Trail Days town festival
After breakfast and dropping pack on the front porch of The Place, I went exploring.
For Damascus, celebrating Trail Days isn't all about the A.T. (which runs right through the middle of town) or the hikers (who contribute substantially to the economy of the town). Mostly, it's about a small town getting together to throw a party for itself. The locals all have lives apart for the small sliver we hikers notice, and a wide array of interests.
The town invites vendors both local and out of town to set up booths and offer their foods and crafts, or massage therapy, henna tattoo work, information about the local Kiwanis and Big Brother/Big Sister group out of nearby Abington (I was a Big Brother for a few years in the New River Valley, so that organization is special to me). Here, the local dojo demonstrates katas for the public.
Wandering around the festival, I met Chaos sitting on a fence with Bruce, and Rude Dawg of '93 -- hikers Chaos told stories of in her accounts (Melissa, the local reporter I had met after her hike was no small impetus for me to be on this journey now). Asked about Order, her pup. Order was hit by a car. That floored me, like losing one of my own. I didn't know what to say -- after some small pleasantries, I excused myself.
Met Wingfoot, a noted Trail promoter with a popular hiking guide akin to the Companion.