Date: 2015-05-08
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Crazy Larry's Hostel
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I was up at 5 and on the trail by 6:15 with an 18.5 mile day ahead of me to reach Damascus. I was so excited to finally be getting into Virginia. Tales of easier trails and gentle rolling hills have been the subject of many of my thoughts as I encouraged myself thus. "If I can make it to Virginia I'll start hitting 20+ mile days easily." (We'll see how reality meets with these rumors and fantasies! ) There was no privy at the shelter so I had to do my balancing act again on a log in the woods behind the shelter. The flowers along the trail were running a riot of colors and there were insects, newts, toads and birds galore! Along the way at the high point of the hike, was the foundation of a former fire tower, all that was left was the concrete pilliars with the bolts bent over where the tower was bolted to. Then I came across the tiniest and ricketiest shelter. It had a platform the size of a twin bed inside and could have fit two hikers if they were comfortable with spooning! I got so excited and shouted at the top of my lungs and celebrated with a safety meeting at the TN/VA state line! I had traveled close to 500 miles already and was crossing my first major milestone! Virginia makes up a full quarter of the trail and is supposed to be very beautiful and full of historic sites. I ran out of water in my platypus (2 liter ) and finished my 2 20oz bottles within a mile from the town and it was feeling like summer had arrived in Virginia! It looked like a beautiful town with playful rivers running through it. I checked and sadly saw that there would be no AT&T service here in town as has been the case in too many towns along the way including Hotsprings. The trail goes through a beautiful park along a playful river where I heard the Trail Days celebration would be held. There was a mock shelter, sadly with a no camping sign in it. The trail goes by a railroad caboose and a tiny locomotive before crossing the river on the main street of the town. I stopped at the Dollar General for 2 32oz Gatorades and a Heath Bar Crunch ice cream bar before getting directions and walking to Crazy Larry's hostel and checking in for a bed. I told him I wanted to stay until Trail Days were over and I wanted to find some work to make some money. He said he'd look into it and make some calls. I got showered and then turned in my laundry to be cleaned and walked downtown for a belt (mine had broken) and to get something to eat. I ate at Bobo's and had a great big burger with Bacon, bleu cheese and home made chips before checking at the construction site next door and the two outfitters asking about work. At the Mt. Rodgers outfitter a man outside said he would need help the next day for a town wide yard sale and then changed his mind and asked if I would mow his yard today? I said "Sure!" And was soon manning an ancient and very wobbly push mower and in about an hour and a half I was finished with $20.00 and a ride across town to the hostel where Larry gave me a plate of fried chicken with hot sauce and sold me a Sprite and a Heath Bar Klondike bar for $1.75. I took another shower and laid down to catch up on updating my Facebook page. I was tired but my leg was feeling o.k. and I was feeling strong. I had another safety meeting to help recover from the lawn mowing and then listened to my evening Bible & music before going to sleep.