Date: 2010-05-04
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

Can you believe it!?!?! 18.5 miles! I've never walked so far in one day in all my life. Started the day off at the shelter, even having a second cup of tea, in no particular hurry it seemed. The idea of dashing for Damascus just felt absurd and pointless, but once I got going I got to thinking about it. I felt good. The terrain was very kind. I wanted to know if I could do it. Mrs Joy and I had agreed to meet for lunch at Abingdon Gap shelter, but when I came upon her hiking I told her I was toying with the idea of going for it. Told her if I decided to, I would leave a note in the shelter register for her. If I wasn't up to it I could throw down my tent anywhere and camp, I love that freedom of this life I'm living right now. Seems she was toying with the idea too, and so we did. We both went for it and we both met the challenge!!!!!!! Yay for us!!!!!! And there was still plenty of time to enjoy the sights along the way of the day's hike. Views on and off gorgeous valley views both east and west. Very very nice. Some day I'd like to take a stroll through Shady Valley, it's so beautiful from above. Wonder what people do there to support themselves? The battery on my phone was dead which is too bad. I'd like to share pictures of some things I saw this day. One, an old shelter, only to be used in emergencies. Most of the shelters I've been in lately were constructed in the early 1960's, but this one is very old, log cabin like almost. I crossed from Tennessee into Virginia which is marked by a welcome to Mt Rogers Recreation Area sign. I stopped and said goodbye to Tennessee. I know I'm a sap, it's true, but it was emotional for me. I did not weep however. A friend is sending me 50 pages at a time of my favorite book ever, Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire. I'm sharing it and passing it around the shelters, so last night Supermax and I were reading part of it.   As a free American, I have the right to be eaten by a bear. So says Ed Abbey. Amen. Supermax got a kick out of it, I think, LOL! Remember, she saw the mama & cub a few days back. I've been meaning to mention the flowers I've been seeing also. Mayapples, with their one beautiful flower! Everywhere, Mayapples! Gorgeous! Also this week I saw my first flame azalea in bloom, just just just barely. Two flowers. I look forward to the blaze a'comin! Mountain laurel galore! Especially back around the falls near Kincora, but all along the way since as well. Little tiny bluets, my favorite alpine flower. Saw some very thin a few weeks ago and marvelled at how early those were, but these now are fully developed, their sunny little centers smiling up at me. I love the bluets, I do. The trout lillies are almost gone, but I keep thinking I need to mention them, I've gotten such joy in watching them come to bloom, then fade. I think they must be called trout lillies because their leaves are mottled, like trout. Anyone know if I am supposin' correctly? And all the small and midsized yellow, purple, white flowers whose names I do not know. I do wish I had brought along my flower book, but then I would not likely yet be in Damascus. I'd be wandering around lost in a meadow somewhere more likely. I'm in my 4th state now. I've walked 463 miles. I've barely begun, but I barely believe I've come this far. Bring it on, Virginia!