Date: 2019-05-14
From: The Station at Route 19E

To: Damascus
Miles today: 75.1

Hey Everyone,I apologize for not keeping up with my posts. I'm going to condense the past several days into one post and try to be more regular going forward. I'm sure many of you have heard of the tragic murder that hit the trail over the weekend. This is a rare but sobering incident and it has really put a damper on the whole community out here. We still don't know names of the victims and we all fear it may be someone we know. For now at least I am safe as are my immediate trail family.I left the Station at 19E without Hot Sauce and Prometheus because Hot Sauce had come down with bronchitis and had to go to the Dr. I wanted to get ahead of the weather and make some miles so I got a late start after a fantastic breakfast in Roan Mtn, TN. I was feeling ambitious and made it 18.4 miles to Moreland Gap Shelter, outdistancing most of the people I had hiked with over the previous days. It was a miserable night in the shelter, as it was too hot to sleep and there was a bear roaming the hillside up above, though he never came down to the shelter. I woke up early with my sites on the Boots Off Hostel at Lake Watauga in Hampton, TN. I made the 14.9 miles in good time, passing by Laurel Falls and climbing the inconveniently placed Pond Mtn. I got there just in time for BBQ and got a tent site for the night. The next day I decided to zero at Boots Off to allow my friends to catch up little and also to hide from the rain. Had a really nice time just reading and enjoying their super cool shower.It was still raining the next day but I had to leave and at least make a few miles. I did 9.1 miles to Vandeventer Shelter and got there just in time to beat the rain. And it rained so hard. The shelter got packed as did the limited tent space. I slept great and got out early the next day.I did a fast 12.2 and emerged at a parking lot where two camper vans were setup handing out trail magic. They were making grilled cheese sandwiches and it may have been the best thing I've eaten since I started the trail. I lingered too long and eventually they offered to take any interested hikers back to their camp for the night for drinks, free showers, free dinner and camping. I caved. I figured I could still make up the miles the next day and with trail days not until Friday I had plenty of time to reach Damascus.I spent the night with the Riff Raff crew at their annual pre-trail days encampment. I had a few drinks and crashed in my tent. Slept great.I got up and packed to go, hoping for an early shuttle back to the trail. That was not to be however. What I did get was coffee and pancakes and that was pretty fantastic. By the time we got a shuttle it was about 945 and it took us until 1030 to get back to the trail. I hopped out eager to make my miles. First leg was through a field, complete with cows. The day was cool but honestly perfect and the miles went by so fast. I crossed the state line into VA at about 530 and made camp a little outside of town at a camping spot. 20.5 miles. A new record. Tomorrow I'm looking forward to walk down into town for breakfast and some RnR.The sad thing is that Prometheus has decided to leave the trail so I will most likely be saying goodbye to him tomorrow as our little trail family begins to splinter. I may go to DC with Hot Sauce on Monday.