Date: 2009-04-26
From: stealth site 1.5 miles before Iron Mountain Shelte

To: Damascus
Miles today: 27.5
Weather: clear sky

I got up at 6:30, changed, cooked breakfast, and packed up. By 8:15, I was at Iron Mountain shelter and back on track. I was moving much more quickly than I had been yesterday, and felt happier and more energetic. I got my mojoe back! I found Braid collecting water in a dipping pond on a side trail, and had a chance to let him know that Erik knew a neighbor of his in Durham (a connection that I had made at the end of the day after meeting Braid for the first time the morning we had breakfast at Mountain Harbour hostel). Braid continued on while I collected and purified water for myself. I did not catch him as soon as I thought! What was he doing? Flying down the trail? When I did see him, he was crouching down along the side of the trail on a descent, eyes peering up at me. What was he doing? Was he: a) hunting his prey,   b) photographing a trout lily , or   c) digging for an ancient healing remedy? I could not be sure...After informing me what he was up to, he let me go on. Again, I was torn. I felt it would be great to hike with him, but by this time, I also felt that Damascus was within reach if I kept moving... I decided to press on. I made it to Double Springs shelter at 11:09, had lunch, collected water, and chatted with some of the other hikers who had come in. I took off at 11:57, and thought that if I could make it to Abingdon Gap shelter by 3pm, that I could make it to Damascus that evening! I arrived at the shelter on schedule at 2:54, checked the registry, and descended another long path to get water. Throughout the day, I had been pouring water on myself to help keep cool, and this time, it worked better, as the temperatures were not in the high 80's as they had been yesterday (although it was still extremely warm). Part of the difficulty of yesterday was the extreme transitions our bodies were required to undertake, going from blizzard temperatures a few days earlier, to extreme heat. It was like training for the Boston Marathon all winter long, and suddenly having the temperature spike to 80 on race day. How was your body supposed to cope with that?   I left the shelter at 3:35 and headed out for the last 10.2 mile stretch into Damascus. I knew that I would hit the Virginia border in 7.5 miles, and kept picturing reaching the famous wooden sign in Damascus after that. I started to tear up a little bit. This was a big milestone, and on top of that, this would be my biggest mileage day to date: 27.5 miles! But I could not get excited yet, as I still had 10 miles to hike. I put on my iPod to help me through it, and plodded away. About 20 minutes before I expected to reach the VA border, I saw a sign! I read that it marked the Mount Rodgers club section of the trail. I got a little disappointed until I realized that Mt. Rodgers was in Virginia!! Then, I saw TN/VA written in marker on the side of the post! I had made it!      I continued on and came upon two tents set up to the left of the trail. 'Not So Crazy' and 'Ninja' were enjoying another dinner in the woods. They would get into Damascus in the morning. I was too excited to be so close not to get in that night. Ninja is from Boston and told me he realized that I was the Wendy who worked at MIT after he left Kincora. Not So Crazy asked how my eyes were and remarked on the improvement in my mood, saying that I looked like death keeled over when I came to Kincora the other day. (It's true...). We wished each other a good night and I moved on...just a couple more miles! I thought of Bound and how I had missed her by just a couple of hours. There was just not enough time to catch up.   As I descended into Damascus, I smelled the sweet scent of the spring blossoms on the trees! Damascus was nice! I walked in between houses as I got out of the woods. Where was the sign? I saw clusters of beautiful flowers in people's yards, and then I saw the wooden sign that was erected by a Boy Scout troop in 1990. It was smaller than I thought! No one was around to take my picture, so I moved on (knowing I would have to come back for that!) It was 7 pm, and I was tired. I walked into town, wondering where 'The Place' was located, as I heard several people were staying there. I saw a sign for pizza and decided to stop in... There was a table of hikers inside, but surprisingly, I didn't know any of them! I set down my pack and went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Although I was invited to join the others at their table, I decided to find the hostel, drop off my pack, and see if I could find anyone I knew before heading back for dinner.   I found Hellbender at 'The Place', who told me that Bound was still around, hanging out Jeremiah Johnson (who had made an incredible effort to catch her after flying back home for several days after reaching Erwin!) and her mom. I found a bunk, dropped off my pack, and put some eye drops in my eyes. Then, I heard Bound's voice! She was in a neighboring room! I walked in, and in a surreal moment, saw Bones standing next to Bound! Literally and figuratively, I felt like rubbing my eyes! (They were stinging and watering from the drops and no one had told me that Bones would be there!). I had read and really enjoyed his AT journal last year. Bound looked like a cute cowgirl with her hair down and a cowgirl hat on. I was so glad that I pushed to get into Damascus that night! We all went outside for a group picture in the parking lot, met Bound's dog, Geranimo, and said goodbye to Bound and Bones, who were headed to Bland. Bones gave me a hug! So nice!! Then, Hellbender, Jeremiah Johnson, and I headed over to Quincy's. We saw Tax Dollar on the way, who I had not seen since Franklin!   I ordered a garden salad and chicken sub. "What size?", the waitress asked. "Small," I answered. (my typical money saving, back at home order). When it arrived, I wondered why did I order a small?! I'm a hiker! After I finished, I ordered some cheesesteak and coffee and got to see some of Jeremiah Johnson's pictures on the computer! Fun! We headed back to 'The Place', where there were no towels for a shower, no toilet paper, and no washing machines. I placed my sleeping bag on top of the hard, wooden bunk, and tried to get some sleep in the hot room.