Date: 2009-04-27
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn,Hot Springs,NC

To: Hot Springs,NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I sat in Elmer's backyard swing for awhile making phone calls and answering emails. The day had been hot but the wind was blowing now and the swing was under some nice shade trees. A very nice relaxing evening. He didn't have dinner last night though. He usually fixes a great vegetarian meal(everyone said last night's meal was wonderful) but I guess with all the work of festival he elected not to tonight. So I went to the Smoky Mt Diner and it was closed. I had missed it by fourty-five minutes. So I went on down the street to another restaurant and ate a Taco Salad. I slept pretty good but my bed had a slight tilt to the left and I had to keep readjusting myself to the center. I felt like I was on a slope in my tent. Ha. Mouse was up and out of there at six this morning. She asked me to set my cell alarm and I did but she was awake before it went off as was I. I laid there a little longer because I had signed up for breakfast this morning at 8:30.I really wanted to try one of Elmer's famous meals. Man, I could be a mile or so up the trail by then. Yes,I was getting antsy and wished I hadn't signed up for it. But I hung out with the other hikers waiting. It was a great meal with scrambled eggs with broccoli,onions and peppers in it. Granola cereal,bread pudding,watermelon,juice and coffee. I ate plenty,settled my debt and took my pack outside to put on my boots.When I stood up in my boots the pain in my left foot shot up to my knee and burnt like fire on the side of my foot. This was much worse than the pain I had after I tripped and fell going up Bluff Mt. I almost lost my balance it hurt so bad. I walked around a minute or two,then hoisted my pack on and started to the north end of Hot Springs. It hurt all the way. I got to the place where I had to hop the guardrail across the French Broad River and went on a bit to where I started up the mountain and by this time I was breaking down. I was in tears. Not tears so much from pain (although there was much pain) but tears of fear that something might happen to my hike. I had to turn around and go back to Hot Springs. I thought I'll just take a zero and see if it's better tomorrow. I called Michael (who is always there to help anyway he can)and he had to listen to me BooHoo for a few minutes and we decided that I go to the clinic here and have the doctor look at it. I couldn't see the doc until 3:30 so I got a cabin by the river as I knew Elmer's had a waiting list of eight and only two beds opening this morning. I stayed at the cabin for hours then headed limping to the clinic. The girl at the check-in gate said, as I walked by,¢I meant to tell you earlier that you have a free hot tub soak for being a guest here but you have to go before six.¢ ¢Great,maybe that's just what I need.¢I replied. But of course the office was backed up being Monday and all the weekend ailments manifested today. I'm not trying to be sarcastic but that is how it is. The doctor was no doctor but Clinical Assistant. I don't mean that bad either, he still knows more than me. He examined my foot and said it looks like it might be a stress fracture. My heart sunk and I almost started crying again but I held it in. He said I can take an x-ray but the machine here is not the best and may or may not reveal it. I wanted to know what was wrong so I agreed to the x-ray. He read the x-ray(no radiologist there)and said he didn't see a fracture but that didn't mean it wasn't one. He also said it may be tendonitis and gave me some anti inflammatory meds and told me to stay off of it for for a few days. I did tell him I had been taking Aleve and he gave me some Mobic. After I got through in the office it was too late to go to the spa so I went to the Smoky Mt Diner as I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. It was great food and service. I talked to Michael again and we decided that he would come and get me in the morning(he's about four hours away at this point)and I would go to see my orthopedic doctor at home. I have been through enough pain with my previous knee problems that frankly it just scares me when things aren't right. So that's my saga for today. I don't know what will happen to my hike from here. I don't want it to be over so soon. I am sad and scared. I'll let you know when I know. Thanks ahead for all your prayers and concerns.