Damascus Still Friendly

Boston Globe correspondent Diane Daniel writes in a 28 January 2007 article titled "Bikers, Hikers Trail Each Other to Damascus, Va" about that friendly town thru-hikers all love.

Mostly, the article is about the bicycling trail through town.

But she also writes: "Hikers have the Appalachian Trail. Damascus is one of nine communities along the route where the trail crosses the center of town, a cause for celebration if you are hiking the entire 2,175 miles and have been in the woods for a few weeks.

"Dubbed the 'friendliest town on the trail,' Damascus lives up to its nickname every May. Its Appalachian Trail Days Festival is a weeklong celebration planned around the time most hikers are passing through on their way to the trail's end in Maine."

File that "nine communities along the route" trivia under the heading of 'you learn something new every day.' At least for me. I'd never gone and counted them up.