Date: 2018-04-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

First off, I want to wish my sister a Happy Birthday! Hope it was a fun 21st! All the Sheehy kids are now of legal drinking age! Crazy.Well I've got to say I'm extremely happy to be in town today. It rained all afternoon yesterday, all night and it's been off and on today with snow squalls starting. Wasn't it just 80 the other day? What's up with this weather!?! I woke up even earlier than normal around 6am at the B&B. I spoiled myself watching the small TV in my room for about a half an hour before doing chores like washing my pot and spork and fixing things in my bag. It was a relaxing morning for sure.By the time I stumbled downstairs, I joined two other hikers named Don and Jan (trail names are Paddalong and Gramma Shortie) for a cup of coffee and conversation. It was extremely relaxing. We chatted and I learned that Don is an old MA paramedic and Jan taught for many years! So cool! We chatted about life up north. They lived in MA but have a summer cabin way upstate in ME that they go to right near Mt Katahdin. Jan reminded me a lot of my grandmother's and that was comforting.Kathleen from the B&B brought us our first bit of breakfast. It was scrambled eggs and bacon and she went out of her way to sautee mushrooms and spinach for us three hikers to get us some nutrition. What an amazing woman! I sat and chatted for over two hours with the crew as we were then served waffles with whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries. She served me two because she knew I ate a lot based on my appetite for dinner last night. Home cooking has been something I've missed for sure!After a few cups of coffee and food, I began walking downtown. On the way (it was roughly a 10 minute walk) Kathleen drove by and picked me up. Even going out of her way to drop me off at the post office! I really can't get over how amazing she is! I ran into the post office and grabbed my mail drop! The first one I asked Abby and my parents to send! It was chalked full of homemade cookies, beef jerky, trail mix made by my wonderful girlfriend Abby and dried fruit with a card in it! Everything was amazing and helped me save money in resupplying!From the post office I ran over to Mt. Rogers Outfitters. I spent another two hours there contemplating new trail running shoes and a new mattress pad. I ended up buying Oboz trail runners and a thermalite mattress pad (in hopes of sleeping on something substantial and comfortable) along with a new bear line, a small thing of sunscreen and two mountain house meals (chicken fajita bowl! That's a new one!) I definitely helped the small town of Damascus, VA's economy with the amount of money I spent!After that I returned to the post office to send a box back home. It was distinctly different than the box I got! I put my old, smelly, torn up boots in along with the old bear line, body powder and a few other items I didn't need! Sorry Abby! I was able to switch my pack up so everything is inside the bag except my tent poles and camps sandals. I'm pumped! Worth the fortune I spent!Eventually I made my way back to the B&B and squared away my gear. I made a quick trip across the street to officially resupply. I spent under $20 which I was pumped about!!!I got back and repackaged all my food like normal then sat around the fire in the 'sitting room' ( I feel so formal) and chatted again with Don and Jan while drinking hot apple cider and hot chocolate. I am spoiled.Around 430 I made the trek to town and met up with soothe, honey bun, shiver, baba, Duracell, stoic, two clicks and a few more. We hung around in their hotel room contemplating our dinner options. Almost nothing is open in the small town of Damascus on a Monday night. We ended up going to the Damascus Pizza Company where they had gone last night. I enjoyed a pizza before making the long walk back in the snow that decided to fall. On the way I even saw a plow truck which I honestly didn't think they had down here! Nothing was sticking but it was cold and windy. I said my goodbyes to the others and told them I would probably see them on trail tomorrow. I was hoping to get out after breakfast around 930ish but I had no definite plan!