Double Spring Shelter was full, of course. With a storm threatening and the nearest shelters eight miles north or south there would be no room at the inn tonight. All six slots would be full.
And, they were all taken when we arrived around 6. The folks in the shelter were glad to have gotten space. I know I would have been. Large trees were already swaying in the wind. Set atop an amphitheater valley, there were no flat spaces nearby to pitch my tent. Two Ball let us know there was room for one maybe two tents down near the springs where he had pitched. I pitched my tent and Martian squeezed his in between Two Ball and I. A quick dinner and time for bed.
I slid into my shelter. A four year old Nemo Horney 2 person tent. I was comfy in this tent. And, at just over two pounds it was light weight. But, it was four years old with a 3 1/2 year old patched and re-patched mouse hole in the floor, and seams that had started coming apart during a few windy nights. I'd been regluing seems since Franklin, North Carolina. So, counting the seconds tween boom and flash I dozed off wondering how wet I'd get.
I awoke at 5:50. The percussion of steady rain and wind on my tent fly replaced the morning sound of birds. I was pleasantly surprised to note that I was dry and warm as I silenced the alarm. I called over to Martian. He groaned his awakeness. I was well rested, comfy, and dry. I did not relish getting out of my tent or to pack up in the rain. And, while the birds were quiet in the downpour I could hear Martian questioning simply how his new tent was wet inside. F---! F---! F---! His new tent had water inside! He was not happy. I felt a bit smug in my dryness.
Right then, headlamp retrieved from it's night spot above my head, I sit up, and my toes sense a cool corner in the bottom of my bag. Then the light beam illuminates my shirt half-floating in pool that is the lower half of my tent. I am above the water on my air pad-cum-flotation device. I smiled as I pulled the bottom of my bag out of the pool. My electronics, meds and other small gear are all floating in their zip locks. Yay! Serenaded by Martian's regularly repeating expletives, and perhaps a little less smug, I packed up my wet clothes, wet tent and mostly dry sleeping bag. ;-)
When you're wet, and it's pouring it's best to double down and get hiking. I knew the hill ahead would warm me up as we headed out in the dark downpour. A couple hours later the rain gave way to a drying wind. We hiked quickly to Damascus motivated by dreams of drying out at the Broken Fiddle hostel, and getting some town victuals. We figured we'd arrive by two or three. But, motivated by a desire to drop our heavy, wet packs we moved rolled into town one.
Once again, I was glad to be in Trail Town, USA. Damascus, Virginia. I'd posed with Serendipity last year just as Trail Days were kicking off.
 |
| Martian & I | April 8, 2022 |
 |
Serendipity & I | May 10, 2021 |
But, I regress. Martian and I entered Damascus at the end of my last post. Oy! Digressions. Diversions. Recursions. Excursions.
Back to Damascus ...
The Broken Fiddle
After walking through the archway we walked the next mile straight down Laurel Ave to drop our packs at the Broken Fiddle hostel and head to Wicked Chicken with Martian and Aaron for grub & brews.
I spent a lot of time walking this small trail town the rest of that day and the next. Miles between hostel, library, diner, outfitter, and other shops - miles that don't count. But miles that help you get to know the town and the people. Damascus offered plenty of new friends.
 |
| Me & Mini-Me |
 |
| Trippy Hippy & I |
 |
| Crazy Larry, owner Outdoors Inn |
Life around the Broken Fiddle is very chill - just the way I like my hostels. Hikers hung out on the covered patio amid the snow falling outside. Cold temps and cool people. What do I mean? Peach arrived with pizza and made chili with a special veggie batch for me . Cous Cous whipped up a tasty stir fry and a deep dish breakfast pie. Temps dropped. Snow fell, darts were thrown, music played, tales told, laughs shared.
 |
PaintSplash's pup shows Cous Cous how to relax |
 |
| Snow falls |
 |
Jake and I in our loaner clothes. |
 |
| Treehouse |
 |
| Peach |
 |
| Timber |
Hiking in Snow
Saturday morning Martian and I hiked out on a beautiful snowy day. Light snow fell from above and as we climbed the snow below grew deeper. We had a quick and unambitious plan. Be picked up by a friend eleven miles north of town at 1 pm with the express purpose of returning to Damascus for more victuals and another night in a bunk. We were successful on all counts.
 |
| Martian heads into a snowy Rhody tunnel |
 |
| Joe's Pup tells me a secret at Damascus Brewing Co |
Famous on Reddit
OK, not famous, but while in Damascus, Martian shows me this post by a student from Kennesaw State who we had camped with on a windy night in the Roan Highlands.
Grayson Highlands
Hiking NOBO you hear about Grayson Highlands for a couple of reasons. Seasoned veterans tell you not to get rid of your warm clothing 'til you are past this tall part of Virginia. And, everyone hopes to see the ponies.
