Date: 2009-04-24
From: Dennis Cove

To: 0.3 miles past Laurel Fork Shelter
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: clear sky

Last night was the first time on this trip that I slept in a true hostel bunkroom with lots of people and it was quiet! I could not believe it! No one snored, and I only heard/ saw one person get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom! I got ready, ate a little breakfast, and said goodbye to Bound, who was hiking on that morning to Damascus where she would be picked up by her mom on Sunday at 4 pm and shuttled to Bland for the last section of her hike. She had given me an Entemman's brownie to remember her by, along with some Starbursts and Scooby Doo snacks. I had given her a sleeve of my (somewhat healthier) poptarts.   Bob dropped me off at the Food City cafe (my eyes still could not take the motion and light of the car drive), where I waited until it was time for my appointment. It was not exactly the kind of cafe I was used to... I had to buy a package of two raisin bran muffins with a cup of not-so-great coffee with powdered creamer. I sat and labeled some pictures, and then headed back across the 4 lanes of traffic.   "Well hello, Miss Wendy! You must be feeling better! You have a smile today!", one of the ladies at the eye doctor's said as I checked in. I still could not make out any letters out of my right eye, so the doctor set up an appointment for me in Abingdon (outside of Damascus) at 1:30 on Monday. I had heard that it took most people 2 days to hike the 50 mile stretch to Damascus, and was confident I could make it there by Monday morning with no problem. I was told to keep putting the drops in for the next 7-10 days, or until they ran out, and that it would be a slow healing process. They wished me a safe journey, and then I headed uptown for the library. But first, I decided to check out the eating options. I found a more upscale coffee shop called "The Coffee Company" and ordered a breakfast scone and blueberry smoothie, which was delicious. I wrote a journal entry and then enjoyed another scone with a coffee while I wrote another one. I love scones!    It was 1:30 and Bob had said he might be done at 3, so I made my way over to the library, where I was allowed one hour on a computer. I used the restroom and then walked outside to find Bob! He had indeed come by at 3 to pick me up! How perfect!   Back at the hostel, I ate a little more, sat outside and talked to Chele for a bit, and then packed up all of my things. While everyone else went on the evening grocery store run, I set out at 6:15pm to get a head start on the next 50 miles. The parking lot at the trail head was full of cars, and I had never seen the trail so crowded with day hikers! Later, I realized that it was Friday evening, and that many people were free for the weekend. The next two miles were a particularly interesting section of the trail, with huge rock walls, streams with elaborate bridges over them, and Laurel Fork Falls. I saw the turnoff for the shelter, but not knowing what kind of crowd would be there with all of the locals out, I decided to keep going a bit, and find a campsite by the stream. I found a perfect spot, and set up my hammock by the flowing water, for the first time! It was a clear night, so I decided that I did not need to set up my tarp, also for the first time! The final first of the night was opening and cooking the first package of Ramen noodles that I have tasted in my life!