Damascus, VA

Sorry for not posting much of late. Hybrid and I reconnected last Tuesday in the same spot of Damascus where we left each other at trail days and have had the hardest time leaving this little southwestern Virginia town of 900.

"We are taking off tomorrow" is a phrase we said at least 3-4 times since being here. But today we are really leaving. I never envisioned at any point in my AT planning that I would spend 6 nights in one town, but hybrid and I realized that this trail is all about the experiences and people you meet along the way. Damascus has been spectacular and we've made some good friends with a some of the locals down here. They have literally welcomed us into their circle of friends and includes us as one of their own.

First and foremost we wanted to say how awesome our new friends Dennett and Megan are. They hosted us (not just hybrid and I, but about 7 other hiking friends we are with) at their place for the last week and let us camp in their yard, right along a river. Hanging out with them has been great and they've given us a real taste as to what this town has to offer. I think that's why it's been so hard to leave.

In the last week, we have:
1. Rafted dollar store floats down a river
2. Went fishing
3. Worked for Dennett, mulching, weed whacking and other manual labor
4. Attended a rocking bbq/birthday/memorial day party
5. Drove a beat up truck called the "heavy chevy"
6. Went on an 18 mile, all downhill, memorial day bike ride (I will definitely be returning next memorial day for this event - insanely fun)
7. Rode in a cattle bed
8. Hung out on multiple farms
9. Cowboy camped for the first time (at least for mojo) - cowboy camping is when you sleep under the stars. No tent or tarp. Just you, a sleeping bag, and that big sky full of stars.
10. Saw a black widow spider!

Those were all great fun, but we feel it was really the people we met like JT, L, Elijah, Joey Lasagna, Cameron (this list could go on for a while) who made our stay so special.

Anyway- we both love this town and it will definitely have a place in our heart for a long time. If you'd like to hear more details about the above people and events that took place, ask us about our week in Damascus next time we see ya.

Cheers and more updates for sure this week.





Chef on the trampoline







We had a campfire going for probably 6 straight days, through the nights and thunderstorms







Old spice found a snake. And then wanted to eat him.







I fiddled on driftwoods guitar, which he is carrying on his thru hike. In the background is the heavy chevy







Hybrid - showing us how cowboy camping is done







Took this raft...







...down this river

On the road again

Good morning, y'all! After a solid week of off-trail rest I am en route back south to the trail. My sister graduated law school (congratulations Alana!) so I have been in northern Virginia with my family. Tiffany also came down for the celebration and we all had a great time.







This past week feels like it's been a month; I hope I didn't lose my trail legs. Apart from visiting VA I also spontaneously took off to Boston for 24 hours to see Tiffany, Ray Allen, Bill Russell, and our President.

In one week I went from a scraggly, hitch-hiking, thru-hiker to a clean-cut, respectable citizen. I ate the finest foods, drank plenty of beers, slept indoors in a bed, and took more showers than I did in the entire month of April. I also smoked two racks of ribs. This has all been extremely surreal; I love it!


Hitch-hiking from Damascus was smooth (it only took four rides, 12 miles of walking, and 10 hours.). Now, I will find out how it will be going south. I am embarking on my first Greyhound trek that will require one transfer and 12 hours of patience. (So far the bus is late. Although I did find a lost dog, contacted the owner, and facilitated a reunion.)

Well, wish me luck. Next stop: Richmond, VA!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A night at the kincora hostel

After the cold, miserable weather, I've had two fantastic days of hiking. Spending the night at the kincora hostel with some fellow hikers. This place is legendary on the trail and is very hiker friendly. Here's a taste of the environment:

Trail update

Spring is an evil trickster. After warm, sunny, summer like conditions for the past few weeks, the last 5 days have felt more like late November in new england. Had to hike in cold rain one day and the next was just cold. Probably around 40 degrees both days. It actually snowed on top of roan mtn according to our hiking friend's cowgirl and viking. Not the most fun hiking days, but I knew that they were part of the deal when I started this trail so you just have to bite your lip and keep going. We had a rocking fire last night which was a real pick me up.

