Date: 2016-05-24
From: Stealth Campsite .2 out of Damascus

To: Woodchuck Hostel
Miles today: 0.5
Weather: light rain

I woke up again shivering around 6:30. I took out my phone and pulled up Damascus and the weather channel said it was 41. I looked for Tannersville NY in the Catskills and it said 58. Come on how the heck is it colder in southwest Virginia than the Catskill Mountains of New York. This is getting really old now. I forced myself up and packed up and headed the last .3 miles into town. I popped out of the woods literally between 2 houses. The trail follows a side street, then bangs a left and goes down a gravel walkway down the common. This was the where vendor row was during trail days. I walked all the way across the common then the trail makes a right and follows the side walk down Main Street. I have now been thinking about bacon egg n cheese biscuits from the Exxon station I had a trail days. I walked all the way down Main Street and the trail goes right onto another road. At this point the Exxon station was on the corner and I got off trail to go eat breakfast. I debated should I stay in town and take a Nero or do I do all my errands and head back on trail. My feet were a bit sore where my boots were rubbing but not horribly terrible. I knew I needed to eat, resupply, buy new rope and a new multi-tool, shower and do laundry. As I was sitting reading the newspaper I looked out the window and next door was a do it yourself car wash. Hmmmm shower check. I laughed at the visual of showering in a car wash with the big spray gun. No I didn't do it. Ompi texted me to say he was taking another day off as his left foot was giving him problems. I debated but decided what the heck I walked 30 miles yesterday why not take a day off. So I walked back down Main Street stoping at dollar general and an ATM. I checked in at Woodchucks. It was 10 dollars to tent, 2 for a hot breakfast and 5 for laundry. It was a deal in my book. The sun was shining and blue, blue skies. I set up my tent in the yard and put my laundry in first. I updated Facebook and went through emails while laundry was running. I also went through my food bag to determine what I needed for the next 4 days. After laundry I jumped in the shower and black water was running off me. Jeez with all the mud on the trail I was dirty. I sat on the back porch and talked to a bunch of thru hikers. It seems like so many people have gotten hurt due to the mud. The effort involved and the different movements you are making seem to have caused a lot of strain/sprains. I know 3 people here are going to a doctor today. I decided to walk back into town and supply up at dollar general (it's becoming my new friend) and hit the outdoor gear store for rope and a multi tool. I brought all my purchases back to my tent and organized it. At this point it was becoming dinner and I hadn't eaten lunch. I headed down to pizza plus where they have an all you can eat buffet, (AYCE from here on in). I ate 16 slices of pizza and 2 bowls of salad. I left (I think they were glad when I did) and walked through town and through the common. Felt good to walk and on days off I try to keep walking so my legs don't get stiff. I headed back to Woodchucks and hung on the porch for two hours and chatted with Ompi, gasket (who I haven't seen since the smokies) and a few other new faces. Around 8 I thought to myself who can I possibly be hungry again. I resisted the urge and went to bed. Luigi is coming into town today she's 7 miles away. I'm gonna wait for her and we are gonna get chocolate chip pancakes. It's her birthday so it's gonna be my treat (she doesn't know it yet) she turns 30 today.