Journal Entries

Day 47 - Trail Days in Damascus, VA

0 miles

Whatever needed to so violently leave my body yesterday afternoon and evening has done so and I am on the mend.

I was mostly up and about today, walked around town with the kids, rested some in the tent, met hiker friends and new people at our camp area.

Lots of free stuff for hikers here at trail days and we are taking advantage of that also. It's amazing really that a community of people gathers around to support hikers. It's not like we're doing anything truly significant, and what we're doing is quite self-centered when you think about it. The support that exists for hikers defies logic or rational sense. I'm not complaining, just reflecting.

Sunshine and rain while we wait in line for free chili.

Tent city.

Looking through all the free goodies (toiletries in these boxes) for thru-hikers from One Way Ministries.

All kinds of new gear today. @celine scored a new long-sleeved shirt, something she's been wanting.

Our new shoes arrived in our mail drop here. For the first 46 days of our adventure we've been wearing Sole Runners and we've had a lot of success with those soft-soled boots. With the weather warming up we're switching to our summer shoes.

http://toesalad.com/articles/our-footwear-strategy-appalachian-trail/

Tenacious Bling and Otter wearing new crochet hats, given to hikers from a hiker ministry in Damascus.

Day 46 - Double Spring gap campsite to Damascus, VA

12.8 miles

We crossed into Virginia this afternoon and hiked down into Damascus for Trail Days.

It rained on and off the whole day and it rained hard as we were coming down the mountain into Damascus.

I felt a bit disorientated on our arrival and trying to find accommodations in a town full of hikers. I was cold and wet and not feeling great. Found temporary shelter at the public library while @toesalad found a place to stay.

We secured a spot on the grass at The Place, a hiker hostel in town. I've read so much about this trail institution. It shows up in all the trail stories I've read.

Then I got sick, violently ill with a stomach bug. Throwing up into the blue chemical soup of a porta-potty in the midst of a bunch of one-person tents stretched on a lawn in the middle of Trail Days, and stumbling back to the warmth of my sleeping bag and wanting to die - this is something I will never forget.

I want to go home. And I don't even have a home to go back to.

This is the worst day ever.

The green tunnel. It's an easy hike on our way to the Virginia border.

Otter still smiling in the rain.