Date: 2013-04-27
To: Slow Slide Back into Off Trail Life
Miles today: 0.0

Damascus, VAI'm sitting in Mojoe's Caf©, one of Damascus' very cool gathering places that serves good food and drinks, lamenting my current situation of being "off the trail".One of the reasons that I came to Damascus before heading home was to do trail magic. I needed to give back to the trail before I left. I needed to wrap my head around the fact hat I was finished. So my 1st act as a Trail Angel vs hiker this morning was to take Don's Brother 17 miles north, back to the trail where he had gotten off yesterday.We drove the winding, scenic Rt 58, marveling at its beauty when not talking about life on and off the trail. When I get home I have to remember to sign his guest book and remind him to sleep in the woods more often.We stood behind he car, chatting for a few minutes before he hiked off...and it hit me like a ton of bricks; I was NOT going back to the trail. I wasn't going to plan food, get my summer bag or sit on a mountain top with Beerdra and Grits again. I was going HOME.I climbed back into my rental car and turned toward Damascus. The tears began to fall and continued for the half hour ride into town. It had finally hit me.Upon returning, I parked the car at the Montgomery Homestead where I was staying and hit the streets of this little town I have come to love since I first walked through it in May of 2003. It is officially spring here with lots of flowers blooming around the Baptist Church sign, pink and white dogwoods fill the yards and the smell of lilacs is in the air. We used lilacs profusely at my Mom's memorial service 12 years ago on May 5th, so that fragrance added to my sadness as I walked. The old library is empty, having moved to their new building behind the park. The gazebo has been painted in anticipation of Trail Days and the town now has free wireless network. Quincy's is now the Blue Blaze Caf© where I had the very best catfish of my life, and there's a new vegan restaurant across the street.I walked and walked, even though my ankle began to ache. I felt the need to walk. For 6 weeks I had had one job to do daily....walk.When I had completed my circuit, seen what I needed to see for today, I returned to the Inn, made a bag of ice and settled on the comfortable front porch. I put my leg up and watched the world go by. Before long two young hikers, Raven and Chainsaw arrived looking for lodging. After they settled, I took them to the Food Lion to resupply. Later, they invited me to join the for dinner, but I had already made plans to make myself a huge salad and enjoy it on the front porch.An hour later while eating my dinner on the porch, I got a call from Grits. He was upset, "I just put Beerdra into a car, she's hurt and going to the Roan Mountain Bed and Breakfast for the night. Journey, she was crying....I'm worried", he said. I told Grits to go on and finish his last 4 miles and I'd call and offer assistance to Beerdra. I texted her and waited for her response. When it came, she filled me in on her excruciatingly sore calf muscle and told me that she'd been having trouble for over a week. I made plans to collect her in the morning and bring her to Damascus where she could get good healthcare, the amenities were close and the people caring. I promised to take her back before I left Damascus.With plans set for morning, I hit the sheets at 9 PM and was sound asleep minutes later~J.