Date: 2006-05-21
From: Trail Days, Damascus, VA

To: Hard Core, Kincora, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Started:DamascusFinished:Hard CoreSleeping:Kincora HostelMiles:0Total Miles:534.8Miles:including approach trail:543.6Trail Days was already in full swing by the 19. I spent the entire day walking to all the sites. Food, music, gear and craft venders, health services, librairy, etc.I had free blood work done and spoke to a specialist about the results. It seems my cholesteral has dropped to 179. I've also lost 16 pounds.I visited tent city (free camping area where most of the hikers setup). saw Mala and Miss Janet. Then ran into Lucky Dime and Sue. The rest of the day continued to be an on going reunion of hikers I hadn't seen in weeks.Friday evening I headed to the Baptist Church for their coffee house. They had an open mike, so I took the time to dedicate the song, "Amazing Grace" to them and the ministry they had for the hikers during Trail Days. I became especially close to Linda, who goes by Sonshine. She seemed to be everywhere. Where there were hungry hikers, there was Sunshine. She said I should move to Damascus. Let me tell you...it would be a great place to live! Got back to the Hikers Inn and we had a Bluegrass Special going on the back porch. Banjo and bass fiddle, compliments of Tina and her veternarian hubby, Jim. They weren't good, they were great! The guests had a blast singing, clapping and even dancing.Saturday was of to the races. To the post office, but no expected mail. Bummer. I was then off to tent city for Mala's blueberry pancakes, then back to town to sign up for the talent show. I was hoping to win a lighter backpack or sleeping bag. (need to get weight off my pack)Long story short, the competition was rough, but I got forth palce and landed a Granite Gear Vapor pack. When I went up to have it fitted they let me swap for a light, but stronger pack. I've taken pounds off the load I'm now carrying by winning the pack. My feet are thankful, I am thankful. I am even more thankful for the job Journey did by shaking down my pack and helping me put together a bounce box. With the new pack, my 45 degree sleeping bag and her lethal attack on the content of my pack, we managed to shave 20 pounds from the load I carried into Damascus. WITH FOOD FOR FIVE DAYS...FUEL AND 1 LITER OF WATER!!!! My pack now weighs 32.5 lbs. I can jog with this thing on my back. I bounce when I walk instead of making the earth move under my feet! Thank you again Jouney! Another neat thing was meeting people who recognized me that have seen my picture and read my journal on the trail journals website. Wild.I got to talk to Leif and Zip (trail jounals.com creators. I let them know the problem I was having getting the emails from trailjournals sent to my pocketmail address. They will be looking into it. I can't answer your emails, but I do get a chance to read them when I get to a computer.Sunday, after saying my goodbyes to new friends at Hikers Inn, I gathered with other hikers at the post office for Hard Core. (volunteer trail work) We loaded up in vans and cars (all 130 + hikers and headed south toward Kincora to help with the constuction of a new shelter. All the materials to build the shelter were carried by hand 1.3 miles to the shelter site. A water trail was started that will be completed tomorrow. The bulk of the crew will be working on a 1500 ft portion of the trail. I'll tell you more about that tomorrow. No room at the Kincora Hostel. I walked 2/10 mile to campsites along the AT at the river and put up my hammock for the first time...in the dark. I'm now in and ready to shut off the head lamp to get some zzzzzz's. Till tomorrow. Bluebird