The birds woke us up unfortunately early. The morning was reserved for running errands before the fun of the afternoon. I started by emptying my pack to sort out what was getting sent home and what I should keep, it felt really good to purge my cold weather gear. I think I dropped ~4-6 lb of clothes.
We walked downtown to find the post office packed with a bunch of other hikers doing the same thing. After I mailed off my clothes we walked back up town to the outfitters and ran into Kate and Lux, who I hadn’t seen since Neel’s Gap. They’re both doing well, going slower than they want to be but still making progress. We all had breakfast together to catch up and then went separate ways for the day.
Cool vehicles make Trail Days appearances
Kacy and I headed off to the park where all the vendors were set up. We walked the whole park, the vendors varied from food & beverage, to artsy trinkets, to backpacking gear. I spent some time trying out various hammock options to see if I could make the switch from tent to hammock camping.
I did decide to purchase a pair of Merrell hiking shoes. My trial runners have made it 700 miles, 200 miles past their advertised lifespan. I’m hoping the Merrell’s, with a hiking boot sole, will offer more cushion between my feet and the trail. I’m really tired of my feet feeling bruised every day.
We found Caboose and Cricket and decided to head back to the Fiddle to chill in the shade for a bit before the parade. The Hiker’s Parade is part of the Trail Days tradition apparently, where current and former thru-hikers gather up and walk through the town. Naturally, we all took part. The onlookers took great pleasure in spraying us all down with water guns and throwing out candy. A lot of the guys were dolled up in dresses and make-up for the hiker’s beauty pageant after the parade. It all made for an absurd but entertaining afternoon.
Pre-Parade Hiker Hearding 
Parade – Hikers fill the main road
Unfortunately, I’d taken my shirt off to keep it from getting soaked and put it in Peanut’s backpack. Kacy and I lost the rest of the group, and my shirt, in the parade and didn’t find them for the rest of the afternoon.
We caught Odie’s speech about trail history and honoring the death of Stronghold, the hiker murdered in Southern Virginia a week or so before. Afterwards I went back to the Henessy vendor and committed to hammock life. I never have settled into sleeping well in the tent, waking up several times a night because I’m just generally uncomfortable.
I’m hoping the hammock offers a better night’s sleep, but I’m also a bit nervous to send the tent off with Kacy. The tent is just a more solid shelter, but if it doesn’t get too cold again I should be fine.
The hottest part of the afternoon we spent relaxing at the Fiddle and playing corn hole with Rick Flair. Kacy and I skipped out on the bonfires and drum circle in Tent City and opted spend some quality time together and keep the evening fairly low key.
Day 65 Mileage: 0.0 mi [Damascus -> Damascus]
Total Mileage: 712.9 mi