5/23/99 Damascus, VA - The Place   Miles Today : 18.1 Miles from Springer : 452.4

Woke up late this morning despite the fact that I knew I was heading for town today. I have been pushing myself too hard lately and I am really feeling the effects. I finally got moving today around 9:00 and despite an easy terrain day, everything hurt. Every step was pain in the legs, knees, ankle, etc… Despire all this, it was an easy day so I hiked hard and got to town just after 2:00.

My first stop was The Place, and old house converted to a hostel by a local Methodist Church. The Place is old, but fairly clean, has room for over 30 hikers and is only two dollars. Yup, two bucks! There are showers, bathrooms, a common room and two cool porches to lounge on. Unfortunatly, most of the hikers here are having a problem with the no beer rule ( it is owned by a Methodist Church ). Don't get me wrong, there isn't rampant drinking going on, but I would have hoped that more people would have respected the rules. It is things like this that would get this place shut down, as many others have been along the trail.

Anyway, while I am on the subject of bad hiker habits, let me just say that I am amazed by the number of smokers who are out here hiking. And I am not taking just one or two cigs a day either, there are quite a few people who have a smoke at the top of every climb! OK, enough complaing by me for one day.

I finally ran into Drive-By today. He did not make the 40 mile day ( duh ) but did beat me here by a day. No matter, I will be heading out with him tomorrow after a stop at the post office. Too many other people here at The Place to mention them all, but old friends Caveman and Pan showed up. OPY and Coppertop are here as well, and I found out that OPY is an acronym for Overactive Phychotic Yapper, seems to suit her well! Also of notable interest is Jade. I don't know too much about her, but she is hiking the entire trail BAREFOOT! She wore shoes one day in the Smokies since there was snow on the ground. WOW, now that is hardcore. Tune-A-Bug is also here. Named after his old Volkswagon repair shop, he is hiking the trail to raise money for breast cancer. His wife died of it a while ago and rather than morn his loss, he decided to do something constructive.

Well, that's all for now from the trail. Tomorrow may only be a 10 miler due to a late start and a sore body. I'm out -

-Chomp

< Previous Entry | Next Entry >