Date: 2005-05-13
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, it is 11:18pm and I'm hanging out in my tent in a nice thunderstorm and the 4 people hanging out in a little tent next to me are yelling at their dog which is tripping up my tents lines and shaking off all over my tent. Tent city is a joy. As long as they don't fall all over my tent like the drunk chick did last night I'll be fine. At least they are dealing with a wet dog and I'm not any more. They put their tent up about 2 feet from mine and when they talk it is like they are in my tent. College flashbacks. Just like being back in Wads Hall. Except there is more privacy here. Hmmm.Had a nice day doing not much at all. Got up before all the hung over folks and got Stretch up at about 7:30am. He had already been up for a bit and had fallen back asleep. So, we went to the fire station for the $5.00 breakfast. Drank about that much OJ. It was good. The shower trailer was not opened up yet so Stretch left to go hear J. R. Tate "Model T" give his talk. I went up town to try to find a cell signal. Not much luck so I went to the talk. He is a good story teller and I learned a little history too. Good way to spend some more time in the shade.Went back to the Campground to see some of the Gear folks with Stretch. He got his Gregory pack looked at and I took a break back at my tent. Over an hour later the sun was cooking my tent so I decided to head out. Stretch was still visiting with the Gregory folks. He wasn't ready to head back to town so I visited with the Osprey pack folks. Nolen (hope I finally got his name right, probably not) helped me adjust my pack and gave me tips on setting it up. He was super helpful. I probably could have even swapped out my hipbelt there but I've got a new medium belt waiting for me at home and I'll probably need the large one again someday. Someday far, far away I hope.Was going to go into town but got talking to Paparazzi '04 about his Hennisy Hammock. He handed me an umbrella and we hiked a ways out in to the woods to check it out. He had a great site right next to the river. Past lots of poison ivy. I'm really pushing it with the ivy. He had the huge tarp and it is needed in a night like this. The Hammock hangers are a very dedicated bunch. There are some very cool things about them but I'm still not ready to trade in my tent. Not worrying about how level or rocky or sharp or muddy the ground is would sure be nice. Finding two trees can be easy or hard some times. They are light weight. I'm still leaning towards a Tarp Tent with the floor and netting though. And right now I'm loving a big dry tent to hang out in and listen to the rain and frogs and crazed hikers still at the drum circle.It started raining harder so I headed back to my tent and Paparazzi headed back to his car to wait it out. Hmmmmm. Loving my heavy tent.A couple hours later the sun was out so caught a ride into town to shop at the Dollar General. Caught the same white pickup back to camp. THANKS!Ate a bit and hung out in the tent. Decided to walk back to town for supper. Tried to send email without much luck. Walked down to Subway for a Salad. Greens. Mmmm. It was getting dark and I was still trying to send emails when a couple asked if I was looking for a ride back to camp. The guy gave me a ride back and the lady waited there for him. Can't believe I can't remember his name. He thru hiked in '03. The rainy year. People are just super nice to us hikers. He picked up a bed load of hikers heading back to camp. Life is good.