Date: 2008-10-03
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 138.3
Weather: clear sky

Freeeeeezing 38 degrees. The bag idea worked when I didn't kick it off. I was up for over 3 hours from 1:30am - 4:30am shivering and trying to fall back asleep.24 total miles today.Today was crazy!!! Riding mountain bikes in to Damascus was one of the funnest things I have done on the trail. Once again Spoon is the man for putting it all together.We hiked about 6 total miles to USFS 89. The scenery was breathtaking as it has been. We then hitched a ride with the outfitter shuttle van from the Damascus outfitter (crazy coincidence that he was at the road when we arrived). Roy (the shuttle driver) was dropping off a crew of people hiking Mt. Rogers when Spoon, Cubby and I reached the parking lot at 89. Roy offered to drive us the 3 miles to Whitetop Mt. Bike Outfitter (Where Spoon had made reservations for 5 mountain bike rentals as well as a dog buggy). We waited until Mango and Grettle showed up and took off. Roy also offered to take our packs in to Damascus and keep them at the outfitter while we rode the bikes. Another example of things magically working out as we push forward! Once I picked my bike from the outfitter I literally hopped on and did not stop for 11 miles. I rode along the Virginia Creeper trail which runs parallel with the AT for most of the bike trip but the AT actually runs on the Creeper Trail for a mile or so. Once again, not a purist when it comes to alternative means of recreational travel. As long as I'm doing the miles and having the best experience possible... I make the rules. At 11 miles was a Hike & Bike eatery. It was a mid point on the Creeper Trail to pick up a hot meal and / or some ice cream. Today was considered to be a light traffic day on the trail. However at the eatery were at least 50 bikes as well as people. There was Virginia bluegrass music playing on loudspeakers all over the property and everyone was smiling and having a great time. I can only imagine what the bike path and eatery look like on a Saturday or Sunday (today is Friday). The Creeper Trail is an easy trail to mountain bike for anyone. It attracts kids, families and people just looking to stroll and take in the scenery.After a burger and fries and a blackberry milkshake at the eatery we pushed on through the final 7 miles in to Damascus. Along the way I took many pictures and some action cam video! Over the 18 mile ride I went from apprehension in changing gears for fear of losing balance and falling to doing jumps off the sides of the trail and over bridge crossings. I revisited my days of being a paper boy of 3 years... I was (felt like) a bike master. I smiled all day and openly laughed over jumps. The air was cold and my face pretty much froze with an excited smile on it. I had the opportunity to look at myself in a mirror at the eatery. My hair was still in the position as if I were doing 10 mph, my face was red and shiny from the cold, my eyes were glowing from the wind and there was a smile stuck on my mouth. I had a blast all day.After reaching Damascus we fully occupied the Hiker's Inn Hostel. The room sleeps 4 and there is a double bed in a separate room. This place is nice. It is clean and the woman who runs it is extremely kind.We went out for Pizza and spotted some really sketchy looking charactors. Damascus has been an awesome town! ~Santana~ "by myself but not alone"