This town is
one of the most unique villages I have ever had the opportunity to
visit and revisit. It is stated in several publications and on several
websites as being the friendliest town along the Appalachian Trail.
That my friend is not an understatement In fact it is more than friendly,
it is just downright homey.
I have been here
for five days hiking some on the Appalachian Trail, and some on the
Creeper Trail. The Creeper Trail is one of the many rail to trail
stories scattered across the USA.
The last time
I was here was in 2001 around the time of Trail Days. Trail Days is
an event that is a gathering of past, present, and future "Thru-Hikers"
of the Appalachian Trail. It not only draws thru-hikers, but section
hikers, wannabe hikers, and hikers from other trails and parts of
the world as well. It is held in and around the second week of May
of every year and if your a true blooded hiker, then this is the event
for you. Just like there are biker runs, this here is a hiker run......
As was the case
the last time I was here and preparing to leave for points beyond,
I just do not want to depart. I have seen people that live here and
from the trail, whom I have met in years past and have fond memories
of. They welcomed me back to their humble community with a sense of
belonging. Besides its unique setting in a hollow with many breath-taking
views of the surrounding mountains, the people that live "in
these here parts" are what make Damascus what it is. I can almost
bet ya that you will find some person from almost every walk of life
either living here or just passing through on any given day.
Beaver Dam Creek,
which flows past the Old Mill Restaurant is loaded with trout. I was
hiking along its banks yesterday and ran into several fishermen having
a good time hooking and releasing. Not me. if I was a hooking them,
I'd be releasing them right down my wind pipe and right into the aquarium
below my chest where they would swim to points un known....
As I said before,
to me the people are what makes this town so unique. Mt. Rogers Outfitters
is a favorite hangout of past Thru-Hikers. There are a number of these
folks who have purchased homes here and have become a vital part of
this community.
Then the Methodist
Church owns a "Hostel" where hikers and bicyclists who are
biking the "Trans-American Highway" can rest their weary
legs for a couple of nights, and take a shower.
The one place
I really enjoy hanging out at in the mornings for breakfast is "Cowboys."
It is where most of the old time local crowd hangs out and talks about
everything from how to prepare "chittlin's" to how we should
pull out of "Iraq." I'm telling you if you have the gift
of gab, as I do, then these old timers will take you under their wings
and let you become a part of their community for a time.
The "One
Way Church" just recently purchased a building to build an outreach
for the local youth, just to give them something to do. The youth
center also serves as a food pantry on Thursdays. With the way a lot
of our youth are getting hooked on "Meth," I think there
ought to be communities like this church taking an active role in
giving the youth an alternative place to hang out and to just let
go on a shoulder that has been there.
These kids are
our future, and though I do not think that all youth get strung out
on drugs, just to see their friends go through this will affect their
lives. So it is important to provide someplace for them like this
youth center. Places like this and towns like Damascus help build
productive lives.
Larry Riddle