Today was much better in comparison. I literally woke up to these views:






I went to sleep the night before in sub freezing temps in an old, drafty, barn literally used during the revolutionary war and awoke to the sun peaking over a mountain to the east. Talk about a morning boost. It was still chilly but it was the first I've seen the sun in what feels like weeks. In hybrid's absence I am hiking with a real good group of guys and having a great time with them.

Here are some more shots from the past couple days.

Hitch hike magic, Trail Days, and the (temp) split of Hybrid and Mojo

For those who don't know, there is a hiker festival in the little town of Damascus, VA every spring. The festival usually draws about 10,000 people to the sleepy town and is a pretty big deal among the hiking community. Hybrid and I had debated the merits of going to this festival. Before even starting the trail, we had planned on hiking into Damascus (the trail goes right down main street) just in time for the festival. After our slow start, it was more than apparent that we were not going to make it in time. We went back and forth as to if we wanted to pull off the trail and hitch into town and finally made the decision to do so about 3 days before the festival. We only had a couple short distance hitches so far and were not sure how a long distance one would go.

After arriving in Erwin, TN we were able to get a ride from the hostel there to the highway. From the highway, we waited by the on-ramp with a "AT Hikers - Damascus?" sign in our hand and smiles on our faces. As luck would have it, a thunderstorm rolled right overhead about 10 minutes into our hitching attempt. We moved to a nearby overpass to take shelter (and really look like vagabonds). We were protected from the storm, but soon, the water started to collect under the overpass and every time a car would drive by, we would be treated to waves that would make surfers jealous. So we retreated from there. Soaking. Wet.

After regrouping under a church awning, we made our way back to the highway ramp. After about 15 minutes, a nice woman named Lauren stopped by and picked us up, just as the rain began to do the same. We told her we were going to Damascus and she said she could take us to the next highway we were trying to get to (she was coming home from work and going to see her little boy). This was more than suitable for us as we figured we had a better chance to get to Damascus from there anyway, plus we got to get out of the rain.

As we chatted driving down the highway, the rain worsened and our blessed trail angel, Lauren, refused to let us hitch in the rain. Rather than drop us off at the highway crossing, she drove us the entire way to Damascus, an additional 50 minutes past where she was going. I can't begin to explain how much this meant to us. We weren't desperate (well, we sort of were), but we were waiting for about 2 and a half hours in the rain for a ride that seemed like it wasn't going to come. Then Lauren just drove us the entire distance, completely out of her way. Its the kindness of strangers like that, which have made this trip so extraordinary. I hope she made it back quick to see her husband and son. If you're reading, THANKS!!!

After getting to the festival, we set up our tents and began walking around and seeing the sights. There were some huge bonfires going on and we ran into a bunch of our friends from the trail who also made there way up to the festival. Lots of vendors, good people, and overall a great time. Met a lot of past thru hikers that had some good advice too. Everything from using cut pantyhose as gators to "take your time on the trail...whatever you do!" We had a great time!

The end was a little bittersweet however as Hybrid and I had to say our temporary goodbyes. He is off to see his sister graduate from law school (congrats alena!) and take a few days to hang around the house. I, on the other hand returned to TN where we left off and am continuing the hike. Hybrid will be meeting up with me in about a week when the graduation celebration is over. Fortunately I have some great friends on the trail to keep me company in his absence.

The trail continues and Mojo and Hybrid are having the times of their lives!

Thanks for reading!

-Mojo

Also - congrats to my little sister, Amy for her upcoming graduation from BC! If it was closer sis, you know I'd be there. Have fun!

Hit it

Exhausted. Rolled into camp around 10:45pm for our first 20 miler. Technically it was 21.5 miles. Regardless, I am about to sleep gooooood

Updates

Sorry for lack of updates. We've been picking up the pace a little bit and are generally pretty wiped out by the time we get to our new "home" each night.

