Date: 2004-04-13
From: Damascus, VA

To: abingdon gap shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

last night we had a great thunder and lightning show. the constant booming and rain on the metal roof of the shelter kept waking me every hour or so. but, even without the thunder, it's usual for me to wake many times during the night.i got out of bed around 7 and on trail by 8am. it was 10 miles north to damascus over gradually descending terrain. the rain was in full forcetoday, soaking me head to toe. something was wrong with my rain pants because water even got in there.i passed many today heading south. i thought, what a day to start hiking south from damascus?! are these people nuts? stay home where it's warm and dry. take zero day! at least i'm thru hiking (and heading straight for town where it's WARM and DRY). what else would you do on a wet day like this with a town so close by?damascus is significant in two ways. #1 most folks say if you can make it to damascus, you can make it all the way. that's 460 miles under my belt.#2 it's my 4th state! yay! (been in GA, NC, and TN (the no-privy state))just before crossing into VA, i had an interesting experience. as i turned a corner on the trail i came to an immediate halt. there before me were two birds... two 4-foot tall birds. i think they were emus. we just looked at each other for a while and then i politely asked them to move over. they didn't. so, i moved to the side and the female bird passed me going south while the male turned and went north. they were looking for food dropped by hikers on the trail. i caught up to the male bird in about 300 feet -- he didn't want to keep up with my 3 mph pace. from behind me i kept hearing this thumping noise. it was the female emu. i stopped, looked at her and got the feeling she wanted to get by and be with her mate. which is exactly what happened. i moved over and she walked by and trotted along with the male bird.i got into town and found that all the folks a day or two before me were zeroing in some of the best/cheaper spots. i checked out "the place". it's an ok hostel for $4/day but i was interested in quiet/hotel type surroundings. (i found out later that eats, mousetrap, and poptart are staying there... hippie is in a hotel somewhere.) the outfitter pointed me towards the Lazy Fox b&b. they said it has the best hiker breakfast around. so i went there and it is a really nice place. i got the room with the queen bed and the fireplace. running bear and scorpion are across the hall from me. ginney, who owns the B&B, has the bathroom stocked with soap, shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer. this is great since i only carry like, 1 ounce of shampoo on me and some dr. bronners.i have to remember to write where i'm staying at the outfitters so people can find me. i also have a package there... my boots from hot springs. i'll send them home along with some socks that i don't need anymore. maybe i'll do that tomorrow.i met hippie during the day. she and tripod are going to slackpack people 16-18 miles tomorrow. i might take them up on it. tomorrow will be a sloppy rainy/snowy day and a decent one to slackpack. the rest of the week is going to be good weather. i will probably zero to get some town chores, us mail, and internet stuff done.tonight the president is delivering some BS on tv. i haven't gotten political yet but GWB could learn a few things from hiking the trail. if you're getting your ass kicked everyday in a foreign country you may want to look at what you're doing... seems the reflection is trying to tell you something. what really sucks is the realization that GWB is my reflection too -- a really powerful and deceitful part of myself that is TOTALLY clueless. i'm watching my reflection now on tv. it sickens me.