Day Totals: 15 hrs, 38 kms

Actual date: Oct 8, 2015

Today starts with a foggy magic . As I cycle to my starting point, fingers of fog start seeping out of the forest until the whole landscape is soaked in this mysterious gray. Finally the sun rises over the Tuscarora Mountains, piercing through and finally dissipating the fog, revealing the beautiful autumn foillage all around. It's going to be a good hike today.

I start in Three Springs, my last town in Huntingdon County. I'm pleasantly surprised to find a little fountain and a couple of shady benches on the middle--it's not often that these little town offer people a place to just sit and relax. right in the middle.

A middle aged lady coming from doing her shopping at the mini-mart across the street comes over to listen. She seems to enjoy my song and then asks "do you play any hymns?" That's a first... I politely decline.

"So is this a tight knit community?" I ask.

"It used to be . Now we have new people coming in and out... doing drugs... I guess they think no one will bother them in a place like this..."

That sounds a bit odd.

"So do many people come and listen to you?" she asks "People around here are nervous about strangers--with all the things going on."

"Actually, I'm surprised at how many people I've met along this trip--and many people driving past wave at my. Folks seem friendly"

She finishes with a performance tip "you should sing louder... so people can hear you"

"Well... I don't want to bother the neighbors"

The villages that used to be

It's time to head on. I have a long hike ahead of me. The road plunges into the forest, rich in fall colors. It's 38 kilometers to my next borough, so it's going to be a lot of walking and not a lot of strumming today .

Well, actually there are a whole bunch of villages along the way--some of which most likely had a sense of of community and identity. I would probably count several of them if it weren't for my "boroughs only rule". Selea has some beautiful homes with large gardens along a creek...

Then there's Maddensville. Here I spot a swimming hole created by damming up a small creek with a large boulder jutting into it. I head down to take a picture or two.

Should I? It's autumn, and I'm sure the water is freezing cold. But still... the water looks enticing, and I am feeling a bit hot. So I plunge in to the electrifying feeling of cold... swim around to the other side of the boulder and back. It is cool to be swimming in deep water--most of the creeks I've swum on on this hike are pretty shallow.

This might actually be my favorite swimming hole on this hike . Wish I could enjoy it longer... it's just too cold.

I continue on... stopping to eat some lunch under a tree. I look down and... inches in front of my feet is a snake, with neck poised for a strike. My daughter has been begging for a pet snake... should I take it home for her to play with for a bit, then release it? I try catching it but the snake lunges at me repeatedly, so I decide to leave it in peace. Not quite as friendly as the garter snakes I used to catch in Oregon.

Finally reach the sign that says "Fulton County", my last county in this loop. Goodbye Huntingdon County... it was fun getting to know ya...

Under the sign is a "building permits required" that has been blacked out with spray paint. A bit of a rebel streak here in Fulton County, eh?

The road continues on to the community of Clear Ridge, which lives up to its name . On both sides you're greeted by vast, panoramic views. To the east, a narrow wooded valley with the long Tuscarora ridge rising on the other side. To the west, a wider valley which seems to be mostly forest, with patches of farmland scattered about. Farmhouses, yes, but not a single town in this large valley.

It's a refreshing sight--to see flat land not all being used for farming or suburban sprawl. I wonder how long this will last. I guess that's the upside of there not being a lot of jobs in this area.

Then the road winds down into the valley to the village of Fort Littleton, which really does feel like a "town", but rules are rules...

Then over the 76 turnpike, one of America's east-west main arteries. Here for a brief second I feel connected with the rest of the country, seeing cars and trucks speed past going to Philadelphia... Pittsburgh... Chicago.

In Knobbsville, I manage to get off the main road on what was once "Main Street", Knobbsville. There's a church, a "Quality Appliance" store that now just has some abandoned couches in front... a house that looks like a junkyard, with junked cars, a trailer and a dozen ancient ride mowers... then a house with stickers that read things like "Prayer is a good way to meet God... tresspassing is faster"

Ah... Knobbsville...

Finally, as daylight fades, I continue on a long, gentle downhill slope to McConnellsburg... and call it a day.