Date: 2013-05-23
From: Holiday Inn Express, Erwin TN

To: Hurricane Mtn Shelter, VA
Miles today: 118.8

An awful lot has happened since I last wrote. On Friday, 5/17 I headed down to Damascus, VA where I was to meet the guys at a motel in Abingdon, VA. They got in to Damascus and got a ride to Abingdon from the same gentleman that gave Fahmah a ride in 2007 when I met him at a Bed and Breakfast in Abingdon with Dianne. The guy remembered Fahmah. I didn't get in till nearly 8 p.m. but we decided to ride back to Damascus to try to find Just Jack, who was to be camping there, and go and have some dinner. We went to Jack's camping spot, he wasn't there, so we headed down the street. At the first corner, near the blue jonny box, we found Jack!! We went to the Old Mill restaurant and had some supper and enjoyed a sweet reunion. As we were leaving, I spotted a familiar looking face, did a double take and said to Klip, "that looked like Jamie!" He thought so too, but she was gone at that point. We got in the car and when we turned the corner, Jamie and Paul (the Old Man) were walking down the road in front of us. We stopped and chatted for a moment, knowing we would see them the next day, and dropped Jack off at his camp. Paul and Jamie run the A.T. Lodge, a hostel in Millenocket, ME and a restaurant by the same name, and now we understand he has an outfitting shop in the hostel. They do shuttles to and from Baxter State Park and provide many resources for AT hikers and AMC. Fahmah met them in Dahlonega, GA in 2007, when he was dehydrated and Paul picked him up and recognized the symptoms right away. They are GREAT people!! On Saturday we got up and headed to Damascus for Trail Days celebration and met Jack at Cowboy's for breakfast. They make the best breakfast in Damascus! Biscuits and Gravy and big blueberry pancakes. Just a few tables in the corner of corner store, but the place was mobbed. While we were eating and chatting we noticed a pink shirt and cap walking through the door. I recognized "Steamah" or 2nd Shift Steamer, Steve Arsenault, another hiker from Templeton, MA. He is hiking for Breast Cancer Awareness and always wears something pink for the cause!! We finished breakfast and headed over to the park to check out the booths. Fahmah and Jack went to tent city to where all the vendors were set up to do repairs to hiking equipment for the hikers. Fahmah had a broken clip on his pack that needed repair. I found a good parking space and waited at a picnic table in front of the bandstand. It wasn't too long before the guys came back. I watched cloggers and listened to blue grass. At 2:00 the hiker parade was to take place. I decided to sit it out at the park and the guys headed to Main St. About 3:00 Fahmah called me and said, "I'm okay! I'm heading back to the park, the cops are telling everyone to get back to the park." I had no idea what he was talking about. Then I heard the life flight helicopters coming in. He told me about the accident that had happened. He was right there within inches and even helped as 20 or 30 men lifted the car off two of the hikers to free them from underneath. He had seen the face of the driver, who was clearly having a medical emergency, and was very shaken when he came back to me. On his way back to the park he came across a group of 20 or so people on their knees in prayer. It was very emotional for him. We both sat in silence just scanning as the crowd grew, to find Jack and Klip. Fahmah knew they weren't near the accident because that is where he was, but we needed to see them and know they were safe. They finally showed up. It was something we will not forget for a long time. We just thank God that nobody died. We know there were 3 life flights but most of the 60 injured people were treated at the fire station by EMTs. Kudos to the Town of Damascus police and rescue! They had an immediate response and handled it all wonderfully. At 4:00 they had a talent show. There was quite an array of pretty good performers and provided great entertainment. Fahmah and Klip had met Titus and Poppy up in the Smokies and had seen Titus a couple times after. We met him in the Park after the accident and found that we was going to perform. He sang "Country Roads" and I think was the best performer. But the performer that won the contest was a young hiker that "signed" the words to a lively song and ended with a lovely "moon shot"! I was embarrassed to death, but it was a great performance and got the crowd on their feet! And Jack missed it!!! We went back and met Jack on Sunday morning. We decided since we hadn't seen Honey and Bear we would look for them. I brought the apple pie with me this time (I had brought 2--one to celebrate Klip's birthday and one to share with Jack. Sharing with Honey and Bear was an added benefit! We found their camper and they were sitting outside enjoying the nice weather. We all sat and visited, another sweet reunion, and enjoyed the pie! Honey and Bear run a hostel in East Andover, ME. It is a beautiful log cabin with a bunk room in the basement for hikers. He also provides rides to and from the trail. Please check out the photos I uploaded of our time together. After the pie the skies opened up and we had a heck of a down pour. When it cleared up a little we headed over to the park and had lunch and an ice cream. By then it had started raining again and we waited out the storm in front of the ice cream man's trailer. Jack had left around 2 p.m. to go to meet his daughter for dinner. It was great to spend some time with so many old friends. Then, back to the motel to rest. Monday was spent at the laundramat and grocery store, then sorting out their packs. We got up early, had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, then I took the guys to the trail and dropped them off on Va 58. I headed on back to 81 (back roads) and got to Marion, VA around 10:50 a.m. I had a 12-hour trip ahead of me and knew I would be getting in late (or early). I would leave my options open and if I got really tired, I would stop. But, by the time I got tired, I was in CT and only a couple of hours from home! I got stuck in a 2 1/2 hour backup at the W VA line due to a trailer truck accident that closed the road for a time and road construction. But, I got home at 1:50 a.m. safe and sound. I have been sleeping since I got back!!! Not really, but I have slept a lot!! It gets harder and harder to catch up after these trips the older I get! The guys have made good time, up over Mt Rogers and through the Greyson Highlands and the pretty little ponies. Tony said there were lots of photo opportunities, but I doubt he got any. Maybe Klip did! They will be at Hurricane Mtn Shelter tonight. I haven't heard from them since I dropped them off as there has been no phone service. Their next stop will be in Groseclose, VA where the AT crosses Rt. 81. Their mail drop will be at The Barn Restaurant. It went in the mail today. We will not soon forget the Trail Days of 2013. Thank God for his mercy and for keeping them safe.Regina Brett's lessons to live life by - #15 "Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks."Life is good, but God in GREAT! Love you all.