Sunday talent contest
Third day in Damascus. I spent the night on the front porch of The Place. I couldn't take another night of lost sleep in Tent City. Awoke to someone kissing me. Opened my eyes, and a golden retriever was licking me on the nose. She trotted off, and it was a beautiful sunrise. Sierra, my golden mix, was vacationing with my brother Skip's family in Raleigh for the duration of my hike. She would wake me the same way -- made me a bit homesick for McCoy and my dog.
Jester was one of the open mike acts at the Trail poetry contest this morning (shown here). I was feeling awkward in town. Vascillating between staying today and hitting trail. There's a lot of attraction to getting a hot shower (or even luke warm) every day. Dark clouds suggested rain, but this was SW Va; don't like the weather, wait around an hour, it'll change.