Date: 2003-05-15
From: Abingdon Sheltr

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It has been an long Thursday. I awoke up early, due in part, to the early morning thunderstorm that passed through camp this morning. I was on the trail by 8:30 and down to Damascus by noon. Along the way I chatted some with Hiker Biker Babe (about odd and funny options for my participation in the talent show-none really seemed all that feasable). I also took a great picture at the state Virginia State Line.I picked my package up at the post office. Sadly, there was only one. The package that the Hike Inn was going to forward to me in Damascus had not arrived. It contained a very special, very necessary item for my trail survival, especially as the temperatures continued to rise, BodyGlide - the body lubricant runners use to prevent chaffing. Instead, I had a letter from the Hike Inn letting me know they had returned the package to sender. Bummer! A friendly couple gave us a ride from the post office to the campground just as it began to rain. While I was down in the city I had run in to Dutch Treat and Hummingbird who tried to tell me where their tarp was set, so I could pitch my tent near theirs. When we got to the campground, Stretch, DarthVapor, Takereasy and I huddled under a tarp I assumed was Hummingbird's, during an afternoon rainstorm. Within a couple hours I was at the right tarp, waiting out another storm - this time with my hosts. I also met our neighbor - Chris - who has been hiking for two years straight now. They fixed burgers for me, I set up my tent, then went downtown where I was to meet DarthVapor, Stretch, Roam and Wounded Knee for dinner. Tapeworm joined us too. It was a nice dinner with these folks. After, we went to the SideTrack Cafe where I saw Regan. Oh, it was such a joyous reunion to see Regan again. She and I had been in constant contact before the trail, but this was our first encounter on this long path. We talked and talked about tons of stuff. When we were ready to head to the campground, we walked towards Cowboy's first for a quick beer run. On the way, people from the Methodist Church invited us in for dinner - not a hot dog dinner, mind you. They had a full Souther Pot-Luck Dinner spread across four or five tables. I even got to eat a pulled pork sandwich. The hardest part about being there was that I had been eating practically nonstop since 3 p.m; but I had no intention of giving any impression but that of a thru-hiker. One serving of dinner and one of dessert was all I could manage. We did go to Cowboy's, then got a ride back to the campground from Troy (Mitch's son - from Ohio). Regan and I hung out for an hour or so, talking and catching up. We watched the most amazing moon rise over a mountian that had a unique rediating light, but for some reason it was covered partially. She had to go to town to make a phone call. I wanted to go to Billville to find Gary Roberts. When I got to the left side of the campground - where more of the partying was taking place - I found everyone displaced in the parking area - far from the central partying area. It turns out they were all watching the eclipse of the moon. I had seen it earlier with Regan but we had no idea we were watching an eclipse. When I found Gary we hung out and talked for a long time. He asked me lots of questions about my hike and reinforced his support for my journey about a gazillion times. It always means a lot to have someone so enthusiastic and supportive for your trip. I went ack to my tenting area around two or three a.m. to find Regan, NightFever, SourMash, and Groovy there talking. I passed out penutbutter waifers to my drunk and hungry hiker friends before going to bed.