Date: 2006-04-13
From: TN 421

To: VA 728
Miles today: 28.3

ThursdayGray Feathers and Memere 728 to Damascus 13.5 milesAmoeba Damascus to 728, then 421 to Damascus 28.3 miles (plus 1.7 to make an even 30)Gray Feathers and Memere drive the Element to 728 where they¢ll start today¢s hike. Amoeba starts walking from Laurel St in Damascus. 50¢s, low clouds, no rain forecast.Compared to yesterday, Amoeba feels draggy. Too much breakfast this morning.Taller yellow violet.White flowers, forget name. Hepatica?White pines, hemlocks. Branches on the hemlocks go all the way to the ground, the trunks are wearing long skirts.Blossoming trailing arbutus.Climbing up the Knob, an idea creeps into Amoeba¢s mind. Can I do both hikes today? Silly, if you were going to do that you should have started a couple hours earlier.   It¢s 28.8 miles.Fringed polygala.Wire mesh on 2 log bridges. Thank you maintainers.Sprinking a little, then sun out again.At 58, the sign that confused Purple Rose and Amoeba last year. It had been mounted backwards. Last year the sign stating AT North was pointing to AT South, and vice versa. This year the sign has been correctly reoriented, telltale nails still there.Unusual white pompom flowers with dark green swordlike leaves.Purple violets, yellow flowers.Waterfall tumbling into Laurel Creek. Log bridge.Spring azure butterfly.White vetch.Amoeba¢s ears are popping with the elevation change. Switchback, somewhat eroded.Hello Memere and Gray Feathers. Amoeba mentions that she may try to do both hikes today if the first one goes well. What?? ¢Either I¢ll leave for Syracuse this afternoon from 728 or I¢ll knock on your door at the Dancing Bear tonight, looking for a shuttle back to the Element at 421.¢ What??Sanders 14 mile off trail, pass it by.Hello to 2 NOBO slackpackers who saw Amoeba this morning as she was walking past Cowboys.Hello to Mike and Jane Lloyd who stayed at stables campground when Amoeba, Memere and Gray Feathers were there. They¢re out scouting for a trail for their western PA hiking group. This is a long way from western PA. Delaware Water Gap is closer. How is that? Beautiful, says Amoeba, but Mt Rogers is in a class by itself.Hello to Preacher, a section hiker who¢s hiked CT, MA and VT into NH when he lived up north. Now lives in Houston and is hiking Springer to Damascus. This is the first time he¢s slacked.Amoeba drinks a liter of chocolate milk, doubling up lunch and beverage.Hello to 2 section hikers from WV, slacking from Summit Cut to Feather, a car at each end. No trail names yet.Green pond at Bear Tree Gap.6-spotted green tiger beetle, flying low.Wicked stomach cramps from the milk.1:40 out at the car. 2 bicyclists on the Luther Hassinger Bridge.At the parking area an immaculate bathroom with TP and sink.Amoeba: I¢ll drive to 421 and decide there what I¢m doing. If I feel OK I¢ll go for the double hike. If not, I¢ll head into Bristol, catch Rte 81 and start north.It¢s an hour before she gets to 421.Cutting it close, but the cramps are gone and she feels good. No TN map, but she has a headlight. Fresh socks.Go for it.Blue sky, nice breeze, but huge thunderhead ahead.Spring beauties.Cooling. Sun is lower.3 people are at the shelter. One of them is Bronco Billy. Bronco, I¢m trying for a 30 mile day! It¢s all good walking from here, he says. Amoeba knows this. She hiked this section last year. She thinks it¢s the easiest 15-mile section on the AT.6:06 Backbone Rock.6:18, another gap, 2 rumbles of thunder.6:41 TN/VA line.8:00 in Damascus. Still light out.Amoeba walks to the Dancing Bear and knocks on the door of the Papa Bear Room. Gray Feathers answers. You did it! They walk up to the ice cream shop that¢s near where the trail goes into the woods. And back.30 miles. A first. Amoeba starts dreaming about a 45. Silly old lady.About 10PM Amoeba starts for home from 421. Gray Feathers and Memere start back to the Dancing Bear. They¢ve got an early shuttle appointment tomorrow.A big cup of caffeinated coffee keeps Amoeba wide awake until 4:15, just south of Harrisburg. 3 hours sleep at a rest stop. By noon, home in Syracuse. It¢s income tax weekend. A couple of last minute transactions that have to be done in person due to the upcoming tax deadline. Then back on the road towards Jamestown. She¢ll be hiking on the FLT with Spinner tomorrow morning.Goodbye for now, dear friends, Memere and Gray Feathers. Thanks for everything. This has been a fantastic 11 days. A favorite hike.