Myerstown, PA (USA)

[Up at around 0700. My old joints didn't recover as well as I'd hoped overnight but I decided to hit the trail again anyway! Drove a few miles east on I-78 (looking for breakfast but didn't find any). Used PA-183 to get to the trailhead (0730). It was colder this morning - glad I brought some warmer clothes. Saw only two groups of people today: campers early (waking up) and latecomers (parking their cars) when I finished. Otherwise, I had the trail to myself all the way to Shartlesville Cross Mountain Road and back (16 miles). Rocky again - blisters slowed me down a little. On the return leg, was able to use a state game lands gravel road (better on the feet). Still exhausted and sore when I finished (1330). Made good time on the way back (I-78, I-81, I-83, PA-581, US-15) and scored big (Saranac Beer) at the Fort Detrick BX. Rest of the drive home (I-270 and I-495) was pretty easy (no traffic, for some reason). Had a problem with my fuel tank - saw it twice this weekend (starved when I tried to accelerate when the empty light came on - at nearly 200,000 miles, this is the first time I've seen that...). Unpacked, did laundry, read my book, visited with Bob (first time in almost a month) and caught up on some blogging. It was a nice weekend - I think I will camp out next time! Total AT today = 8.00 miles / Grand Total = 412.87 miles (>400 in one year!).