The Doyle Hotel

We read about The Doyle hotel in our guidebooks, we heard about The Doyle hotel from other hikers, and we read about it in all the log books starting 30 miles from here.  Obviously we had to stop in - as it turns out we spent four days here.  About 400x longer than most people.   We stumbled out on to the pavement into Duncannon on streets that showed us a small and potentially depressed community.   There didn't seem to be too much going on and the hikers that come through seem to be the most traffic it gets.     We wandered onto the main street in Duncannon and espied the Doyle partway down the street.  The Doyle is the former building for the Anheuser-Busch Company.  It's in it's 107th year..and looks it.   The outside architecture certainly looks like its from another century and the peeling paint and sagging windows add to that effect.  Regardless, after our tiring day we were happy to arrive.   On the balcony of the The Doyle is sign that says "Welcome Hikers" and on the door is a sticker that warns people "Smelly Hikers Inside,"   As soon as we walked through the door, Vicky (One of the owners) yells at us, "Get out!  You people wore us out yesterday!" And then she smiles at us, tells us to put our packs down and tells us where the bathroom is.  We knew we were home.    After hearing the rules, we wander up to our room.   The carpet looks like it's never been cleaned, the bed spread is questionable and there's a broken mustard-yellow lazy boy in the corner of our room.   There's a warning on the wall to open the windows "at your own risk" and the glass cover on the light on the ceiling fan has a puddle of dead bugs in it.  However, the sheets and pillow cases look and smell clean, the walls have been painted and there's clean towels and faceclothes for us to use. Since there's only one bathroom per floor, we "rock paper scissors" for the first shower.     The bathroom is just around the corner and as the hotel isn't full there's no wait.  A sign warns me to keep the shower curtain inside the shower or else it will cause a leak to the bathroom below.  As I'm showering, and extra drip from above causes me to look up where I see the exposed pipes dripping  from the shower directly above me.  Hoping that the person showering above me visited the toilet before getting in the shower I continue to wash up.  The shower never lost hot water, had great pressure and some hiker (or the owners) had left shampoo and soup in the shower- a welcome treat. 

After cleaning up, we strolled downstairs to look at the menu.  Everything looked delicious and was delicious.  After 4 days we can personally attest to: the Chuckwagon burger (a deepfried hamburger), the jambalaya, the pulled pork, the angus beef burger, the haddock square sandwich and the fried oysters. ALL DELICIOUS.  We have seen other people eat with great zeal, the steak, the meatball sub, the chef salad and all the soups.    The food at the Doyle?  Perfect.

On our first night we asked Pat and Vicky how they ended up here.  Years back Pat started working here as a chef-something he'd never done but was always interested in.  The owners at the time were only getting about 500 hikers a year.  When they decided to sell it Pat and Vicky decided to buy it and start catering to Hikers.  The numbers have jumped up to around 1200 a year.   This place is a legend and from what I've heard, Pat and Vicky have done a lot to improve The Doyle. They said when they bought it and started cleaning out the rooms they found old food and nastiness under the beds, cots that were cardboard thin and other gross stuff.  The Doyle is much better than that now. They're making slow but steady progress.    But even if they never change another thing, this place is a haven.  Pat and Vicky will sometimes make runs to the grocery store for Hikers if they miss the shuttle. They've given my ice for my hurt ankle, helped get me an appointment at the doctors and offer great conversation and company.   They are friendly and kind to everyone that comes through.     If you find your self in Duncannon (or more likely-driving past Duncannon) stop in and go to the Doyle bar and restaurant.

The Doyle Hotel
Rooms : 25 dollars, 7.50 EAP
Shower only, 7.50 (towel included)

9 N Market St
Duncannon, PA 17020
(717) 834-6789

http://www.doylehotel.com

Day 13, The Doyle, Duncannon PA

The Doyle, Duncannon PA

Miles: 0
Total: 123

This was, hopefully, our last day at the Doyle.  I spent it practicing Ukulele and talking to the other thru hikers.  Our friend from NY-"Homemade" "shortleash" and "slammer"- caught up with us yesterday so it was nice to talk to them again. And then John McCrillis came into town too. Nice little reunion we had.   Yesterday I went to see the Doctor who gave me the go-ahead to continue hiking.  She said that if my ankle didn't' feel weak that I was OK to walk carefully.  Then I ordered an "aircast" from Rite Aid.   We picked it up today and I've been wearing it. So far it feels good.  Tomorrow we'll head out to the next shelter.  We're going to stop at the first shelter-only 5 miles on.  We thought a nice slow day would be best to test our bodies.  (well, mine).   I've really enjoyed the vacation from our vacation but I'm happy to get back on the trail tomorrow.  I hope everything goes well.  

Also, today we dropped by the post office and packed off 2.3 pounds of unnecessary stuff.  Very satisfying!

Day 12 The Doyle, Duncannon PA

Day 12 The Doyle, Duncannon PA

Miles 0
Total 123

Spend the day at the Doyle recuperating. Ankle still swollen and sore. We at breakfast across the stree at a place called "Goodies" and had dinner at the Doyle.   We took a short walk through town and chatted with a lot of hikers last night.  "JC" is starting his own business making gear.  He's currently hiking with a homemade bag.  After graduating from school for Entrepreneurship and then managing his family business for a few years, he's decided to move away from his fundamentalist christian family to live with his girlfriend in Atlant.
I really enjoyed chatting with his him as we talked about injuries and hurts and i felt much better about taking time off and being a bit hurt.  When the bar closed we transitioned outside with "hotsauce" and "twocents" and got to hear their crazy hitching stories and how they try to look "hungry" to get food from peopel.  Best trick, put change in yoru hand and go up to someone asking "Where are the vending machines?" 

NOTE:  Thru hikers are almost always very hungry and will always appreciate food.  Feeding them most certainly brings good luck.