Date: 2003-05-14
From: Tenn. Rd. 91

To: Low Gap Hwy. 421
Miles today: 7.0

start Tenn.91destination Low Gap Hwy 421We have managed to get to Damascus in time for the Trail Days Celebration. Every year at this time, this little town hosts a week long celebration for the hikers that come through here. The trail actually comes out of the woods and into town. Then it proceeds down the main street of town all the way to the other end of town. This weekend is the main attractions for hikers, but already rooms are getting scarce. There is a handful of bed and breakfasts but no motels. The breakfast at the Maples was just as their brochure promised. It was the 2nd best breakfast you have ever ate. Spinach quiche, fresh fruit salad, cinnamon breakfast cake, egg and cheese pie, baked apples, and a bottomless cup of coffee.The innkeepers are Russ and Sarah Woods. Their house is a darling and tastefully decorated older home right in the middle of Damascus. It is evident that Russ is the innkeeper at heart. His wry witt is evident all through the day. He is very concerned about Jerry's feet and gives him a tub and some foot powder for him to soak his feet in. Maybe I should have expressed our dismay of the mattress to him instead of to Sarah. It did not seem to really bother her that we had a very uncomfortable night's sleep. In fact, in her own words at the breakfast table "If you like us,tell others and if you don't like it here don't say a word to anyone". If she had of smiled or laughed, one could have thought she was teasing, but her straight face gave her away. She is a great cook though. There was another room available for tonight, and it was cheaper, so after I checked out the mattress, we decided to stay. Funny, that the cheaper room (and it was not cheap to begin with) had a much better mattress.The first thing on our agenda was to find out what was wrong with Jerry's boots. There was plenty of things wrong with them. The biggest thing being that they were coming apart inside. So after some expert evaluation, and Jerry pulling out a handful of shredded lining from his boot, he was fitted with new boots. It took over two hours to fit him, but Jeff at MR Outfitters did it right and did not get in a hurry. He also fitted my boots with some super feet inserts. Hopefully that will help my feet.We ran into Bear and Honey and joined them for lunch. No fast food here!! But Dairy King does fix a mean burger. Bear followed us up to Low Gap where we left our truck. He took us back to Tenn.91 and dropped us off.There is so much green here. It seems like all of a sudden spring has happened upon the trail, or maybe I have happened upon spring. This is a easy short hike to break Jerry's boots in. He says his feet are so happy he could dance. Yeah, that will be the day. Put a 50 pound pack on his back and we will see how far he dances!It does not take us long to hike the miles. It is nice to have a vehicle at the end of the day. It is also nice to have a motel room, with all the things we take for granted waiting for you. As we were coming out of the woods at Low Gap, who should we run into just finishing up supper at the pinic table, but Jitterbug and Hoover. I had read the journal today back at the shelter, and she had signed it today, so I knew they were ahead of us. I was really hoping to meet up with them for TrailDays, so this was great. We offered them a ride and a slack pack tomorrow with us, an offer they couldn't refuse, so to town we did go. We cruise up and down the main street of Damascus, looking for hikers I know. I am hoping to run into the ones I started with back on March 1. It does not take us long to cruise since the main street is probably less than a mile long.We decide to reward ourselves for such a great hike and go to the Old Mill Restaurant for dinner. Jitterbug and Hoover join us. I decide to get the prime rib. Talk about a meal for two people! I had at least a 10 oz. piece of meat leftover. The asparagus soup was wonderful with the assorted homemade breads, and garlic mashed potatoes complimented the meat, along with some glazed baby carrots. I will not be able to go back to trail food if this keeps up!We go back to the Maples and sit on the front porch and watch hikers walk by. This little town quadruples for Trail Days Festival every year. Most of the town folks are really friendly to the hikers, and go out of their way to help them. Some of the homeowners even let hikers camp out on their porch or lawn. Like Hot Springs, if you sit in one place long enough you will see everyone that is in town, sooner or later.It is almost 9:00pm before it gets dark here, but tonight we managed to get into bed before midnight.I cannot begin to name off all the hikers I have seen today. I just know that it feels like one big family reunion is about to begin. Most of the hikers who are past Damascus will hitch a ride back to here for Trail Days.total miles 7