Date: 2007-04-29
From: Montgomery Homestead B&B, Damascus,VA

To: Montgomery Homestead B&B, Damascus,VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

What a beautiful day for a zero; what a delightful town for a zero! I had agreat night's sleep on real linens in a darling room until I awoke at 4 am witha splitting headache. I took some ibuprophen and ried to get back to sleep, butI had a large flock of noisy birds right outside my window. What a racket theycould make! Here I am trying to get a great night's sleep in a $70 room (versus a $15 hostel) and I don't feel well and I have noisy neighbors (kinda like the snoring in the hostel). I did get back to sleep and awoke at 7:30, with breakfast to be served at 8...what's a girl gotta do to have day off around here? Breakfast was delicious and the company most interesting. We had a fresh fruit salad, spicy egg souffle, garlicky grits (mmm!),bacon, and strawberry bread. As for guests, there were Will and Christy from Florida up here closing on some property nearby; Texas, a thr-hiker from guess where; and Johann and Rob, transcontinental bikers from the Netherlands! Turns out Damascus is on the TransAmerica Bike route. Suzie, the innkeeper,and Karen, her assistant were also eating with us..a full table. That's what Ilove about B&Bs...the homey feeling!This is a small town with most everything (except the grocery store) withinwalking distance. Slinky Dog stayed around the corner, so they stopped by ontheir way to the grocery store. I had washing to do, so I washed my dirty soxand clothes in the kitchen sink and hung them outdoors on the line to dry...Ilove hanging out wash, just like I love washing dishes...I like the feeling ofdoing things the old fashion way! Later, I wandered Main Street trying to findout if Willing & Abal were here yet,got some groceries at the Dollar General,and tried to hoof it to the grocery store, but decided it was too far to walk on a zero day (remember, we're resting our feet today). } then wandered up to the other end of town, got a latte at anew coffee shop, found a computer at theoutfitters and checked my email, hit a couple of the quick marts to see whathiker food they had, then walked back to the B&B. I later found out the B&Bhad a bike I coukd use, so I headed out to bike to the grocery store...still needed some sort of pita or tortillas for bread. But as I left, I got to talking with the guy who owns the B&B next door who'ssellig it. He moved down here from PA 3 years ago, but now that his daughter is expecting his first grandchild, he wants to move back north. Everybody here is so friendly. It's great. I biked over to chat with Slinky Dog and get the scoop on slack packing tomorrow. They were hanging out on their B&B front porch. Life here is right out of the Andy Griffith show...this is Maybery! While I was hatting with them, I see Abal way up the street and call to her. She comes over to fill us in on how they've been the last couple of days... then while we're standing here talking, Kiwi and his wife, Linda, appear with a car and offer me a ride to the grocery store...which I don't turn down. Do you get the picture? Here I am in this small town USA and around every corner is someone I know! It's a very strange concept. Any store I walk into probably has a hiker or two that I've met before, so we chat and catch up like long lost friends. It happened at the outfitters, thepizza parlor at dinner, and just on the street! I'm in a town I've never beenin before and I know ost of the people here...way cool! Slinky Dog stopped by a couple of times today and said it was like rining thebell and asking if Bag Lady could come out and play!I also got a chance to talk with my daughters today and catch up a bit on theirlives. Avery (the one getting married in 2 weeks) said there were 2 new lioncubs at the animal rescue ranch where the wedding is taking place (Lions,Tigers, & Bears) so there's a big drive on to raise $45,000 to build an area tohouse them. If you don't know it already, in lieu of wedding gifts they'resuggesting donations to the ranch. (I'm so proud that they're putting others'needs ahead of their own.) Anyone wishing to know more about the facility cango to www.lionstigersandbears.com and read about the good work they are doing to rescue animals in need.Back to the AT. So tomorrow we're going to hike about 15 miles back into townwith just day packs, then stay at Dave's Place, a hostel, then get a shuttle out the net day to the same spot north of here to hike onward. Slacking saves some wear and tear on these old bodies...that's how we rationalize it.It's after 11, so I'd better get some sleep! Good night...Step lightly