Trish & Phill's Tandem TransAmerican

Tour 2003 

May 18th Wytheville - Damascus (Appalachian Trail Days Festival)

We got the bike back at mid-day today. Fitting the new wheel and disc break had been a fiddly process and Ian also tuned the rest of the machine.

Loaded and on the road we drive about 60 miles to Damascus.

The town of Damascus is in the heart of the Appalachian mountains. Here the TransAm route together with the Appalachian Trail and another famous Virginian trail all meet, It is surrounded by hills. The day we arrived it was "Trail Days" weekend. All sorts of people come out of the woods to celebrate this weekend.

Most of them in big boots, beards and Polartec wear (and that's only the women) ha,ha,ah We walked along the main street (part of the trail) and enjoyed a free Blue Grass concert.

There's all kinds of things for sale here mostly to do with outdoor activity. Oddly one of the more popular stalls was a "win a bunny". No, nothing to do with Hugh Heffner this is a dollar a go - throw the ping pong balls into the glass jar, get 4 in the jar and win a live rabbit. Not sure what any hiker or biker would do with a pet rabbit on the trail except eat it but none the less it was a popular.

We stayed at a camp site right besides a river. The river had a small water fall just up stream from our camp and the sound of the water was suprisingly loud.

Waterfall outside the campsite

We chose to sleep in the back of the Van tonight save making up the tent.

The campsite had seen better days and was a bit run down. The new owners intend to renovate but I think they have a big job on, maybe next time I'm here I'll check it out !    

Page owned & maintained by Trish Collins email to  trishphill@aapt.net.au.  Last Updated 28/07/2003