We pulled a 14.7 miler today an are camping at the Little laurel shelter. Water has been hit or miss lately. Some places good, some not. Unlike GA water, which was plentiful everywhere. here is a shot of hybrid treating his water:



Tomorrow we are attempting our first 20 mile day. We are pretty excited for the challenge and are looking to really take it by the horns. Total amount would be 21.5.

And finally, we had a great couple of nero days in asheville, nc, this past sun and mon. Our good friend Tracey picked us up in hot spings and showed us the sights and sounds of asheville. Great great town. Really liked it. Tracey and the rest of her family showed us great hospitality that we hope to return one day. Here's Tracey and sassy sister, Jessica. For the record, I have no idea what they are doing in this picture pose.






Thanks again to Tracey and the rest of the Youngs! We had an awesome time!

Oh- one last thing. I thought I would share the two very large gear changes I have made- footwear and backpack.

Footwear: Back at about our 5th day, my left Achilles tendon was rubbing against the back of my boot and was really irritating it and making it sore. So much so that I figured either a change needed to be made or I could run the risk of injury. So I swapped out my Asolo hiking boots for trail runners (Solomon 3D ultra). This was back in Franklin, NC about 90 or so miles ago. Here's both pairs:






So far, so good. Achilles problem has subsided and my feet are feeling good. I also like how light they are.

Backpack: just yesterday I switched out my osprey kestrel 58 (red) with a Gregory z65. My osprey pack's back airspace piece (the part that is supposed to keep your back dry) crumpled under the pack weight and had been pushing into my back. I liked the osprey and would have gotten another but they didn't have my size in the store. So I hmgave Gregory a shot. I like the Gregory Z65 so far, but it's only about 2 days in. A little bigger than my last pack and i need to get use to packing it. I'll keep you updated.

All in all, a few big equipments changes. Something you don't really want to do if you can help it, but for me, it seemed necessary.

Thats all. Goodnight!

-mojo

Atop Snowbird Mountain

After a couple chilly nights, we are having a beautiful day. Really great hike too, but still shooting for an additional 10 miles today. Hybrid also had to jump into town to pick up a mail drop. Should be meeting up later.

Right now, atop snowbird mtn. Enjoy the pics we took today and happy friday!

Big thanks to the Hammonds!

I've said it before. The people we have met on and off the trail couldn't have shown us more generosity or courtesy so far. The past couple days have exemplified that even further.

About a week ago, our good friend on the AT, Will (trail name: chimp) had his parents come out to Fontana Dam, just before the smokies, and had a fantastic BBQ.



This picture was from that day.

We got about half way through the smokies on Sunday and Will's father, Bob, picked us up from newfound gap. He even waited in over an hour of traffic to get us because of construction delays. We were then welcomed into their grandmother's home (before showering, mind you) for their family's weekly Sunday lunch there. Everyone there made us feel so welcome and were extremely friendly. And coming straight off the trail to some home made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and other delicious fixings was just about as perfect as it could get. It was great to return to civilization with good food and even better people.

After family lunch, will's parents drove us back to their house in Seymour, TN. Here, they put us up, fed us, and really made us feel like we were home. Kindness and generosity seem to be the norm around these parts and it was no different with the Hammond family. We felt so at home, we decided to stay one more day today as a storm and cold weather pushed into the smokies.

We have been well fed, treated like family, and gotten some much needed catch up sleep. We are hitting the trail tomorrow with full bellies and full confidence and it's really thanks to our new trail family. So a huge thank you to Will, Bob, Brenda, and the other friends and family we have met over the past couple days who have given us a new home in the south!

Here are some pictures from our couple days off:









we ate like 4 pizzas today...


We shot guns too!

All in all, a great few days!

-mojo

Zero Day!

Hangin' in Knoxville on our day off. Awesome town. Tennessee has been very good to us so far. Also feels good to have a day back in civilization.












Sidewalk chalk art show











A little bigger than alumni stadium...

Location:S Gay St,Knoxville,United States

Sunrise!