Date: 2004-10-19
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Packed up ready to go, Ginny spoils us with another great breakfast. It's a rainy morning. We are at the outfitters when they open but neither outfitter in town carrys Frogg Toggs and the raingear they have is expensive. We liked our raingear and had no problems with it except that it shrinks when dried in a dryer! We decide to go to the library, find the phone number for Frogg Togg and order them direct for overnite delivery. One more day, a real zero, won't hurt us too much. We did find a pair of shoes for Flounder at one of the outfitters though. My shoes are in bad shape after 900 miles but it's the end of the season and they really have nothing to speak of in my size. I guess I will have to push them a bit farther! We go over to the hostel and tell the others what has happened and that we couldn't leave today. They to were thinking of taking a zero too and going to see a movie later. Flounder and I thought we should probably save a little money and opt out. In a couple of weeks, Flounder and I will get off the trail for 6 days for my parents anniversary cruise. Loot decides to leave us today and hike NOBO for a few days to find the Dysfuncional Family and move them ahead a little faster. By doing so, we may all be able to finish together. Meanwhile, Flounder and I will have to push ahead so we too can finish with everyone. Everything seems to work out on the trail! Back at the Lazy Fox we talk for a while with the other guests. Mike and Nancy from Ohio and Estraletta and Richard from NC.   Estraletta and Richard are NOBO section hikers that we met two days ago while we were slacking. They have spoken to King David but never met him.   Too bad because he can't be far behind. They decided to call it quits for the year when the weather turned cold up on Mt. Rodger. They came back into Damascus last night to make there arrangements to get back home.   They were picked up by some nice people who took them to the theater last nite to see a play. They said it was wonderful! All very nice people. Ginny, who supports the Barter Theater in Abbington , offers to give Mike, Nancy, Flounder and I some free tickets to see the play. We couldn't refuse. Thanks. Mike and Nancy said they were going to take Richard and Estralette to the bus station there anyway and that we would be welcome to ride with them. I mentioned that I needed some new shoes and asked if they would mind dropping me off at the outfitter there in Abbington before the show. Not a problem, they had time to kill! Thanks. At the bus stop we say our goodbyes to Richard and Estraletta. What nice people. The trail and the people you meet are truly heart warming. I end up replacing my second pair of Montrail Hurricane Ridge shoes with Merril Pulse. They are comfortable right out of the box and they need to be! I'm happy. After the outfitter, we still have some time to kill so we walk through some of the historic section. The town has come thru a couple of wars and several battles. Most buildings had to be rebuilt after one battle or another....even the churches. But there is one building that has stood the test of time and was never damaged or burned. That building would be the Tavern, the oldest building in Abbington. Oh, what we "civilized" men hole sacred! Well, we had to stop in for a brew where many famous people have tipped a few themselves. A cute interesting place.The Barter Theater has quite a history itself and has had a number of famous people perform there. During the depression a person could pay for entrance to the theater with vegtable from his/her garden and the performer would get a share of them for pay. Thus the name...Barter Theater. It is the official theater of Virginia. The play we saw was, "Letter from Wingfield Farm".It was a one man performance by Rod Beatie. I'll spare you the details but, it was awesome!Our rain gear should be here in the morning and we'll be on our way again!