Date: 2003-04-21
From: Double Springs Shelter 

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

I knew I'd jinx myself in my journal. Apparently yesterday's journal entry was a double jinx. First, I was reading in the shelter last night, around and shortly after sunset. Hotdog was sleeping sitting up so he wouldn't cough as much. The mice came out before I turned out my light! I heard them crawling around on a ledge and turned to shine my light on them. There were two at that time and they scampered back into their holes. Couldn't they wait until I turned my light off?? Apparently not, because shortly after that, I heard them again. Two of them were on the ledge above Hotdog, and one looked like it was going to jump down on his head! I shined my light on it and shooed at it and it ran farther along the ledge. That was enough for me. I decided to turn out my light and hide in my sleeping bag. I scooted away from the back wall, and despite the warm temperatures, buried myself in my bag. I was quite warm, but hopefully protected from mouseplay. In the middl! e of the night, Hotdog says "There's a mouse in you pack." My pack was hung near my feet. I tried to kick my pack and missed the first time, but connected the second time. The mouse came up to the opening of my pack and I kicked it again. That time I launched the mouse and it flew at me, landing on my thigh, then scampered off. Luckily, that was about the last I heard of the mice last night.Then it was time for the second jinx. Around 6am, the rain started. And it kept raining. We packed up, hoping the rain would stop, or at least let up before we hit the trail. Unfortunately, my bowels couldn't wait, so I put on my raingear and headed into the woods to do my business. Lucky for me, there were lots of pine trees, so I had a bit of a natural umbrella. All went well, and I returned to the shelter to finish packing. We decided to head out around 8:40, while the rain continued to come down.It quickened our pace, as we didn't want to take breaks in the rain. We arrived at a road crossing well before we thought we would, ate a snack and continued on. We got to the next shelter, 8 miles away, right before noon. The rain had stopped, and the sun was trying to come out. At this point, Damascus is 10 miles away, and that's where I'm wanting to go. I was thinking, with the pace we were keeping up, it shouldn't be a problem. Hotdog wasn't sure he wanted to go that far, but as we kept going and kept a brisk pace, he warmed up to the idea. Or not, but he kept going anyway.The rain quit for good and we were able to take off our rain gear. My shorts and shirt were soaked from the sweat, and it felt great to air out! By the time we got to Damascus, the sun was out. Damascus is a small town, maybe 1/2 mile long. Our plan was cough suppressant for Hotdog first, food second and hotel/hostel third. After the first task was done, we saw Smoothie and yelled at her. She told us that she, Fly, Sonic and Guana were staying tonight too. I thought they'd head out today, but Fly isn't feeling good, and with the rain this morning, they decided to take another zero day today. Cool! I wasn't sure I'd see Sonic and Guana before they left the trail, but here they are!Hotdog and I got a room in the same hotel as the four of them, and the White twins. We're the only people staying here, and I don't think there are any employees here right now. I called the manager at home and he came here to get us a room. The restaurant here is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I guess they don't have anyone here then. The hotel has only been open for about a month, and is very nice. I'd come here again for a vacation. It's right on a river, and is much grander than my usual cheap hiker hotel. This place isn't cheap, but in Damascus, it seems it's either hostel or Bed & Breakfast.I wasn't in the mood to share a bathroom with 4 or 12 others, so this will do just fine. Actually, the room we have is the largest one here, and is bigger than some apartments I've lived in! Plus, there's a balcony in the back. Great place!I'm tired tonight. I guess the mouseplay kept my up last night, or kept waking me up. That and the early rain anyway. I'd better watch what I think about, because I'm prone to jinxing myself apparently. Tonight, all I'm thinking about is catching some z's. That can't get me in too much trouble, can it? Think happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts.