Date: 2005-05-15
From: Rt. 211, Thornton Gap (Damascus Trail Days)

To: Stealth camp a couple miles south of Elkwallow Gap
Miles today: 6.4

start: Rt. 211, Thornton Gap (Damascus Trail Days)finish: Stealth camp a couple miles south of Elkwallow Gapmiles: 6.4day: 69Boy, I think it rained all night, sometimes pretty hard.  I slept really good under the tarp.  I could hear the creek gaining in volume at the edge of the property.  Around 7:00 am I saw a pair of "stumpy looking" legs and feet outside my tarp.  He drove us to a breakfast place where he had coffee, I had breakfast and tea, and we talked with Laura and Ruth who run the outfitter in Harper's Ferry.Afterwards, we drove up to tent city to find everyone.  We talked to 4-Cheese who was heading off to Hardcore.  We may just catch him in a few days.  He'll be fun to hike around.  He's probably the most upbeat cheerful person I've ever met.  We didn't see Kodak, but I learned she went back to the trail early today, trying to catch up to the rest of us, I think.  Come on Kodak, don't be so slow! We gathered everyone and went to my camp so I could pack up.  I left a note in Beth's door thanking her for letting me stay in her yard.  Then we headed to the laundromat to dry some stuff.  I updated my pocketmail, and received email, so I guess it's working for now.  Finally, we got milkshakes, said goodbye to Stumpknocker and hit the road.  At this point it seems that Stumpy is heading north and will start hiking a 2005 SOBO soon.  Perhaps we'll see him in Massachussetts...The drive was uneventful, except for a stop at a Shoney's buffet.  I better start hiking soon or I may get chubby.  We made another quick stop for some groceries - only need a day's worth to get to Terrapin Station hostel where our food drop is waiting.We (Goldilocks, Tea Break, Cotton Joe and I) arrived at the trailhead where we left off the other day.  We apologized again to Simone for ourselves being so smelly, and made plans to hike with Underpants wherever we are on Memorial Day weekend.  Somewhere in Pennsylvania.  Finally I'm in good enough shape to be able to keep up with him.We said our thank yous - Underpants and Simone if it wasn't for your help we would have missed the unique experience of going to Trail Days as a current thru-hiker.  Thanks a lot for tolerating the smelly, hungry hikers.  (I think the experience was useful for Simone in case she ever was thinking about running a hiker hostel) I was feeling very glad to be getting back "home" to the AT.  A sure sign of a happily addicted long distance hiker.  The others were moseying along a bit slower than usual, probably feeling sleepy from the large meal we ate.  I thought I'd feel the same, but I had boundless energy, easily surging far ahead.  I'm not used to being first in line when hiking with these young athletes.  Man it felt good to hike!  The few miles flew by and we chose a campsite when it was starting to rain and nearing dusk.The aftermath of Trail Days is that Cotton Joe lost his debit card in an ATM at the bank in Damascus.  A hiker nightmare.  Jeff at Mt. Rogers Outfitters is helping contact the bank manager, who is his relative.  Cotton Joe will be trying to contact the bank tomorrow when they open from Elkwallow Gap.Also of interest is what's in Tea Break's pack.  Everything.  He came out of Damascus carrying many new "essentials" - a whoopee cushion, a blow up soccer ball (he insists on calling it a football), a multicolored umbrella hat, and a radio from the dollar store (which for some reason cost 3.50).  All this in addition to the loud silk skirt and a piece of broken hiking stick - not hiking pole: one of his poles is really a wooden stick found in the woods on his second day.  He nearly had a water gun, but Emma took it off his hands this morning.Well, it's dark now and there's a thunderstorm rumbling a few miles off.  I'm sipping tea and trying to decide whether to cook a dinner.  Such a hard decision.