Hiking north you cross VA 600 at Elk Gardens and pass through a turnstyle. And, there are wild ponies with varying levels of human tolerance. Last year I hiked this section and only saw a few ponies up close. But, this year ponies were everywhere we went for two days.
 |
Grayson's ponies in 2021 with Serendipity and Wallflower |
 |
| Martian with the first pony we saw. April 2022 |
We came across a group of friends who hike every other Sunday with Sadie. Blue Daisy and Sally captivated us and gave us home made cookies. Thanks!
 |
| Sadie wonders why I'm down on my knee |
 |
| Blue Daisy & Sally |
It was snowy in the Grayson Highlands, as it should have been. We took a short side trip to summit Mt. Rogers, Virginia's tallest peak at 5,729'. It was the ice box you'd expect in a Spruce Fir forest at altitude. Well worth the time and effort to visit.
500 mile marker, NOBO 2022
 |
| Guam& I @ Old Orchard Shelter |
Aquaman!
Tues, April 12th was full of special appearances. Heading up hill and up north I greeted a SOBO hiker, who introduced himself as Aquaman. "Aquaman!", I exclaimed. "I know you. I followed your hike ... at least until I started my own." A legend on the trail. He started December 6, 2021 from Mt. Katahdin, Maine and hiked south through freezing temps, ice and snow. I was expecting to cross his path in Virginian, but he was almost done with it. With only 3 or 3 1/2 weeks to go, he was cruising. And, as lovely a guy as you could meet. Check out his hike here: Scott Benerofe's SOBO AT
Martian, Aquaman and I
Mighty Magic and Pizza Delivery
Martian was ahead of me as I came up behind a hiker who was heading in to Partnership slowly with painful knees. Naturally, as we got to know each other I decided to walk the remaining miles with her. She was completing a gap in the thru hike she started last April. In 3 miles she would complete here thru-hike. We had a great time walking in. Sharing. Learning. Laughing. It was magic. Might Mouse magic. And, her car was parked at the trail head with a case of Miller Highlife and Gatorade.
Little things matter. Adults act like children when the pinata cracks open for the simplest things. Beverages. Food. And, Food and Beverages. You hear the whispers in the Grayson Highlands. "You can order pizza at Partnership Shelter. The shelter is next to the Mt Rogers State Park Office which has a phone and menus outside. I haven't eaten pizza in a while. But, Martin and I each ate our own pie at Partnership that eve. The two of sat there alone in another large shelter. Two story with room for 24. And, we had a case of beer and pizza was on its way. We laughed. All was right in the evening air.
Later when Lucky arrived and wanted pizza, Martian and I ordered another to meet the delivery minimum. We could only eat a few more slices. In the morning, Rollo, Squints and Mitchell rolled in and with pinata-breaking glee ate the cold pizza and warm Miller Highlights. All was right with the morning.
Neither Martian or I had started a camp fire since we started. We've supported other's efforts by collecting wood on cold nights. We'd rather just get in our sleeping bags, I guess. But, arriving at Partnership at 3:00 gave us lots of time. So, I got to sleep cowboy style next to the fire. All was right with the night.
 |
| Sleeping cowboy with fire and moonlight |
The Next 340 Miles in One Paragraph
Later thar morning, with pizza boxes, Gatorade empties and crushed cans in the HQ's dumpster we set out for a 20 mile day that would get us to mile 549, the quarter way point on the trail, and my planned exit point for a week long break in Pittsburgh. But, my right knee was buckling every step up the first good hill. The pain had started days earlier but today was too much. So, Martian went on and I started to look for a ride to the hostel that Martian was hiking to. Ranger picked me up hitching to Marion, VA. His mother would never let him forget it if he didn't pick up a hitcher in need. At Pike's garage, Pike was glad to rent me a 20' box truck - the only rental I could find. A quickish drive to Erwin, Tennessee (a story I just can't get into) and a late night arrival and early departure from the lovely Quarter Inn Hostel [Sorry, Tina for my bull in a china shop imitation!]. Return the truck in Greensboro, a Lyft to the airport, and I'm on my way to Pittsburgh on American.
Ranger drove me to Marion. Hike well, my friend
 |
| On way to Erwin, TN or Greensboro, NC?? |
Waiting at Reagan in DC
 |
| Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris at PIT |
 |
| Home with Lizzie and Louie |
 |
| My stagger towards Maine |
I'll be back on the trail tomorrow hiking NOBO again with Martian.
And, trying to post more frequent, shorter posts about my knee, my crown, my hearing aid, my blood pressure, my new tent, my second new pack and so many wonderful people.
Be well.
Buddha
