Damascus, VA---Trail Town, USA!

We have made it to the famous trail town of Damascus, where even the library's bulletin boards have the Appalachian Trail theme. It seems that everyone we have ever met along the trail is here this weekend, a big reunion in a sense. We stayed last night at "The Place", a bunkhouse run by the Methodist church, where you pay a suggested donation for a hot shower, and a warm, dry place to stay---just what we were after. Definitely another small town, which makes it very easy to get around... restaurants, Dollar General, post office, library, all a 5 minute walk. The past few days have been quite interesting. Some of the highlights: jumping into Watauga Lake, TN at 9:30 am for a nice chilly rinse--more like an ice-bath, but great for the muscles! Seeing some incredible waterfalls-- Laurel Fork Falls, Jones Falls. A cool looking turtle on the side of the path. And lots of beautiful sunny days! Sparky and our friend Knickers went tandem-bike riding as well! I have a new name...now that you all figured out my first one, I have a new one (It needed to be more AT oriented than PC oriented...I love acronyms!) T-Toe it is and will be. Standing for Triangle-Toe. So one day I had my boots off after we were swimming and was inspecting my feet for the millionth time, and talking about how my toes, especially my pinky toes, now look like triangles. So, our friend Hobbit (we are living in what I like to call AT Fairytale land where everyone knows everyone, there is magic all around, and people all go by crazy names) named me T-Toe. Works for me. One bummer part of the trip happened a few nights ago, when I caught a stomach bug. Nothing a little Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup, ginger ale, and apple juice couldn't cure though thanks to the Damascus Dollar General. I def was lacking in the energy department but we still managed to get in some miles. Unbelievable how supportive everyone was, offering me soup, or gum, Tums, whatever they had that they thought could help. Even found out when I got to town that one of the other guys was going to hike back up to carry my pack down for me, but they let him know that I was almost to town anyway. And then the craziest thing...when I got to town another hiker Joker who I haven't seen for atleast a week asked how I was feeling, because she had heard I was sick. Gosh, word spreads down the trail! Again, I feel like I am in Samoa, where people know what you did in town even before you get back to the village. Oh, the similarities---the small town feeling, the joys of hot showers, Gatorade, and comfy beds haha. Take care! We will post again soon! Sparky and T-Toe