Date: 2005-04-19
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So, at one time I was thinking I could slink into town and leave without taking a zero day, but after getting here, I need some time to sort through some things. It's not that I didn't plan on reaching Damascus, I just didn't really plan for leaving Damascus. When I started, Virginia was some far-off place, now I'm here. I spent some time looking at the map of the state and looking at my notes and data book for mail and resupply spots. I'm not really familiar with the state, but I'll be spending an awful lot of time here, so some study time is in order. I don't really need to get it all figured out and locked in, though, I just try to get a vague familiarity with the next 500 miles or so. The method to my madness has usually just been to look at the next two places for resupply and work out how many days of food to buy to make it to the next stop. Of course, I always think I buy too much food at first, but end up eating all of it, but that's another day's story. I find that if I have a good grasp on the names of nearby places, I can follow along better when someone local drops a nugget of advice or another hiker shares a past experience from someplace. In a lot of ways, I'm pretty much shooting from the hip, so things are ever-changing. Ultimately, I'm totally responsible for me, so I'll take the time to get a grip. It won't be the last time either, I'll bet. But anyway, for taking a day off, it sure was busy. Got up, grabbed a gigantic breakfast at the Dairy King and headed over to the outfitter. I got a new hip belt for my pack and talked gear for a bit with the guy there. I also got some new insoles for my shoes. I've heard folks swear by the superfeet insoles, so I'll give them a try. Swear by, swear at, we'll see. I got a silk liner for my sleeping bag as well. My fleece liner, while comfortable and warm, is more than I need at this point. There's a few cold nights ahead yet, but I'm guessing, or shall I say hoping, that I've still got enough to keep the cold out. Also, it takes about a pound off my pack weight and considerable bulk as well. I'll also ditch a pair of socks that used to be only for sleeping in on the cold nights and some midweight polypro bottoms. I've decided I can live without them.After the outfitters, I walked a half mile out of town to the Food City and got groceries. I still had my empty pack with me, so the walk back was a cinch. By the time I got back to the hostel, it was getting late in the day. I packed up food, hit the library again to check email and surf and stopped by the Dollar General Store. I think the only thing I was looking for that didn't get found was a new pair of headphones for my radio. There's always the next town, I guess. After all the walking around, I rolled over to a hiker feed (cookout) across the street. It was being put on by former thru-hikers that owned a rental place there, the Dancing Bear. All the hikers in town (maybe 20) gathered there to feast on burgers, dogs, baked beans, and all sorts of other goodies. It was a good time and well appreciated.Afterward, a few of us (Seth, Manuel, Biscuit, Ezra) rolled over, and I mean rolled, to the bar. Open on Tuesdays. It was impossible to fit much beer in after the meal, but it was a good place to hang out for a bit. We did some more sitting around at a neighbor's porch before ending back up at the hostel for the night. Today, it was a good day.