Trail Days 2005

“never mind...I found it. I am ready..now just don't let me forget to pack my sleeping bag.”

“Gem -

Remember to pack your sleeping bag!”

“heehee thanks Bison! I don't know what I would do without you!

I don't wanna pack it now. Don't want it to be compressed for that long.”

“dang, haven't even started packing yet, but gonna start now”

“I pack tonight! I can't wait to roll into Damascus! I hope it doesn't rain too much!”

“Remember to bring your trekking poles. last year Leki was there doing free pole maintenance. For that matter, bring any broken gear you have, the manufacturer might be there and you can get it repaired.”

“Okay..I wanna go NOW! NOW! NOW!
my problem: my kids have school tomorrow...I have to wake them up. They also have a scout trip...I must talk to the neighbor”

“call them from the campsite and wake them up.”

“My meeting finished early today. I have the shrimp and oysters in the car.

I think the todays heat and teh exertion of lifting the oysters into the car has me feeling a bit peaked. I think I need the rest of a long drive with the window down to make me feel better.

Is there a doctor in the house to give me a prescription for that?”

“bad connection? I can't remember!
I need to think this over real good. I can't wait until tomorrow. I'll go nuts”

“I know the likelihood that I will be at this desk until 5 is equivalent to the likelihood that I will someday summit Everest.”

“Alright, what happens when we get there? Is there someplace that you're directed to park at and you walk to the camping area from there? What's the whole procedure, the website doesn't really have very good info.”

“hahaha! so you're leaving soon huh? u all suck.

hmm...oysters and heat don't mix very well. I'll bring the imodium”

“they be on ice. But thanks for another reason why I should leave early :)”

“damn, I forgot a watergun


hey t-girl how about picking all of us up one =)”

“Bison, I think somewhere on here it says you can pull up to unload your stuff then park elsewhere. Hyway and gem will know that answer

For once I am not driving..wooohooo
last edited: 5/12/05 1:28:41 PM”

“when you get there drive to the big group campsite area just off the edge of town. You can drive to the campsite to unload adn then go park.”

“Thanks Roam.”

“Bison, when you enter the campground the cops will direct you to the parking area to the left, but tell them that you are going to drop off your gear and just drive straight ahead down the gravel road about 150 yards. You'll pass the big fire pit on the left, the first big clearing on the right is where we will be. We should be the first tents you get to.
last edited: 5/12/05 1:41:00 PM”

“Bison, are you getting there tonight?”

“I'll be there tommorow sometime between 12 and 2.”

“If I leave now I can get there by Dark.

Someone feel my forehead... I think I have a fever.”

“cool, see ya then”

“hyway, you are sick in more ways than one..go man go”

“I can't yet. Everyone else in the office is out right now. One of them should be back as soon as he's finished clean my boss's ass with his nose.”

“I am of to the gym...and I may be able to leave after that. (well, still gonna arrive late, but hey...I'll be leaving today)

No way I can sit still now”

“I am leaving now. In 6 hours I will be an official Trail Days attendee.”

“Crap! I wish I were going tonight! Glad you can make it, Ewker!”

“Smokygirl, yep me to. Why can't you go tonight?”

“I am leaving Townsend around 6, I have to go to Knoxville and swap the service vehicle for my car, then to Johnson City to do meet my service specialist at 1030. Should be through there a little after midnight and then on to Damascus. Will probably get there around 2AM tomorrow.

I will be the one in the Gray Camry with Knox County plates sleeping on the ground.

I will find the group tomorrow AM around 9 or so.

Let's see, I have two pair of shorts, socks, boots, sandals, t shirts, a water gun and a half gallon of scotch.

Yep, looks like I am packed.”

“Oops, I didn't realize I was logged in under Cottonsocks ID.

CS won't be there, but I (chili) will!!!!”

“I am still here (so far)
packed...still need to pack the sleeping bag...
ahhh...I may do that right now.”

“waiting on t-girl and ET to get here”

“I'm packed.....”

“Sitting in the library now. Just finished a pizza dinner with some thru hikers. Cyndee and Brent are here. Mountain Bob is speaking at 7:00pm. Same spot as last year for all those we came last year. TrekkerJohn is here also.

If you can't find us as the police officers for the map on the dumpster then find the trail talk drawing on the map. Nice and hot today. Bring bug spray and sunscreen!

Adios homebound peeps, hurry up and get here.”

“I'm packed and I am ignoring crosscut”

“i know i forgot something...I don't knwo what though. got the sleeping bag”

“the snake :) I hate that feeling gem. You all take care
last edited: 5/12/05 6:36:48 PM”

“SC...didn't you guys say you are coming to trail days too?”

“we'll be there tomorrow! we'll probably just find you guys on SAturday.”

“I'm back already.... I need to go back to Tent Leak Proofing 101 !!!!!!!
I had an AWESOME time with all those new faces and lots of old friends !! Not much of a trip report.... I just sat in my easy chair and watched the rest drink beer and eat. Oh yeah, that was fun !! LOL Then got rained on.... tent leaked, bag wet, pillow wet, cooked in the rain under a small umbrella, yada yada yada

To all I met.... it was AWESOME !!!
Now,,, getting ready for the W.V. trip in July !!! Well, at least Dub can't call me a CITIFIED CITY SLICKER !!”

“But the rest of us still can ? :D Glad you had fun...no hiking?”

“there were several who went who had extra tent space.....you could have bunked and had a real good time!”

“ther'll be plenty more beer drinking goin on tonight!”

“I am soooo Jealous.

Kiss my Djibouti.”

“back!! yeahhhh!!! FUN, FUN, FUN”

“I left Damascus on May 7th and got to Bland, VA via the AT on May 14th. 120 miles.

I had a good hike and the weather was good to me...and not good to others I hear. I drove through Damascus this morning (Sunday) to see the carnage and water...did everyone have a good time??

I hiked with several thru-hikers during the week and gained a lot of respect for them. They are really hiking machines by the time they get to Damascus and are easily doing 20 mile days. Last Tuesday night at Partnership Shelter the pizza order at the Mount Rogers Visitor Center totaled over $250 bucks...that's a lot of pizza folks. There must have been 25 thru-hikers there that night. By the way, I saw "glow worms" at the visitors center there while I was watering a tree at 2am...you'll have to email me for the secret place the "glow worms" live.

Has anyone heard of the thru-hiker named "cycleman" ??? He rode his bike from Indiana to Springer, then took it apart and strapped it to his backpack. He's gonna carry it all the way to Maine and then ride it home. He was a nice guy and I hiked with him on and off all week. I met a lot of thru's last week and there are too many to name. I hated to leave the trail knowing that they get to keep going !! Oh well, maybe I can hit the trail again later this year...”

“I'm back, report later.”

“Woo Hoo! I survived.”

“Made it back to the Armpit of NC...more to come....beat down right now.”