Date: 2012-05-20
From: Trail Days

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning the sign in front of the Methodist Church says "Don't give up, Moses was once a basket case". hahaha, I love it.Most of the hikers were packing up. I walked down to the park where all the vendors are. I hoped to see the Vargo Titanium guy and purchase some lightweight tent stakes, but he was already gone. I wandered a little further down and saw a sale sign at the Hyperlite Mountain Gear booth. Hmmmm....... I walked over and asked Mike what kind of deal could he give me on one of his packs? He said since it's the end of Trail Days he would sell me one 20% off. Uhhh, I couldn't say no. I want this pack. I know I would buy one eventually anyway. Am I being a irresponsible?..............The pack is mine! I've spent money at Trail Days, but I got some good deals. I'm really excited about my new pack. It's smaller, weighs less then half as much as my other pack, and yet it's rated to carry the same weight. I like how simple it is and how the mesh pockets on the outside are more usable. I think this pack will work better for how and what I carry now. It's waterproof so I no longer need a pack cover or a garbage bag liner. The light color will keep my food from cooking inside it this summer too. I know, I'm nuts. There is nothing wrong with my other pack. It's comfortable and except for a couple holes where the mice have gotten to it, it's in pretty good shape. I guess now I can outfit a friend to go hiking with me!The Baptist Church held worship service in the park at 11:00am. I'd like to attend church services more regularly as I continue up the trail. My thinking is clearer and I feel more positive when my focus is on God. At noon Tarp Water and I walked back to the car. I'm giving him a ride to Roanoke today. We met up with K2 who loaded his gear in the trunk. He then informed me two more hikers were at the "Dairy King" who need rides to Pearisburg.  I don't know how much they get for a 2012 Chevy Malibu but they are pretty nice. I've enjoyed the AC, moon roof, and IPod ready stereo. Providing shuttle service has made the cost of gas and a rental car equal to a night in a cheap hotel. I probably could have made money if I was more serious about it. After I dropped K2 and the two other hikers off in Pearisburg, Tarp Water and I left for Roanoke. Tarp Water bought me dinner at Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant. My meal was brought out on a huge platter and the waiter said, "hardly anyone is able to finish that". I told him he was about to see me do it. It was one of the best meals I've had. It tasted really good and it was the right amount to fill me up. When the waiter came by to pick up my empty plate, Tarp Water explained that we're AT hikers and have superhuman appetites. We stopped at Walmart and I got a roll of 55 gallon drum liner trash bags, a roll of duct tape, and a $10 sil-nylon tarp. The tarp is a great deal, unfortunately it's only 5' x 7'. They should make it just a little bigger. But, it's lightweight and used along with a garbage bag bivy should keep me dry.After dropping Tarp Water off at the Howard Johnson I made my way back to Pearisburg. I had called and reserved a room at the Holiday Motor Lodge from the restaurant. I got the "body refinery" room. It used to be a massage parlor or something. Before I left for Damascus a couple of my friends had this room. There were massage beds in here then, now they have cots. There's no TV but it does have a bathroom. All this luxury for only $22 a night.I dumped all my stuff out on the floor and sorted out what to send home. I cut the bottom out of a trash bag and taped it to the top of another. Now I have a cheap but totally waterproof bivy sack. These heavy drum liners are 2 mils thick, with care it will last awhile. I used some duct tape and a knee brace to make a strassburg sock type thing. Hopefully my foot feels better tomorrow. I did the foot scape Courtney told me about. I used the rounded edge of a body glide container but it still hurt like crazy.I can't wait to get back in the woods.