Date: 2006-05-15
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Hey y'all! I now have a direct link so it's easier to find me. It's www.trailjournals.com/jumpstart based on my trail name "Jumpstart."Today was significant in a couple of ways. First of all, it's my birthday, so happy birthday to me- yay! (I woke up this morning and proudly announced words to that effect to the rest of the shelter. You can't be bashful about these things ya know. Unfortunately no one offered to carry my pack the 18 miles into town as a birthday present.) To celebrate my special day I decided to take a walk in the woods and eat trail mix. It was great fun. (Can't believe I'm actually 27 though. That is really OLD.)Also significant was crossing the TN/VA border. That makes three states down (GA, NC, and TN), and 11 to go (VA, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, MA, CT, VT, NH, and ME). Don't expect any more border crossings soon though: there's more than five hundred miles of the AT in VA, roughly one quarter of the entire trail. So I'll be here a while. They say VA is a real challenge psychologically. A surprising number of hikers make it to Damascus but never reach Harpers Ferry, WV. The number one reason for quitting (over-all, but especially in VA) is not because of injuries or finances, etc, but simply that the hiker decides he's not enjoying it anymore. VA's a big state, but I feel blessed that I've just rejoined new friends from early in the trip (it really does help having a "support network" of fellow hikers). And more importantly, I have old friends in Northern VA who are excited to host me for a night or two when I get there. I can't wait!The third significant thing about today is that it's my one month anniversary on the trail. On April 15th, 459.5 miles ago, I summited Springer Mountain in GA and began hiking north. It may seem like a slow start, but everybody starts slow. The next 460 miles will go by way faster, guaranteed. I got into Damascus around 2 or quarter after. It was an easy downhill hike into town. It helped that I ate pretty much all my food at the top of the mountain, so my pack couldn't have weighed more than 12 or 13 pounds. I love it when you hardly even notice it's there. I visited the P.O. and library, and checked in at The Place, a hostel operated by the local Methodist Church. A Huge old house, it probably accommodates like 30 hikers. As I walked across the church parking lot, I was surprised and delighted to hear my name. It was Kenny, whom I had met and hiked with my first day out from Springer. It was great seeing him and Julia, and getting caught up (in both senses of the phrase =). We ate dinner together at the Baja Cafe (great steak burrito!). We're both leaving town tomorrow so I'll probably run into them again soon. Blaze didn't stay in town and is probably a day or so ahead.Rounding out the day back at The Place, there were hikers playing Scrabble in the dining room, and I happened upon two more playing chess in the living room. I called winner, and the next few hours were a real pleasure. I played about five or six games with some very experienced players, and didn't lose one. A small crowd gathered just to watch. It was awesome! When one older guy said I was probably the best chess player he'd ever seen, I felt like a real hero. Does it make those countless hours spent playing online worth it? I'd like to think so, though my law school grades speak otherwise =). Anyway, truth is, the one guy probably would have beaten me if he hadn't been drinking that evening...