Date: 2007-05-20
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

From Momma Ash: Danielle called this morning from Damascus with a cry for help - she had dropped off her almost brand new Osprey pack at the Osprey vendor yesterday for the free cleaning they were offering hikers. She went back to get it this morning - Osprey had packed up and left town! Another vendor felt really bad for her and actually gave her a pack free of charge, but it wasn't up to the standards of the lost Osprey. So we are trying to get in touch with Osprey to get her pack back.If anybody reading this has connections to Osprey - HELP!!!From Bottle Cap: Funny story - woke up this morning to go fetch my pack from the Osprey gear reps that were fixing a stay (spelling???) on it. Went down to Tent City to find that where the Osprey tent had been was now just grass. I stood there looking hopeless and finally asked a nearby guy, "Hey! Where are the Osprey people?" He replied by telling me that they had left that morning. I was dumbfounded. He asked why and I told him they had my pack. So, panicking, I started looking around for my pack, a sign, - anything. Nothing. The guy started helping me and asking other vendors. Turns out no one had heard anything or seen my pack. I started freaking out because we were going to leave Monday and I'm telling all this to him and then he and this other girl take me over to their truck. These two people work for Gregory - a competing pack company. They fitted me for a new pack on the spot and gave it to me for FREE. What a life saving trail magic experience. I must have looked like a helpless puppy because they gave me a NICE pack. Sooo... I headed back up to camp tell Finn, Donny and Red Princess (his sister) what happened. We decide to go get something to eat and on the way I call Osprey and my mom to tell her what happened. I leave a message with Osprey and apparently my mom emails them. We stop at the outfitter on the way to lunch and come to find out - Osprey had left my pack with them. So now I have two packs and I have left an upset message with Osprey about running off with my pack. I get on my phone after lunch and already have a message from someone at Osprey about how my mother emailed them and that they did not steal my pack. Ekk. So I felt bad for accusing them but it was pure luck I found it at the outfitter - they didn't leave a note or tell me they might leave it at MRO. Oh well... at least it all worked out. On another note - Donny Keyhote has also announced that he too will be leaving the trail. He plans on hiking with Red Princess and all of us out of Damascus and riding back with his family when his sister gets picked up. It's less of a shock because it's something I've thought he should do for a long time. He's got business to take care of and the trail will always be here for him in the future. Go get'm tiger! So, last night was the last night of work and Trail Days. Today we all got ready for leaving tomorrow and took the day to relax. We've had a wonderful stay in Damascus and had some of the greatest hospitality. Sparkler has been kind enough to let us camp in her yard and even invited us up for dinner tonight. Her neighbors, Jerry & Eydee, have been wonderful too. They let us take showers, camp there, did our stinky laundry and even made Donny, Boat Drinks, Red Princess and Finn cheesecake. Great people and great town. Farewell Damascus! Note: Picture is from our first night out of Damascus.