Date: 2010-05-02
From: 421

To: Damascus
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up after sunrise. The sun was behind a mountain and the clouds took on a heavenly silver glow. The sunlight shimmered throughout the morning sky and made it hard to crack open my eyelids. Took a very hot shower and ate breakfast outside the bath house. The granola Dr. Simmons sent is gone! Ummmm!Sam, the Doberman really wanted to visit me and McKinley. Every time he'd get close, Bob would yell at him. He'd walk back to his yard like a sulking teenager who hated his parents. Funny dog.We packed up and they drove me back to 421. Said, "GOODBYE!" to Fun Dip and walked away. There's that feeling again! The one you get when you leave people behind. This time, it felt easier. So glad I got to see him again. Felt better, this time because it's ending on a better note. Completion as opposed to a loose string.Added the grape flavoring to my water. Lish sent me some! I like it! Nice and tasty! Hot one today! Yesterday was the hottest day on record for this area. Rolled my sleeves up on my shirt to prevent "Farmers Tan".Met Thunder and Daytripper at Abingdon Shelter. Heard the Rat Pack had lost their food to a bear at Watauga! Yikes! They saw and heard it hanging on the tree. They were too scared to run it off. Lots of people saw scat and a baby bear in that area. There were warnings about bear activity back in August of last year at the same area.Hiked with Trip and Thunder and we're all excited to be entering Virginia today!!! Met two section hikers but didn't really talk to them. Excited to see Daytripper again. We shared a few trail stories and I could hear the section hikers snickering. They were laughing at the trail names we brought up. It's like we have our own language out here. The section hikers were wearing purple fanny packs and hiking poles.Hiked to the VA/TN border! There was a ton of poison ivy around. Hard to avoid in places. Reaching out to touch you! Had to walk sideways down the trail to avoid contact at times. Saw the first Rhododendron bloom! Bright orange and red. Had to pee so I turned around and faced South. Away from Daytripper and Thunder. Wouldn't you know it, but the section hikers with the lovely fanny packs came trotting right over the hill right then. I got pee on myself trying to replace my shorts! They got the full monty! Haha. The couple blushed and I avoided eye contact when they passed. One of them said, "I thought only my wife pissed in the middle of the trail". Smartass! I said, "Nope, just me and her, that's all!" Daytripper got a good laugh out of that. He told me about his pool cleaning business as we made the long decent into Damascus. The guide is typically lying about the downhill grades into town, but not this time. It was straight downhill. None of those surprise uphill sections. We passed the arch in the park and went straight to the river. Sooooooo refreshing! Daytripper laid down in the cold water, I just splashed it in my hair. Thunder said I looked like a retard because I was still wearing the birthday hat from Fun Dip's party. Yes, I was wearing the retard hat when the section hikers with the fanny packs saw my pecker. Sorry Dad! I've shamed the family! Haha.This town is freaking friendly! People waved! Gumby, who I'd meet later, was cheering and jumping up and down for us when we entered Damascus! He yelled, "Congratulations!"Backwards and Conan were at Quincey's already. So we stopped and had some lunch. Portabella mushroom Swiss cheeseburger! I swore that the next town I come to, I'm not eating junk food and here I am. No self-control! Walked down main street and saw Seeker, Gearbomb, and Tequilla John at the Hike Inn. Wizard told me about a great ice cream shop! I'm going! He saved a bunk at "The Place" in case the "storm" was to bad. They're calling for thunderstorms tonight. I'd be able to take his space in the bunkroom if I wanted. It wasn't full though.I ate 6 scoops of blueberry cheesecake ice cream. Brownie, fudge, cherry, caramel, and peanuts! Ummmm! People laughed and bugged me while I enjoyed eating my treat. Same old questions from tourists.Hung out at Apple Tree B&B with Conan, Backwards, Thunder, Chef, iSlack, Ice, Boss, Dry Clean, Rat Pack and a few I'd never met. Ratman and Tumbler told stories about their bear encounter. Dry Clean told a story about being attacked by hookers in Amsterdam because he took their picture. Apparently Dry Clean has been carrying a snub nosed .38 the whole trail. 400+ miles! I'm surprised! He seemed too liberal for such a thing.