Date: 2009-04-23
From: Kincora Hostel, Hampton, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 125.0
Weather: clear sky

Dear readers, The trail has treated me wonderfully since my last entry from Erwin, TN. Except for snow two nights ago, weather has been wonderful. We've crossed up and over amazing balds, summited the very challenging Roan Mt. (the last time we'll be over 6,000 ft before Mt. Washington, NH), slept in the beautiful Overmountain Shelter, stayed at the wonderful Kincora Hostel, and hiked through the beautiful Laurel Fork Gorge, and had the best chocolate banana milkshake ever at Bob's Dairyland in Roan Mt., TN. Overmountain Shelter was more picturesque than any photograph I'd seen - it's an old red barn converted into an AT shelter with a porch for sleeping that overlooks a beautiful valley. Bob Peoples, the owner of Kincora's Hostel is a wonderful man whose service to the AT community (through his hostel and all of his trail maintenance) is unrivalled. He drove 19 of us to town for dinner... in his pickup truck! That was an experience! I've ridden in the back of more of pickup trucks than I can count in the last 6 weeks. Anyway, yes, life is good, to say the least. I continue to hike with the "crew" that I've been with since the start. This includes me, Gangsta, Hermes, Saint, Wind-Up, and occasionally Rusticus. Someone wanted to dub us the Brady Bunch since it's 3 guys and 3 girls, but I think the "crew" is what most are calling us... I often find myself hiking with Gangsta, we have great conversation, and laugh a ton, it's always a good time, but sometimes I'll hike solo, or with the boys (if I can keep up or they want to slow it down!). It varies day to day. A few days ago we crossed a bunch of incredible balds and I was hiking solo. The views from the top were amazing and I felt as though I had the world at my fingertips being atop them alone and able to see for miles without another person around. It was a powerful feeling. Often when I say I'm hiking solo, it's true, I am, but there is almost always a person within 5-10 minutes. You leap frog people all day long when you take breaks. Our crew often meets up at a lunch spot halfway through the day then again at night to camp. Currently, we are in Damascus, VA! Mile 463! This morning we crossed our third state line! It feels good to have three states under our belt, although Virginia is the longest at over 550 miles. We'll be in it for over a month, still it's exciting to be here! Damascus is supposedly the friendliest town on the trail so we are spending two days here. We hiked an 18 then a 22-mile day to be able to hike on into town with an easy 10 miles this morning. My body is looking forward to the rest and relaxation the next two days. 22 was our longest yet. Weather was great and I was mentally prepared for the long day and had a great time. It felt good to really push myself physically. The highlight of the hike (according to some, whose name begins with "G") was when we were laughing so hard I peed my pants. Yes, it's true, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. It's not just an expression people. Good times, good times... at least I was one day away from being able to do laundry, right? I knew those extra polypros I've been carrying would come in handy! Now in town, I've scarfed down a footlong Subway and am excited to spend time in a coffee shop! It's also nice to have plenty of time to spend at the library online. I always feel so rushed typing up my journals, I leave stuff out, can't edit them, can't go into as much description or detail as I'd like, or feel as though my thoughts come out jumbled and unorganized. The one thing I am really excited for is my first chance to shave my legs! Originally, I was going to go my entire thru-hike without doing it. Men have their beards to show for it, we have our leg hair, right? Well, I am by no means a girly-girl, but apparently six weeks of leg hair is getting a little too masculine for me. I decided I would reward myself by shaving my legs every 500 miles. Only 37 more miles to go! As for the trail name, well, I have a confession. It's changed again, and this time it's official, I swear. But my confession is, it's a name I've been going by all along, at least with the "crew". It was given to me on day 3 and I tried my best to rid myself of the nickname, but apparently the trail wanted it to stick because it did. The larger trail community knew me as Sport, and it's what I was signing the trail registers with, but my 5 closest hiking buddies have all been calling me something different since week one. Recently, with the nice weather we've been avoiding the shelters and camping wherever we please so I haven't been around anyone who was using Sport. It seemed silly to say my trail name was something other than what my best buddies out here called me. Ya know how I mentioned in an earlier entry that trailnames are like boyfriends? Well, apparently, this new name was, metaphorically speaking, the guy that deep down you knew was right for you no matter how hard you tried to deny it or date other people? So, I decided to officially make the switch since nobody was using Sport anyway. And the new trail name (well, it's the oldest of 'em all actually...) is... drumroll please..................Wags. (Sage Walkers, laugh all you want). Yes, I was embarrassed and tried my darndest to go by something else, but the trail wouldn't let it go, so Wags it is. It was not worth fighting anymore. It's all Saint, Hermes, Wind Up, and Gangsta called me. I won't bother getting into how I earned the name now, but it was derived from the term "wag bag". If you're not sure what that is, google it or something. I'm sure you can learn. So, yes, Wags it is, and Wags it's been. Sorry for the change of identity once again, but this is the last one, I swear! I told them that by making Wags official, they better be hiking with me all the way to Maine now! I've come to accept it, although it certainly took awhile. I hope it makes you smirk or laugh. It does me and everybody else, but I guess that's not a bad thing. My time is about to expire so I must get going. Maybe I'll get one more entry in before we push off on Saturday. I'm really trying to focus on enjoying the journey and not think about Katahdin. And right now, my journey entails going to the Dairy King across the street for some ice cream. As for the next bit of trail, I am super excited for the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands! I have more to say but I guess it'll have to wait. Happy Trails,Wagsaka Sportaka Aliasaka Amy