Date: 2010-05-17
From: Damascus

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Wake up to less rain. Eat last of the grits and food I brought from home. Hope it tasted ok after 5 days! We gave up going out to eat for breakfast. Decide to head out and stop by Grayson Highlands on our way back to Pearisburg (thanks dead-battery-truck-guy!). The roads leading here are so beautiful! Still a little rainy and hazy. We stopped at a gas station. While I'm filling the truck, Skippy talks with the attendant. Seems like a great little family place. We get a few things to eat, and the attendant gives us a free bunch of bananas! Yea! Off-trail magic again! Great timing, I was feeling hungry and end up eating all the bananas by the end of the day. But we find our way to the Highlands, was it Minnie Gap? Massey Gap? I need sudoku brain therapy or something. Anyway, it started out on this beautiful grassy field, and Skippy tells me this is like what he hiked across in the dark. I can't imagine how he followed the trail across that plain grassy field! And now I've read about the cows and the dear! Oh my goodness! I would have curled up in a ball and closed my eyes until daylight. Good for you, Skippy, facing the dark! Anyway, we came upon the pony carcass that is missing the front legs. Sure enough, it is! And a few more piece. A little further down, we see some live ponies! With pregnant mommas and baby ones. But they are so tame, the baby loved getting rubbed! This is a great side trip! I love rubbing the wild ponies. They are so small, so many interesting colors. We continue further down the trail. This landscape is so beautiful. It starts out quite foggy, but clears as we go. beautiful rocks sticking out of green green grass, and small shaggy scrappy trees. This reminds me of some green Savannah also. Like a foreign country, exotic, only it's here in Virginia! Just walking through the hills of Virginia! We come upon more ponies. One looks like it's just birthed a baby. There's also a more aggressive stallion here, the ponies aren't quite as friendly. I'm more careful around them. We squeeze through Fat Man's Squeeze? (is that what it's called? Skippy must be aggravated to no end at my inability to remember names, places, events, basic life skills...) A little tunnel formed by the rocks, dark and damp and craggy. More exotic landscape here in America. Way to go! The fog clears more and we can see the rolling hills out reaching to the horizon. So beautiful. I'm so glad Skippy has taken me to see this magical spot. I'm not very talkative, and now think I was subconsciously nervous about having to part ways again. Climbed up a rocky ledge, and Skippy is now brave and goes right to the edge! More edgy than me now! We have to head back, since I'm supposed to meet up with my folks in Asheville. We see some more day hikers in search of ponies. We tell them there's lots further down the trail. But who knows where the ponies will roam! We do run into them again, so I think they got their wish. Back to the truck for us. Back on the road to Pearisburg. We go through Troutdale on the way, where I had mailed some maps to Skippy that he didn't get. This is at the restautant/store where the worlds best (except mine, of course) pancakes are made. They are super nice and make them for us, even though they don't normally serve breakfast all day. And Skippy finds the maps I had sent him, yea! I had forgotten to put a letter in that envelop, so not too exciting, but still really helpful for the next days of Skippy's hiking. We reach Pearisburg around 4:30. The hostel there is very nice. Doors and windows and running water and everything. Some church members take care of it, and do a great job! There's food in the fridge, and cookies and brownies on the table. And a great porch on the swing. I'm so sad to have to say good-bye, but also worrying about reaching Asheville. I decide to head out. It's just as hard the second time saying good-bye. I want to get out of the truck and hug Skippy one more time, and then one more time...I just have to go for it eventually. Glad to know he's had some time to rest and eat up. I head out of town and call the folks. We realize it would be a late late night, and a quick visit. I get so sleepy driving, we decide I should just head back to Durham. I'm sad to miss them. I'm glad they are having an exciting time at a Writer's retreat, though! Way to go mom! I do, however, take advantage of the opportunity to go back and see Skippy again! I bring him some more stove fuel, too. That's really important, right? Can't leave without bringing him that! I'm glad he doesn't mind me coming back again. We sit at the table and play the guitar some. Skippy teaches me how to pick a really great finger pattern that I would never figure out on my own. Thanks! You're a great guitar teacher! But now I have to say good-bye again. So hard. So hard after just getting to reconnect again. Big roller coaster, but worth every hill! And everyone thanks you so much for all your writing! We love it, and I see how much work you put into it, can't imagine how you get it all done! Thank you so much for that sacrifice and work! I love you Skippy, thanks for letting me help out with your journey! You are so amazing and strong and I love watching you unfold pieces of your journey and your thoughts! Many happy miles ahead to you! I love you so much!