Date: 2012-06-09
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Walking into DamascusWe wanted to get an early start if we were to make Damascus but staying in bed sounded so inviting. Dragging myself up first about 7:30, taking care of nature's call, and dropping the bear hang, I jumped on getting breakfast going. Fat Grandma had his 1/2 of the tent cleaned up lickedy-split, I cleaned up mine, ate breakfast, and we hit the trail by 8:30. We were currently at the highest point of this section of the trail so technically it was all downhill from here. But of course the AT never works that way, it always has new surprises each day to throw at you. So down we went. Second breakfast was at Low Gap, US 421. Water was available here on a small piped pool and there was a nice picnic table. However water was to be scarce from here to town so I half filled each of Bandit's water bladders for water for him. His pack was pretty empty only having 5 meals left, tonight, Saturday, and Sunday. He'd started with 13. I was going to need all my water for myself. We were able to get a call into the Hikers Inn while we sat at the picnic table. Two bunks were now on reserve for us giving us the much needed boost to make the long hike. Sweet!The trail ran smooth and the day was clear. I found a large turtle shortly before we arrived at McQueens Gap, but I was soon to be out-done. Fat Grandma was far in the lead and came across a bear cub crossing the trail. Fat Grandma's ensuing adrenaline rush caused him to stop dead and look for momma who popped up on her hind legs just off to his left in the underbrush to see what was going on as the cub sped toward the closest tree and started climbing. Fat Grandma made for his camera but momma dropped to the ground and took off down the slope. Fat Grandma was only able to snap a quick picture of the cub before it too decended the tree and made off after mom. Wow!We took a quick break at McQueens Gap. I'd been having trouble with the tent staying strapped to the bottom of my backpack. It would occasionally just slide out of the straps. Rather annoying. After the break we headed to Abingdon Gap Shelter for lunch.We arrived at the Shelter and there was no one else to been seen. So we made a quick lunch and then two other hikers arrived from the north and started setting up camp for the night. They and Fat Grandma needed more water and made the painful 0.2 mile trek down to the water source. After lunch, Fat Grandma and I pretty much split up. He moves much faster than I so he was off to town to secure our bunks and locate a good source for dinner. Bandit and I arrived at the TN/VA boarder several hours later having seen absolutely no one since the shelter. Taking pics was going to be difficult. I dug out my tripod and in the middle of trying to set it up, out popped a fast NOBO hiker who asked me what all the markers were about. He got excited and got out his camera. We took pics for each other and he promptly disappeared, never to be seen again until breakfast the next morning in town. Ok, that was just weird as we never say another hiker again. Bandit and I arrived in Damascus just before sunset and hiked over the river onto main street. Now how to find Fat Grandma. We stopped outside Quincey's Pizza, there were lots of hikers here all standing around. It was 8:45 and everyone noted I needed to get dinner before they closed when out popped Fat Grandma from that very Pizzeria. He'd found the hostel, gotten the two bunks, and was ordering pizza. I tied Bandit and our packs to the post outside and headed in. We stuffed ourselves on pizza and soda and I gave two huge remaining slices to Bandit who had no complaints.The hostel was fantastic, the owner even gave Bandit his own dog bed of which he claimed and refused to get out of! LOL Ah, that was one great shower!!!!