Date: 2006-04-15
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Day 40 Saturday Had a late start out of Damascus this morning, because I wanted to tighten up my mesh back band and needed to borrow some pliers from a local hardware store that didn't open till 9AM. The store is "Trail General Store" and the owner was very helpful. Piece of Work, 365, and I went to "In the Country" for breakfast, recommended by the local barber. Good advice for future hikers-listen to the local barber! Our breakfasts were delicious, plentiful, and reasonably priced.   I also made a gear change decision- I bought a fleece blanket to use instead of the sleeping bag during the hot weather. Mt. Rogers Outfitters is sending it to me at Pearisburg, where I intend to ship my bag home. My sleeping bag is a Western Mountaineering down bag, 25*F rated. It was sufficiently warm on the coldest nights in the Smokies, so long as I had on all my clothes and stayed on the Thermarest pad. Some hikers thought a 0* bag was necessary, but I didn't find that to be so.   As we were leaving Damascus, we saw Dr. Jones and Rosie, who I last saw in Gatlinburg. At this shelter tonight are Jebus and his dog Jackson, a hiker named Gary with his dog(who is sleeping in the shelter), apparently, a thru-hiker from Abilene,TX, named Cookie-a guy about my age, Piece of Work and me. Gary is doing a non-traditional thru-hike, staying several days in trail towns,camping out for 2 or 3 days at the same place, and discussing his adventures in detail. Some nature notes- the sarvis and wild cherry trees are in bloom up high, and the red buds are blooming down lower around the edges of fields. Dogwoods are blooming below 2000ft. in towns, but none are blooming yet in the woods. I have been looking for the E. Hemlock adelgid in some hemlocks, and unfortunately saw signs of infestation in several, both along creeks and up high on ridges.   The weather today was sunny and hot, especially uphill. I can't ever be satisfied-when it's cold, I want it to be warm, and when it's hot I complain and wish it were cooler.   I've been thinking a lot today about my Mom and her pending move. She is selling the house she has lived in for over 50 years and where she and Dad pretty much raised their family. I was in 4th grade when we moved there, my sister, Mary Dew, was 18 months, and Beth wasn't born yet. For us kids, that house has been "home" about as long as we can remember. Mom is moving to Maryville to live with Mary Dew, so all the furniture and practically all the momentos are being dispersed to family, given away, sold, or thrown out. My kids are getting some of the family furniture, which is good. Mom would hate to see some of her favorite pieces have to be sold to strangers or given to the Salvation Army. It is tough on her to be breaking up the family home, I know. It's also tough to be leaving Athens, where she has lived for some 63 years. So many of her friends have died or moved, but she still has many friends in Athens, and in her church-Keith Memorial UMC. I deeply regret that I will not be there with her and my sisters for Easter Sunday, probably the last time we all could go to Keith Church together. What a lifetime of memories we have in Keith Church! My Mom is one of the most sincere Christians I've ever known, so I'm confident she'll handle this move with strength and grace, like she does everything else.