Date: 2009-05-10
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Phrase of the Day: "go figure"Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I am having a great time in Damascus. Moved from "The Place" over to a wonderful B&B called the Lazy Fox. Very Charming. It is right on the river. Very beautiful. A wonderful woman named Jinny runs it. I have a room with a double bed and plenty of room - how sweet it is.I spent yesterday doing errands. Went to the PO, updated my journal, did laundry, all those sorts of things. It was great not to have to rush around or worry about anything. All the gang is here: Rugged Shark, Just Mike, Dutch, Sundance, Pyrofly, Lucky Star, Ace, Two Pack and a whole lot more. Dr Evil (whom I met at my first hostel) is also staying at the Lazy Fox.I have met a wonderful woman named Bama and her husband Bill. Bama thru hiked in 2006 and has been doing sections every year since. She had lots of good advice and is just so kind hearted. She (and Dr. Evil) have gotten gear and food for Two Pack knowing he would need it, but wouldn't ask for anything. Just great people.Met a new guy at the B&B named Solo - from Milwaulkie. A hispanic guy originally from the Dominican Republic. Great guy. He has lost about 30lbs since he started. Speaking of weight - I haven't lost any, but my appetite is still not very good. I don't know what it is with me and hiking. Because anyone who knows me know I love to eat. I just don't get it. I am sitting at a picnic table in the center of town. The sun is finally out, bikers are going by, hikers with and without packs are going by. Apparently, this area is a big biking and kayaking area. There are Mtn bike trails and there is a rail to trail that goes from on top of a mountain in the south and goes to a town up north called Abingdon. There are at least 3-4 (or more) bike shuttle companies within .5 miles of each other.Next week is the start of Trail Days (huge outdoor festival) and the town is gearing up for it. As well as all the hikers. Lots of hikers are getting rides north so that they can hike back in time for it.   One of the things that they do is have a town wide tag sale. So yesterday, everyone was selling wares in their front yards. It was pretty cool. A woman showed up at the B&B late yesterday who lives in Roanoke. She was laid off in Jan and was feeling down so put her bike in her car and just started driving with no particular place in mind. She just got off the highway and decided to stop in town. She is pretty funny and very nice. She is going to ride today and tomorrow and then head home. I have told the SQ to do some research on the Virginia Creeper Trail to find out when we can come back and bike it. She has renamed me KB Birch. Pretty funny.I need to go buy food and get ready to leave in the AM. A couple of more days of rain are expected, but then it is supposed to get nice.I am up to 78 cents.   Woooo - I will be rich by the time I finish.I headed out to the grocery (which was a .5 mile walk out of town).   Just minding my own business and was on the sidewalk and it was wet. I barely noticed it. Well, it wasn't just wet it was pond scum slippery.   Bam - down I went. I fell on my left thigh between the grass and the sidewalk. It hurt so bad I started to cry. I got up and was standing there dazed. Covered in pond scum (just did my laundry) and someone who was driving by and saw what happened turned around and drove back to see if I was OK.   I could hardly stop crying. It hurt, but it was more becaused I was pissed to have fallen in town and gotten hurt. Two guys were in the car driving food from a church supper to some people who couldn't make it to the supper. One older guy and a young guy. The older guy gave me his hanky to wipe off. He wanted to know if I had eaten and would I like to come to the supper. Had I not eaten a great big breakfast I might have gone.   I have a monster black and blue on my outside left thigh.   The guys drove me to the store and while there Dr. Evil was there and offered to drive me back. Thank God.When I got back to the B&B - I got a ice pack from Jinny. I iced and elevated and took some drugs. Dr. Evil offered me some valium, but I passed on that. Took some motrin.I did some stretchs and had to go back out to finish my errands. It hurts and I know that it is going to hamper my hiking.   I will see how it feels in the AM.   I just can't believe how much it hurts and it was such a stupid way to get hurt. Bummer.