Day 39 - Damascus to Saunders Shelter

Didn’t do so well sleeping in the bunk room at The Place. Heart kept racing, though I’m not sure why. Up at 7 and started getting everything together.

Hit the post office, then the dollar store, then the outfitter, then back to The Place to repack the food bags. I was getting impatient, since I had done all my prep work the day before. Ten o’clock, eleven o’clock, noon… we finally got out the door with our packs on.

Dave’s pack was the heaviest it’s ever been, with all his meals and snacks in tow. We had planned to do 16 miles, but by the time we left, 9.4 was seeming like a more realistic option.

So we’re at this shelter with Stray Cat (originally from Braintree), Pappy, Ebb and his friends, Homeless and Unemployed (an older couple who’ve been ahead of us this whole trip). Murph and Charlie, Beano and Stretch are all ahead. Chops is still in Damascus. 

Stray Cat and a bull size each other up

Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. There’s a shelter 18.6 miles away (hard miles), not many camping options, and a really good chance of rain.

Some things I’ve been thinking about recently on the trail… Who are these nameless, faceless, trail gods who determine the quality of our day, almost as much as Mother Nature herself? What makes them cut a path straight up and over one mountaintop, yet cut low and level around the side of another? What power they have!

While I’m happy with the pictures I’ve taken, I’m mad at myself for some really good ones I’ve missed. Such as the gang at Ian’s cabin in Hot Springs, Hazel cutting Dave’s hair, some town shots of Erwin. Need to take more people pictures, especially people who I think we might not end up hiking with again.

When I started this trip, I think I pictured one continuous chain of mountains from Georgia to Maine, in a straight line and pretty much a single row. It’s amazing how when you get to the top of a mountain and look around, there are mountains and hills for as far as the eye can see. And I never know where we’ve come from or where we’re headed (other than North)… and don’t much care.

Day 37 - Double Springs to Damascus

Got up and out by 7:30, a little later than we had hoped. Eighteen miles to civilization – time to kick it up a notch. But boy, it was already hot that early in the morning.

The miles were relatively easy, but there is no such thing as completely flat. I have to remember that so I don’t get disappointed at the sight of the slightest upcoming climb. Dave started going really fast, and I had to run on the flat parts to keep up. It was getting pretty frustrating, so I asked him to slow down.

 

Anyway, we made it to Damascus, Virginia by 2:30. Six hours for 18 miles -- not bad. Called Kathy and Skip right away. It turns out Wendy was already on her way to pick us up. I bought some new shorts at the outfitter, and hopefully the pack-related rash on my back will go away now. Also got my own headlamp. 

We headed for “The Place,” a huge converted church now used by hikers and bikers for lodging. There are lots of rooms of bunkbeds, a couple showers, a kitchen, and a big yard. All for a $3 donation.

The Place

Charlie and Murph were already here. It was good to see them! We asked them to come with us to Mt. Airy, since there was room for four. Even though they had just taken a zero day, they agreed to come.

Because of traffic, Wendy didn’t pick us up til 4:30, and we didn’t get to the house until after 6. They had a German-Canadian couple already staying with them (business associates). But everyone was very friendly and seemed happy to see us.

Ate lasagna, turkey sandwiches, pasta salad, and salad for dinner. Hung out and talked til 11:30. The bed was so soft, the pillows were so nice, and there was a ceiling fan keeping the room cool but not too cold. Perfect. It did take me a while to fall asleep, but I was incredibly comfortable.