Miles Today - 12.7
Location - Woodchuck Hostel
Date - May 16
It was hard maneuvering in the tight attic space, so a quick pack and exit was to be had. This morning we were going over Grayson Highlands, where there are ponies roaming free. Ponies are also on the list of embarrassing things I am no less afraid to see in the wild.
Rose and I hiked together, moving very quickly through the clouds. The storm had raged all throughout the night, and the wind was still whipping at us. As we came out below the clouds we caught glimpses of our surroundings. The Highlands are beautiful, in a pastoral kind of way. I would love to come back on a day with clear skies.
We didn't encounter any ponies, but there was an incident with a cow. It was right on the trail, and upon seeing us approach it made a beeline for us. We went around a patch of brush to avoid it, and it turned and started tromping through the brush to get to us. Panicked and laughing hard we ran for the nearby fence and hopped through the gate, cow in hot pursuit. Safe on the other side we let out a sigh of relief whole it watched us with a level stare. Cows, man. Cows.
We made fantastic time, arriving at the gap by 11. A man in the parking lot offered us a shuttle to Damascus, which we happily accepted. He brought us by a beautiful, old, cedar church, and then dropped us off by the Woodchuck Hostel.
We set up camp in the yard. There were poles for hammocks, but the ground was so muddy they tipped over the moment weight was applied. We worked to no avail on solving the problem, and I ending up pitching between a telephone pole and a low standing fence. The whole process added to my distaste of the hammock, and put me in a decently foul mood.
Trying to put on a happy face, we headed across town to Tent City. I scored some BBQ and Rose and I had a spaghetti dinner with an extremely nice church group. We met up with old friends, and hung out under a tarp with Hendrix, Joplin, Kenny, and White Rabbit while the rain came down. We briefly wandered with Rabbit from fire to fire, and then headed back to town.
Back at the hostel I found that somehow my hammock had been unlashed from the fence. My neighbors stakes on that side had also been removed, and both of our stuff was completely drenched. I'm not sure if this was a bizarre coincidence due to weather, or foul play, but it certainly was unfortunate. I dragged my stuff inside, and accessed the damage. My pack had its cover, so my gadgets had been protected, but my clothes, hammock and sleeping bag were drenched.
Woodchuck is an amazing host, and immediately offered me the spare bed in the living room, which I accepted guiltily. The whole experience left a terrible taste in my mouth. On this long distance trip I've become increasingly disappointed with the hammock. It often feels like all this extra trouble for nothing. I'm going to check out the vendors tomorrow and see if I can find a good deal on a solo tent, and send the hammock home.
So the first day of Trail Days I spent a little grumpy, which I feel bad about, but hopefully a good nights sleep and breakfast will improve my mood.
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