Family Time, the Damascus Old Mill Inn and Woodchuck Hostel

I just had a perfect weekend with my wife and son. None of us wanted the time to end, but if I don't get back to the Trail, I'll never finish and get home to them.

After we got cleaned up on Saturday, we did some shopping and spent the night at a hotel in Abingdon, which is about 10 miles from Damascus. With Trail Days coming soon and all of the day hikers, all of the inns and hotels in Damascus were already booked for Saturday.

On Sunday, we moved to the Damascus Old Mill Inn. When they heard that we had had some issues finding suitable lodging for a family and a service dog, they offered us a double room with a balcony overlooking the grist mill waterfall for half price. We were all treated so respectfully. Even the chef gave us special attention in the restaurant, and the food was wonderful. I have to admit that I haven't been eating as much as I should, but I was pretty ravenous by the time we ate there. I devoured my own huge burger, and then swooped in on my son's leftovers. I highly recommend this beautiful inn (https://damascusinn.com).

After lunch, my son and I spent some time exploring the stream and waterfall, watching the ducks and geese, and skipping rocks. Being the nature and fishing enthusiasts that we are, we found all kinds of things to keep our attention, both in and out of the water. Forest didn't quite see the fascination in some of the bugs and flies, and he even ignored the birds.

We had an equally wonderful dinner and slept to the sounds of the waterfall outside our door.

This morning Forest had a vet appointment here in town for some shots that were due. He weighed in at 80.6 pounds, which I think is a perfect trail weight for him. (When I brought him home, he weighed 78 pounds, but after that he had gained a bit more than he should have as I learned to balance his food and treat intake.)

My wife and son had originally planned to leave after lunch, but none of us were eager to say goodbye, so we spent the afternoon hiking. Forest spent some time hanging out with the Keebler Elves.

Then, I suggested we spend the rest of the afternoon with the wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park─my wife has wanted to go there for years. The balds of Grayson Highlands are inhabited by ponies that were introduced and allowed to run wild there. They are completely used to humans, and just graze away when people are near. What a wonderful, peaceful afternoon we spent with these beautiful creatures.

Because he was getting shots this morning, I had decided yesterday that I didn't want Forest to hike right away and that I would zero tonight at Woodchuck Hostel here in Damascus. They have hammock hangers, so hopefully I can figure out something that will work for both Forest and me.