Date: 2016-05-19
From: Hiker Inn, Damascus VA

To: Mountain Home Cabbin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

We got up late for thru hikers. We got back late from eating at The Old Mill the night before. Hiking in the rain had taken its toll. Also we were unsure how long it would take to shuttle the cars. In hind sight, we probably should have paid for a shuttle and saved some time.   Kim, who we met the night before, asked if we could give her a ride to Marion VA. I said it was OK with me, under two conditions. One, we were going to Roan Mountain TN before we went to Marion. So we would take four hours to take her on a 40 minute ride. Two, as long as all of our gear + her pack, fit in Tag Along's car. Kim said she had all day to get to Marion. Her alternative was hitchhiking. She prefered going with us. On to condition two. Tag Along had her caving gear in her car, in preparation for caving after hiking the AT. Then we added our gear plus Kim's. It all fit! Amazing!   We drove toward Mountain Harbour B&B. A few wrong turns and back on track. We stopped at McDonalds in Hampton. This was Kim's third trip to Hampton. She thinks she is destined to live in Hampton. She was told on a previous trip to Hampton when she was at this McDonalds, that they did not have hash browns. There were no hash browns on the menu board. As I was ordering, I noticed there were hash browns waiting to be fried. I pointed to them and asked if I could order hash browns. They said yes. I ordered two. Huh?!   We arrived at Mountain Harbour B&B. We stopped in to use the bathroom. The hikers on the porch were discussing Trump vs Hillary Clinton and other politics. We tried to not get involved.   Again went in Tag Along's car. Kim went in my car. I drove in the lead. I asked Kim why she hikes the AT. Her son came to her three years ago and said he wanted to hike the AT. She did not know about the AT at the time. He explained. She agreed for them to hike. They hit some bumps when training but still chose to thru hike the AT. Now she was hiking mountains, something years before she thought she could not do. She was overweight and used to be a heavy smoker. She has met so many interesting people. Before the decision to hike the trail, she was consumed with her job. Now she was focused on living a life and hiking the trail was a part of that.   Kim said we could drop her off anywhere in Marion. She had plans to meet her son in Marion. I stopped at a parking lot near a major intersection. Tag Along pulled up beside me. We got out of our cars. After discussion, it was decided Kim needed the internet to be in touch with her son, so we drove her the 3-5 miles to the McDonalds. We said our goodbyes.   Again and Tag Along wanted to check out the outfitter in Marion. On our hike into Damascus yesterday, we discussed our wish list for gear. A sleeping bag liner would have been nice on that cold night. The outfitter had recently opened and then sold out of many things during Trail Days. Again bought some wool socks. We saw a notice about a shuttle service in Marion. We instant messaged Kim on Facebook that there was a shuttle that had multiple stops in town, the ranger's station at Mt Rogers Visitors Center and the nearby shelter for 50 cents.   We were off again. Again in my van and Tag Along alone in her car. Virginia is a long state, even driving. We ate dinner at Cracker Barrel. We needed to use the bathrooms as we took the exit for Pen-Mar Park. We arrived at the park at sunset, when the bathrooms were locked!   We drove to the closest establishment. It looked like an ice cream shop, but it was actually a package liquor store with a pool hall attached. You never know where we are going to end up on an adventure!   We returned to Pen-Mar Park, on the . Prior to our trip, I emailed the park and they sent me a "Do Not Tow" notice. We put the notice on the dash and left my van at the park.   The three of us drove in Tag Along's car to Mountain Home Cabbin. We arrived at 10:30 pm. We had phoned earlier saying we would arrive late. At the front door, there were instructions where we should sleep. We were also asked to write our requests for breakfast. What service! Chris arrived a few minutes before us. She had worked a full day and then driven from Charlotte.