Date: 2003-07-02
From: Waynesboro

To: Ashby Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

"Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway, we're the best of friends, insisting that the world keep turning ourways."Willie Nelson - On the Road again.  This is a note from Molasses' Mom & Dad. Ever since we went down to Hot Springs to meet Margie/Molasses in April, we have wanted to go out to the AT and do a little Trail Magic. Down at Hot Springs we had met Heathers' mom ,Wendy, who had provided hikers with Trail Magic for several months. On Easter weekend, she gave out approximately 80 pounds of Easter candy to the hikers on the trail. We spoke to the people at the ATC in Harpers Ferry and they suggested a few spots not too far away from home that would be good trail magic locations. So on wednesday July 2nd, we headed out to Ashby Gap in northern VA. Molasses drove down there with Chloe and was going to hike about 6 miles from Skyland Park up to Ashby Gap to meet us. Unfortunately the weather that day was lousy - rainy with thunderstorm warnings. Margie/Molasses decided to forget the hiking in the rain and mud and went to Ashby Gap with us. We set up our table, grill and chairs in a parking lot that had a 1/8 mile blue blaze trail leading down to the AT. The day before, Margie/Molasses bought a large tarpaulin canopy that saved the day as we erected it over the table. We were therefore fairly dry during the day as it drizzled most of the time we were there. Expecting a large group of hikers, Anne had gone out and bought "96" hot dogs, many oranges and bananas, and alot of soda and water. We were therefore prepared to feed the multitudes. We arrived at the gap about 10:30 AM and possibly missed a few hikers who passed by before we set up. We posted a Trail Magic sign on a tree where the blue blaze crossed the AT. How many hikers showed up? Seven - yes Seven. The hikers were Jamie" and Rainey - two overnight hikers who hiked up from Dicks Dome. The others were thru hikers, Gray Matter, Crow Dog, Praire Chicken, Firefeet and Bachelor Bob. Margie/Molasses and Firefeet had met and hiked for quite a while in North Carolina so they were happy to see each other again and talk about all of their mutual hiker friends. Since it was raining most of the time, the hikers were happy to stay under the canopy just to sit down, stay dry and eat. Crow Dog was a vegetarian and wouldn't eat the hot dogs -instead he had (3) ketchup/mustard/relish sandwiches on hot dog rolls and said they were terrific. Molasses and Firefeet had a great time catching up on the hiker news. All of the thru hikers told us of their bear sighting in the Shenandoahs. Despite the fact that the multitudes did not show up, we all enjoyed ourselves and may do it again since we have a few extra hot dogs available. Later that rainy evening, we picked up "Picking Up Daisys" at the Bears Den Hostel and drove back home to Montgomery Village. Daisys and Margie/Molasses are going to spend the weekend in Philadelphia over the 4th of July weekend with friends. They will come back here to MD on sunday. On monday morning, I will drive them both, and Chloe, over to Harpers Ferry and they will start hiking again.peace Molasses