It was a gray day yesterday with blustery winds.
I had camped on top of a ridge

The trail wound through some forested areas and some farmland






As I crested a second ridge, I came to know something of the dreaded “rocks of Pennsylvania”. For about 3 miles I walked on this uneven surface


In some places, almost a foot of dried leaves covered the rocks

This is going to take some getting used to.
Saw some nice things along the way (when I could take my eyes off the rocks)



Some took on forms I could recognize, like this horned beast

Or this alligator

Towards evening , I caught a glimpse of Duncannon PA below.

Sadly, Duncannon is a very economically depressed little trail town.
I stayed at the famed and tragically run down Doyle Hotel

I had a great fried Mississippi catfish dinner served at the bar.
Then I heard the big news that the annual Halloween parade was starting in an hour and was passing in front of the hotel. So I got a milkshake, pulled up a chair and watched the pre-parade festivities from the second floor balcony of the Doyle
And here’s a shot of one of the floats

Not sure I’ve ever seen an event quite like that.
Got a few more shots from today that I liked




I’ve been trying to make a photograph that adequately portrays the beauty of the mountain laurel tree. The trunk and branches bend and curve into very attractive forms. Here are a couple nice ones I saw today


Enjoying small town America,
Junco