10-17-12

AT miles hiked today: 17.6
Total AT miles hiked: 1655.9
Miles to complete my thruhike: 545.9

We are staying in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania at the Allenberry Playhouse. They give hikers a great deal, better for two people than many hostels and it's oh so nice. This is a high end place. I wonder why they want to let dirty hikers in?

I started hiking at 9:10 and finished at 7pm. It was good trail, and the miles went quickly. There were just a lot of them and we started late. I'm exhausted and achy all over, which makes sense after nearly 18 miles. I've also been grumpy, irritable, tired all the time, had joint pains, and periodically my skin gets so sensitive and painful that my whole body aches like I've got the flu. I know these are symptoms of thruhiking, but they are also symptoms of Lyme Disease, and I remember those rashes I had back in the south. And others I've hiked with have gotten Lyme. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I think maybe I should get tested or treated. I talked to a clinic in Duncannon and didn't have the money to pay for the doctor consultation and additional lab work, so I'll see how it goes.

I can do this! But these last 500 miles won't be easy. It's almost winter.

Leigh from the pizza place was a trail angel and drove us to the Allenberry so we didn't have to walk up the road in the dark at 9pm. Thank you, Leigh!

Now I have had a hot shower and I'm warm in a luxurious, soft bed. They even had a fruit bowl with oranges. Thank you, Allenberry!