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I just got back from a day hike at Blood
Mountain in Georgia and a three day backpacking trip into Damascus. I
hiked from US 321 near Watauga Dam and arrived at Damascus late on Friday.
The third day I hiked 20 miles because I did not want to miss too much of the
Trail Day festivities. About a mile from Damascus, I could hear the music
and smell the various foods cooking. I did not have much time to enjoy the
activities on Friday because after 20 miles I was ready to do nothing but
sleep. Saturday was another story. I met some of the hikers I had
met on the three day trip I did with other FT members last month when we did
Springer to Woody Gap the first week of April. It seems that most of the
hikers I had met last month were still on the trail. The Trail Day festivities
were unbelievable. The parade was a blast and I laughed till I cried
during the talent show. I did not get to see who the winner was because I
ran to get a seat at Earl Shaffer's AT slide show. It was great to see his
pictures of the AT as it was when Earl first hiked it fifty years ago and to
hear his comments about the changes made to the trail. The slide show
alone made the trip to Damascus worthwhile.
I did see Solar Bear off in
the distance I believe during the talent show. I could not get through the
crowd to introduce myself. Maybe next year at Damascus.......
For those members who did the hike last month: Wild
Turkey was at Trial Days and informed me that Wack'n'pack, Planting Flowers, and
even Laverna (spelling?) were still hiking. Planting Flowers met another
hiker and got married at Gatlinburg so is no longer hiking with
Wack'n'pack.
Bob Coveney
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