Date: 2009-05-12
From: Davis Farm Campsite

To: VA HWY 615 -- Damascus, VA
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: scattered clouds

MoFo and I did a fairly short and quick hike down to the road crossing where Franklin picked us up and drove us into Bland, VA. After a quick meal at Dairy Queen (cheeseburgers and milkshakes!), Franklin dropped me at the freeway exit where we happened to meet Wheeler and his dog Winston, also needing to hitch back to Damascus for Trail Days. Even though Wheeler is an experienced and resourceful person, I was suprised to hear that this was his first experience with hitchhiking; this is an unfortunate generational change from when I was a young man and everyone hitchhiked. Now with all of the sensational news about auto-related crime, and Code Orange hysteria, people are conditioned to be too afraid to help each other. But on this beautiful sunny day, the three of us got two quick rides in pickup trucks back to Damascus. I think having a dog was the trick -- bad guys don't travel with dogs. The rides were exhilarating -- zipping along on the freeway through the verdant countryside (after being used to traveling on foot at a relative snail's pace), with the wind and sunshine in our faces, and smiles from people in passing cars; we smiled and laughed the whole way! After reaching Damascus, Wheeler and I parted ways, since he needed to find a vet to look after Winston's feet. I walked to the Mt. Rogers Outfitter on main street, which has been run for many years by an ex-thru-hiker ("Damascus Dave"), and is a hiker's home-away-from-home. For Trail Days, they had several lawn chairs placed on the sidewalk at the store's entrance, where old-timer's sat and discussed hiker news old and new. On this day, Crazy Horse (hiked the trail 6 times), and Red Fox O' the Smokies (old-timer hiker and current officer of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) were holding forth. After exchanging hiker gossip, I wandered over to The Place and grabbed a bunk. Damascus has barely started filling up yet, so it will be fun to watch the hikers and tourists arrive. Across the street at Augusta's Appalachian Inn, the owners (Terry and Sissy Kammer) were giving a free barbeque to all comers. I chatted with Red Fox who is hosting the showing of alot of archival nature movies during Trail Days, and who also is working on setting up an Appalachian Trail Museum. It is amazing what goes on behind the scenes by all of the trail groups to keep this hiking community alive! Check out the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website (http://www.appalachiantrail.org), where among other things can be found an interactive Google Map of the entire Appalachian Trail. My plan is to stay in Damascus until Sunday, May 17, to take part in the Hiker Days festival. Then, on Sunday after the Festival, I plan to rent a car for a week, driving along roads that intersect the trail, camping in nearby campgrounds, and providing trail magic to hikers. Maybe do some day hikes so the transition back to the busy world is slowed down.The hiking part of this trip is over, at least for now. Thanks to all of you who have followed my journey through trailjournals.com, and also to those who sent in notes to me; knowing you were there gave me a lift when times were bad, and helped my energy spill over onto these pages when times were good.