Date: 2015-04-30
From: Shady Valley TN91

To: Low Gap TN
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: scattered clouds

After a delicious homemade breakfast, made by Natalie, the owner of the Mountain Laurel Inn, the Iceman started his nero hike where he left off two days ago. The gate into the field, where he started, was ADA compliant. For the first mile the trail was paved with stone and relatively flat. This allowed anyone wheelchair bound or in anyway disabled the ability to experience part of the Appalachian Trail. After going through two separate ADA gates one came to a stile and that was the end of the ADA trail. The ADA trail was at a 3% grade and after one mile one could look back and see lovely views of the field and surrounding area. The trail continued through a forest of Maple, Tulip, Beech and Oak trees. At this time of year hundreds of different kinds of flowers can be seen in the fields and forests. Without the flower book it's impossible to give then names. So if the Sherpa can persuade the Iceman to carry the flower book, or take more photos we may find out their proper names. At 12:00, after only 2 1/2 hours of hiking, and 6 miles, he's getting faster, he called and said he was at the pick up point. The laundry was finished and packed into the trunk and it was time to get back on the switchback road that lead to the pick up point. Ready for a nice lunch in Abingdon, VA off we went to 128 Pecan St. The best restaurant in the town! The owner greeted the Sherpa with "How've you been? It's been a while". You ask yourself how would the Sherpa know this fellow. WELL!! In November last year, while the Iceman was taking a course at the Appalachian Trail Institute, she was on her own and she stopped at the same restaurant for lunch but instead of having lunch, just then, saw a woman and man on bicycles approaching the restaurant. The woman about 70ish was bleeding on the side of her head. It was apparent that she had had a bicycle accident. Upon reaching the front door of the restaurant the Sherpa heard the man ask if his wife could have some ice and sit on the front porch while he rode his bike back to Damascus to get his car so that he could bring her to a hospital/doctor. Hearing this the Sherpa offered to drive him to his car and he accepted. During the 12 mile ride they talked about family, grandchildren, skiing, snowboarding, jobs and all sorts of things. They lived in Boone, NC and were riding the Virginia Creeper rail trail, as they often do, when his wife fell off her bike. We arrived at the parking lot in Damascus, where he had parked his car. He was anxious to get back to his wife. Even hungrier now, the Sherpa turned around and went back to 128 Pecan St to finally have lunch. Upon reaching the restaurant the Sherpa asked the waitress where the injured woman was. It turns out that she had the keys to their car and couldn't tell him because she didn't have her cell phone with her. The Owner, hearing the story, felt so bad for her that he offered to drive her to Damascus. The Sherpa was enjoying a tasty lunch when the owner returned to his restaurant. He sat down with her and they had a long interesting conversation. That's how they met. After fried oyster tacos for the Sherpa and fried oysters on top of a large salad for Iceman it was time to go back to the Inn so that the Iceman could wash up, plan more hikes and get ready for BBQ and Bluegrass at Heartwood tonight. Heartwood is a new museum dedicated to the music and crafts of the region. Every Thursday night they have a bluegrass band and BBQ. We're excited to hear a live bluegrass band here in Virginia.