Date: 2012-04-21
From: Black Bear Hostel

To: Damacus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Today was another zero day for SOS and Runner. The prediction was for 80% rain. Neither of them like to hike in rain unlike the younger set who don't seem to mind. So we decided to pack up and leave the Black Bear Hostel and head for Damacus, VA. On the way we spotted the Heartstone Artisan Center just across the border in Virginia. It was an outstanding building inside and out which had opened in 2011. Wow...what a great stop! If you are ever in the area...don't miss this! On we went to Damacus and got the last two rooms at Dave's Hostel in the center of town. The first person I ran into was Lyn who was meeting her husband. She recommended the Quincy Restaurant for lunch so that is where we headed. The food was good and STEAMER was there! Actually there were several hiker friends eating there also...Mouse, Limegreen, Sit a bit, Nacho, Dakota Dan, and Wildfower (Lyn). SOS then went to make some calls and I visited the antique shop...lots of neat things but no sale for me. When I got back to SOS, he had looked up a yarn shop (wonderful, thoughtful husband that he is!) in Abington and wanted to take me there...did I argue with that?? Of course not!! We drove to the yarn shop and both laughed when we got there because we both realized that we had been there before...we don't know when but we had been. The owner was so nice and ran off a pattern that I liked even though she said she usually doesn't. She also recommended several nice places to go so we went to another artisan place and a coffee house both of which were nice. The drive back to Damacus was on backroads this time and we saw several neat old buldings...see them in the photo section! Back in town, we went back to our hostel and wrote this journal. SIGN the guest book if you are reading this! Thanks and have a great night!SOS here.It is difficult to not hike. You feel like you are getting behind. But, I decided not to because of an 80% chance of rain. It turned out the 20% chance of no rain is what happened. It rained a little but only for about a 1/2 hour.It is never bad when I take a zero day, because I spend the day with Trail Mama. We had a great time in and around Abington, VA. The Zazzy'z Coffee House was a good stop. I got my second coffee drink of the day. Hope I am able to sleep tonight. It is my goal to hike 22.6 miles tomorrow.We left Grandbob and Long Skirt at Black Bear resort. Grandbob is limping noticably and he may hitch a ride back to Georgia with us on Monday. This is every thru hiker's fear as they go North that they will have an injury that will take them off the AT. The AT does not discriminate with injuries it can take the young as well as the old off the AT.Purchased a new raincoat today Mountain Hard Wear with vents to unzip under the arms. My Northface, when I had to wear it, left me soaking in sweat shortly after donning it.Talked to Joe W, Mike A. and Lew W. gave them the website to read the journal. Hoping Joe W. & Mary W., my mother, my siblings and anyone else who wants to can join Trail Mama and I at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, PA when I take the 1/2 gallon ice cream challenge. The challenge is to eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting upon completing 1/2 the AT. If I do, I will consume 2,400 calories and 112 grams of fat in one setting. Uugh or Uhm?Please remember that I am "Hiking for HIM" and HIS youth in Indiana by making a pledge at the the Right Future web site. wwww.rightfuture.org - THANKS!