Trestle on Virginia Creeper Trail
Friday, April 29, 2005 -Saunders Shelter to Damascus Virginia
I stayed in the sleeping bag late this morning. It was raining and I am in no hurry to get out in that. It rained on me all
day up until 2 hours before I got into Damascus. This area I really enjoyed in 1981 and it was no different this time.
There are lots of interesting creeks and road crossings, bridges and just plan fun hiking around here. This is an
area that all hikers should visit many times. I got into town at 3:00 p.m. and went straight to The Place where I took a
shower and stashed my pack. I washed a couple of items and will dry them later at the laundry. I went to the post
office and got my mail and then to the outfitter and found a rain cover for my old frame pack that was actually made
for it. I called Virginia and then went to the Mexican restaurant beside the old grocery store and had a good meal. I
went back to the hostel and repacked my food. I got all of my dinners from the hiker box. I just need to get a few
items. I went across from the library and went to the Dollar Store and was able to get all I needed there for a good
price. The main food store is not in town anymore which is not convenient for hikers. My right knee is swollen up a
little. It always happens the first few days out on a trip so long and with me out of shape. There are not too many at
the hostel tonight. Maybe there are 6 other hikers here and most came in after dark. If it rains tomorrow I will stay
here another day. I need a rest anyway. I plan to eat breakfast at Cowboys tomorrow. I hear it is good. My new
cheap boots are separating at the front glue area like all hikers’ boots do so I got some J.B. wield from the hiker box
and fixed it. This stuff works well. It is 9:05 p.m. and I am taking a shot of Whisky before bed. I call it my liquid Aspirin.
Saturday, April 30, 2005 - My first zero day - Damascus Va.
This is the last day of April and I decided to see the town, what there is of it. I have visited Damascus many times
over the years and I love this place as most other hikers do. I went to Cowboys’ early and had their biscuits and
gravy and it was very good. I also had two eggs and coffee with it. I came back to the hostel and finished getting
things together. There was nothing opened till 9:00 a.m. this day so I hung around the hostel till then. I went to the
library and caught up on emails. I met Mr. Clean Sr. at the library. I met other thru-hikers but didn’t always get their
names. I met August also. He was another thru-hiker. I visited with towns people all day. I sent Freddy Bear a
personal email and then went to a garage sale where I bought some neat ear rings for Virginia. They were from the
1920’s and had feathers in them. The ladies I bought them from will send them home for me next week. I also bought
a money clip from them. I went to Dot’s bar near Sundog outfitters and had lunch. On my way back to the hostel on
the bicycle route I saw someone who looked like a hiker and asked him his trail name. It was the famous Pirate. I
had met him in the Shenandoah’s last season. He had stayed in a shelter with Freddy Bear ,Q tip, and Slow
Barbara and me. He was here early for Trail Days next week. I went back to hostel and caught up on some reading
and decided for sure to leave tomorrow. I have a room to myself upstairs facing north. At noon each day the church
bells ring for 5 minutes. It was very nice to hear them. I have heard them from up on top the mountains coming into
town before and wondered where they came from. Lots of nice people are here in Damascus. I am glad I stayed an
extra day.
May 1, 2005 - The Place, Damascus VA to Abington Gap Shelter
I left Damascus after calling Virginia. I got lucky after leaving the restaurant because it was closed on early Sunday
morning. The owner picked me back up, knowing what had happened and I had coffee for a few minutes until the
cook started to git er done. I went back to the hostel and packed up the rest of my gear and left town toward
Abington Gap. I stopped and visited the old Deep Gap Shelter which had been moved to town a few years back. I
stayed in the shelter in 1981 at its original location on the south side of the Highlands. I like to see shelters not being
torn down. They are history. I would like to see a Baseball Bat shelter up in Maine have the same thing done.
Rangeley or Caratunk would be a great place to do that. It was a nice day of hiking and not too steep going out of
town up to the top. I got to the shelter at 1:00 p.m. and went down to the spring to get water. It was 800 feet down
but good water. It is going to get cold tonight. There are six hikers here tonight and I am alone here in the shelter
which is full of mice from the trail logs.
May 2, 2005 - Abington Gap Shelter to Double Springs Shelter
I was up at dawn today and it was a pretty and easy hike all day. I passed an old shelter and took a picture of it. I got
a beer in a spring 2.5 miles from the shelter this morning. It was cold and windy all day though but as you keep
moving it is easy to keep warm. I got to Double Springs Shelter at 2:00 p.m. and there were many hikers taking lunch
here all afternoon. Just to the north of the shelter I came across lots of ramps and I picked enough for a couple of
days. At 7:40 p.m. I am alone here and it is cold. It seems to be around 40 degrees. I am listening to a small radio I
have carried so far on this trip and it is nice to get weather and news in the evening. Everyone seems to be in a
hurry, even on the trail. I am getting used to taking time to smell the roses and taking it all in for I may never be here
again!! Go For It. I hope I don’t freeze to death tonight. 20-25 degrees
I stayed in the sleeping bag late this morning. It was raining and I am in no hurry to get out in that. It rained on me all
day up until 2 hours before I got into Damascus. This area I really enjoyed in 1981 and it was no different this time.
