Date: 2007-05-04
From: zero day

To: zero day 
Miles today: 0.0

Back in Damascus! Finn went to the Health Clinic yesterday and the doc told him that he may have torn something in his knee. So, the prescription was to take some time off from hiking. Without being able to get a hold of Donny or Boat Drinks, who are on the trail, Finn and I decided that we are going to take a bus up to Charlottesville to his stay with his brother and sister-in-law for a week or so until he feels better. This will give us both time to relax and at least get my thoughts straight. Yesterday however, toward the end of the night (after attempting to play Trivial Pursuit with Lone Wolf and Fishin' Fred at the Baja place) I really missed the trail - the first time I've felt that in a long time. I missed Donny, even though we sometimes fight like brother and sister, and I missed Boat Drinks, who is at times is everyone¢s wise older brother. I hope that Finn feels better soon so we can rejoin them both on the trail. We don't really have a choice though because I found some Teenage Mutant Turtles stickers at the dollar story yesterday and we have to rejoin so we can use them in the trail registers. Ha-ha. Well, I'll be hiking again soon and until then some rest!From Momma Ash - Just talked to Danielle and the above plans to go to Charlottesville have been modified. She will try to email an updated journal entry tonight - stay tuned!Well, on The Appalachian Trail Days of Our Lives, a new chapter has unfolded today. I decided early today to continue on with my hike and not follow Finn to Charlottesville. Not because I don't like him... but because it would save me money, I'd see him in a week anyway and because I truly miss the trail. One of the main reasons I started hiking the AT was because my Dad died when he was in his early 40's. I'll be 22 next Friday and I feel like I've spent all these years doing what I needed to get by and following what society told me to do. I went to school, I got a degree, and I realized that hiking the AT would be something I would put off as a dream until ¢someday." I decided that this would be the best time to do it. You never know when your life will be over and you have to do what you want to do when you have the opportunity. I've realized this on the trail too. It's a small lesson I have to remind myself everyday. So, despite my doubts in the past week as to if this is really what I want to be doing right now - I'm going on, rain, pain and all. With this decided we finally got a hold of Donny and Boat Drinks who promised not to do 25 miles a day (Donny is the fastest and most intense hiker I've met) so that I could hike with them until Finn could meet up with us again. So, I was going to meet with them in Troutdale while Finn went to heal with his brother for a week or so. But, after getting off the phone the first time and talking to our potential ride, Fishin' Fred, plans changed again. Fishin' Fred told us of a Bluegrass Jam tomorrow night in the fiddle town a few miles over, Konnarock. Perfect for Finn! So, Finn and I decided to head to the Bluegrass Jam tomorrow night then hitch a ride to Sugar Grove and stay at the shelter there until Boat Drinks and Donny catch up to us. This will save us both money, but still give Finn the time he needs to heal and we'll have a jammin' time in the process. So in the end, it all works out. And since Finn and I are staying in Damascus one more night we got to witness a Friday night special here - Auction Night across the street!! Where they auction off crates of avocados. (Because there is an overage of avocados in Damascus???) Ha-ha. Great fun...