Date: 2004-04-17
From: Damascas, VA

To: Damascas, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Pat and I got up early, as the smells of breakfast made it's way upstairs and into our room.We quickly got our selves together and headed down the stairs.Oh my God!, now that is a spread. We had eggs, homemade biscuits, pancakes with Maple Syrup and strawberries, cheese grits, hashbrowns, prunes, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, coffee, juice...the ,list goes on. A little piece of heaven.Called Sam and Tommie and it looks like they would be in town around 12:30-1pm. We took our showers, collected our dirty clothes and headed to the laundry mat. I hung out during the wash cycle as Pat headed to the Salon for a haircut. Pat soon returned to relieve me and I headed back to the Inn to meet our visitors. I was so excited to see Tommie, I ran out to the main drag to try and flag her down. First to arrive would be Pat's Girlfriend and Sam. I flagged them down and walked them to the B&B, where I had made arrangements for three rooms the night before. As we approached the Inn, I saw Tommie walking up the front steps...she's a sneaky one.I ran to the Inn, picked her up in a bear hug and thought I would never let her down. I was so happy to see her, it seemed like we were apart for much longer than 3 weeks(since the wedding).After our hello's, I escorted Sam, Tommie and Pat's Girlfriend to the laundry mat to suprise Pat. He was waiting, ready Women's Day as his sleeping bag spun circles in the dryer. He only saw Tommie and Sam, who he expected, and got up to greet them as Pat's Girlfriend came up on the opposite side. He was so excited and to see her. I am so glad that Pat's Girlfriend had the opportunity to come see he before she heads abroad.We spent the rest of the day together, had lunch at the Side Track Cafe, introduced them to some of out hiking friends. We left Damascas for Abingdon to eat dinner at Caroline's...great food.Tommie and I had to stay in the neighboring B&B(The Victorian Inn) as Ginny had a conflict with our room. Linda at the Victorian Inn was very nice. We would not see Sam or Pat's Girlfriend again, as they need to head our very early the next morning.Pat: We busied ourselves with chores awaiting the arrival of Mike's wife, and our friend Sam. We picked up our mail drop which included our lighter weight summer gear. I got a haircut, we did laundry including my zero degree sleeping bag which was to be sent back home. It took a long time to dry, so I sent Mike back to the B&B to wait for Sam & Tommie who would be arriving any minute. As I was finishing up Mike, Tommie and Sam arrived at the laundrymat with my girlfriend! It was such a great surprise. I missed her terribly and was sure I wouldn't get to see her again until I was done and back in Rome. Thanks Sam for bringing her down and leaving so early to get her back!After lunch at the Sidetrack Cafe, where they got to meet the gang of hikers, we went around to the outfitters to see about getting a few gear items I would need to continue on solo. I got my food shopping done, then back to The Lazy Fox B&B to drink a bottle of wine out under the gazebo. The weather was beautiful and the company outstanding!We had a good dinner in nearby Abingdon then retired for the night. Sam had to get my girlfriend back to Northern VA for work and had to leave early the next morning. It was a short visit, but it meant a lot to my girlfriend & I since she will be so far away, without any chance to return for the rest of the hike. It was great to have a visit from friends and loved ones. We got to see them and they got to share a litte of our trip with us.