NNCC (Narrows Now Community Coalition) came out of hibernation on December 29, 2013 long enough to celebrate the successful completion of Cater "Rainbow Bright" Davis' nine-month thruhike on the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Narrows Now worked with MacArthur Inn for the reception similar to the one held for GET (Great Eastern Trail) thruhikers in spring, 2013, but they were simply passing through on their way.
It was The Town of Narrows first official act as an A.T.Community, as designated by the A.T. Conservancy during Narrows Bridge Dedication & Celebration Day, November 23, 2013.
28-year-old Davis, from Forsyth GA, decided to do an A.T. thruhike after returning home from a Guatemalan service trip. Working three jobs to fund the hike, she started March 20 from Springer Mountain in Georgia and hiked to Pearisburg VA. Then, as hikers often do, she turned around and went back to Damascus VA for Trail Days.
While there around May 19, a driver experienced a medical emergency and the vehicle veered into the crowd, hitting Davis. The injuries were minor but there was a six-week healing process.
Davis was determined to finish her thruhike and went to Maine to work her way South back to Pearisburg, completing the entire journey she now deemed "NOBO-Flip Flop" (north bound flip flop).
Traveling alone, Rainbow Bright often encountered four or five days without seeing another person due to the lateness of the hiking season, and was often slowed down by icy weather. To keep on schedule she sometimes stopped only long enough to fix her evening meal, then continued hiking after dark before setting up her tent.
She spent Christmas morning on MacAfee Knob, a feature of Catawba mountain located in Catawba, Roanoke County, VA. The overlook has a 270 degree panoramic view of the Catawba Valley and is one of the most photographed sites along the A.T.
Sunday, December 29, 2013 was Davis' last day on the trail. It was rainy and cold, not ending until, again, after dark when she finally met up with her mother who had arrived from Georgia for the trip back home.
They came to Narrows and MacArthur Inn for a celebrated ending to an intense, long, but still fun and incredibly worthwhile adventure. As Rainbow Bright states with her beaming smile, "Anything is within walking distance - if you have enough time."
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