Date: 2008-04-08
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Damascus Virginia
Miles today: 40.5
Weather: clear sky

There were a couple of late comers at the shelter last night and one of them "Freebird" rose early which prompted me to do the same so up packed and breakfasted I left the shelter by 07:30. I knew there would be a big crowd ahead of me pushing hard to get into Damascus which was over 40 miles away, I at least wanted to get 20 miles under my belt after my lazy afternoon yesterday.I hiked around the lake until the trail crosses one of the damm's and starts to climb the tarmac service road under the shade of some pretty impressive rock walls, the trail re-enters the woods a short way ahead and then you start a steady climb to TN Rte 91 Watauga Damm Road before you climb up again from Iron Mtn Gap to Vandeventor Shelter high above Watauga Lake. I reached the Shelter just as "Freebird" was departing (he has Longer Legs than me) I sat and ate a snack and a loose and scary plan began to form in my head!!! could I do the 40 miles to Damascus in one Jump????? Maybe I could but it would mean hiking into the night possibly not getting in town until well after midnight.I hiked on, the hiking was good the trail is not to bad and generaly was good underfoot. I stopped for lunch just below Iron Mountain Shelter next to the stream, I ate and then slept for 1hr my Damascus 40 miler was begining to take shape. I wokw up and hiked on it was a hot sunny day and the trail was good I felt in good shape so I decided the 40 miler was now on. I crossed TN Rte 91 again and crossed some open farmland where the trail had been re-routed since my last visit here, Beautiful day!! I passed a young lady on the trail who was standing over two packs so I assumed her partner was attending to a call of nature,I greeted her and she nervously smiled and replied I guess she probably thought I was some sort of looney out in the woods I thought came to my mind "40 miles" maybe she was right.I got to Double Springs Shelter and decided to eat my evening meal here as I would be losing daylight soon and did not want to have to stop to eat apart from maybe a snack once I started the home run for town.Whilst I sat contemlating the next 20 miles of which at least 75% would be in the dark the young Lady (Abby) and her Dad (Allan) came by and asked about the trail ahead as they were thinking of camping up the trail, I gave them as best information as I could from my memory and they headed out.I finished my dinner and followed shortly behind. I hike on to Low Gap and filled my water as darkness began to close in my guess was that I maybe had another hour of reasonable light before I would need my headtorch to see the trail.Darkness came in pretty quick and I turned on my lamp, this gave me a good view of the trail for about 10-15 metres ahead but not a deal to the side I would need to take care not to lose concentration and wander of the side of the trail. As I approached Abingdon Gap Shelter it was 21:00 and I could smell cooking way back down the trail, I got to the shelter to find as I expected that it was full and there were at least 5 or 6 tents that I could see set up. I took a short break and then set off for the final 10 miles or so to town.The trail to town switched from side to side from one side of the mountain to the other one side town lights one side pitch black, the town lights did not seem to be getting any closer and I was getting tired and starting to make mistakes so I was pretty relieved when I eventualy started to decend towards town and buildings began to take shape, I love this town it is a great trail town.I entered town through the park where in a few weeks Trail Days will be held, Trail Days is a hiker festival and the town will be full of hikers. I hiked down Main St to a soda machine and drank 2 can's of coke and then walked up to The Place a church hostel I knew it would be open and I at least would be able to get a shower and maybe some sleep on the sofa. I had my shower and then got on the sofa the time was 12:30 am I had done 40.5 miles I was beat.I wanted to stay at The Hiker Inn where I stayed in 2004 where Suzzanne ran my kind of place.07:00 I woke packed and walked over to The Hikers Inn there was no life inside so I left my pack on the porch and left a note under the strap asking for a room and saying I was going to eat, I realy hoped Suzzanne would have a space for me.I returned after eating at cowboys and found Memphis Tim was moving out I got his room in the house "Awesome"