There are lots of interesting creeks and road crossings, bridges and just plan fun hiking around here. This is an
area that all hikers should visit many times. I got into town at 3:00 p.m. and went straight to The Place where I took a
shower and stashed my pack. I washed a couple of items and will dry them later at the laundry. I went to the post
office and got my mail and then to the outfitter and found a rain cover for my old frame pack that was actually made
for it. I called Virginia and then went to the Mexican restaurant beside the old grocery store and had a good meal. I
went back to the hostel and repacked my food. I got all of my dinners from the hiker box. I just need to get a few
items. I went across from the library and went to the Dollar Store and was able to get all I needed there for a good
price. The main food store is not in town anymore which is not convenient for hikers. My right knee is swollen up a
little. It always happens the first few days out on a trip so long and with me out of shape. There are not too many at
the hostel tonight. Maybe there are 6 other hikers here and most came in after dark. If it rains tomorrow I will stay
here another day. I need a rest anyway. I plan to eat breakfast at Cowboys tomorrow. I hear it is good. My new
cheap boots are separating at the front glue area like all hikers’ boots do so I got some J.B. wield from the hiker box
and fixed it. This stuff works well. It is 9:05 p.m. and I am taking a shot of Whisky before bed. I call it my liquid Aspirin.
Saturday, April 30, 2005 - My first zero day - Damascus Va.
This is the last day of April and I decided to see the town, what there is of it. I have visited Damascus many times
over the years and I love this place as most other hikers do. I went to Cowboys’ early and had their biscuits and
gravy and it was very good. I also had two eggs and coffee with it. I came back to the hostel and finished getting
things together. There was nothing opened till 9:00 a.m. this day so I hung around the hostel till then. I went to the
library and caught up on emails. I met Mr. Clean Sr. at the library. I met other thru-hikers but didn’t always get their
names. I met August also. He was another thru-hiker. I visited with towns people all day. I sent Freddy Bear a
personal email and then went to a garage sale where I bought some neat ear rings for Virginia. They were from the
1920’s and had feathers in them. The ladies I bought them from will send them home for me next week. I also bought
a money clip from them. I went to Dot’s bar near Sundog outfitters and had lunch. On my way back to the hostel on
the bicycle route I saw someone who looked like a hiker and asked him his trail name. It was the famous Pirate. I
had met him in the Shenandoah’s last season. He had stayed in a shelter with Freddy Bear ,Q tip, and Slow
Barbara and me. He was here early for Trail Days next week. I went back to hostel and caught up on some reading
and decided for sure to leave tomorrow. I have a room to myself upstairs facing north. At noon each day the church
bells ring for 5 minutes. It was very nice to hear them. I have heard them from up on top the mountains coming into
town before and wondered where they came from. Lots of nice people are here in Damascus. I am glad I stayed an
extra day.
May 1, 2005 - The Place, Damascus VA to Abington Gap Shelter
I left Damascus after calling Virginia. I got lucky after leaving the restaurant because it was closed on early Sunday
morning. The owner picked me back up, knowing what had happened and I had coffee for a few minutes until the
cook started to git er done. I went back to the hostel and packed up the rest of my gear and left town toward
Abington Gap. I stopped and visited the old Deep Gap Shelter which had been moved to town a few years back. I
stayed in the shelter in 1981 at its original location on the south side of the Highlands. I like to see shelters not being
torn down. They are history. I would like to see a Baseball Bat shelter up in Maine have the same thing done.
Rangeley or Caratunk would be a great place to do that. It was a nice day of hiking and not too steep going out of
town up to the top. I got to the shelter at 1:00 p.m. and went down to the spring to get water. It was 800 feet down
but good water. It is going to get cold tonight. There are six hikers here tonight and I am alone here in the shelter
which is full of mice from the trail logs.
May 2, 2005 - Abington Gap Shelter to Double Springs Shelter
I was up at dawn today and it was a pretty and easy hike all day. I passed an old shelter and took a picture of it. I got
a beer in a spring 2.5 miles from the shelter this morning. It was cold and windy all day though but as you keep
moving it is easy to keep warm. I got to Double Springs Shelter at 2:00 p.m. and there were many hikers taking lunch
here all afternoon. Just to the north of the shelter I came across lots of ramps and I picked enough for a couple of
days. At 7:40 p.m. I am alone here and it is cold. It seems to be around 40 degrees. I am listening to a small radio I
have carried so far on this trip and it is nice to get weather and news in the evening. Everyone seems to be in a
hurry, even on the trail. I am getting used to taking time to smell the roses and taking it all in for I may never be here
again!! Go For It. I hope I don’t freeze to death tonight. 20-25 degrees
The Place
3