chops another.  Ended up going to Blue Rock Campground.  The spaces were big enough where you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you and it was a beautiful area - lots of little hikes around as well as the Sheep River Falls.  Anyway, here are a few of the pictures from the weekend.  

(This little spot was literally a 3 minute walk from our campsite)

(I had a little fun with the camera on these pictures and let the shutter open for a bit)

(Same falls)

(This was a little further down stream)

(Here's a colored photo, again with the shutter open a little longer)

(Yeah, there are lots of water pictures in this one - first time I used this feature)

(I really liked the colors in this photo)

(This was down just a bit further)

(The girls and I got up early on Saturday and went for a hike along Junction Creek)

(A nice little view of the trail)

(A little 'pool' area)

(I just loved the way the trees looked in the light)

(A little moss on the trees)

(Another mossy shot)

(Another trail shot, it was a great hike.  We were actually on the wrong side of the river for about half the hike...)

(We found a rock and planted ourselves there for lunch.  This was our view.)

(And behind)

(It's easy to see a bit of the flood damage with the trees jammed up behind me)

(The ladies did a great job on a hike, but the mosquitoes were terrible, absolutely terrible)

(Breakfast - bacon, eggs, and some taters)

(Mikey helping set up the tarp)

(She was trying to shoot a squirrel or crow or something, having fun with the slingshot)

(I did a bit of cooking in the morning.  Socks and sandals are not comfortable.  I wish I had my 'Japanese' socks with the space between the toes.)

(Bob enjoying breakfast)

(Mikey drinking her coffee)

(A stone statue in the shape of the Olympic guy)

(Got up early on Sunday and went on my own hike, a chance to get a little peace and quiet and solo time)

(So, the river snaking its way through the valley was the one we followed the day before)

(Taking a little break at the top of the mountain.  It was a pretty steep hike without much of a trail, at least one I could find.)

(Yep, me taking a selfie)

(The requisite jump shot photo - seems to be one of my new favorite photos to take)

(Water source on the way back down - stopped and filled up my bottle)

(Wildlife in the campsite area)

(As you can tell, it was pretty close)