Date: 2015-04-30
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 20.9

Day 58 I did not sleep well. My sprained ankle emitted this continual dull pain and I was just generally uncomfortable. We woke up early and saw Not Yet, Hot Pants and Code Red who had slept in the shelter. Not Yet had cell reception and was kind enough to fetch off the ATC website a list of shuttles. We were - I was so thankful for this - 1.7 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, so we figured that we could get someone to pick us up and shuttle us to the nearest medical center.We set off around 8 AM. I was very slow, again using my hiking poles to avoid putting any extra weight on my ankle. I walked slowly, but with more fluid movements. We had a small hill to pass and, unfortunately the descent was very steep and rocky. My ankle only hurt midly at times, but that last mile was exhaustingly lengthy and I was getting tired and desperate, which exacerbated any perceived pain. We were about 0.1 mile from the parking area when I absolutely needed to sit down and rest, my ankle felt so swollen and painful. I wasn't in a rush: the shuttle driver had agreed to pick us up at 4:15 PM.A month ago, when we were in the Smokies, we met Viktor who had sustained a sprained ankle, just like me. His ankle had swollen and seemed to have doubled in size. I gave him our ankle bandage and he wrapped up his ankle and continued hiking, as if it were nothing. He hiked 21 miles that same day; I thought of him as I struggled to hike 2, feeling 1somewhat shocked by his feat yet admiring as well.As I was resting on the rock near the parking area, a dark cloud came over us. It poured so hard. Shrugs helped me reach the parking lot. There were a few day hikers out and about so we were hoping someone might give us a ride as the prospect of waiting until 4 o'clock in the heavy rain was unappealing.We tried out our "yogy-ing" skills, a practice among hikers where the needy hiker will hint at what he wants, rather than asking directly. I saw a couple of cyclists (MAMILs, i.e. middle-aged-men-in-Lycra) heading back to their car, probably escaping the rain. They saw me and asked if I needed help. I told them about my injury and that a shuttle driver would be picking us up at 4:00, but we had to wait under the rain. "Hmmm", the MAMIL said, "that's a long time to wait under the rain. Do you have a tent?". I replied that I did, to which he said "Oh! Then you'll be fine!" and drove off (in his defense, we was going in the opposite direction...)However, only minutes later, a man named Ardin, a true Trail angel, pulled up and said he would take us to the Augusta Health Center in Fisherville, which is 4 miles from Waynesboro. He lives in the area right out of Waynesboro, in a small residential hub, very rural but quite scenic. He talked a bit about the surrounding area's history which was interesting. We arrived at the medical center after around 20 minutes.We had bought travel insurance which had been quite expensive but necessary. Shrugs called them up to have evertthing settled before we entered the ER.Now, I don't want to get political and debate the fine points of Canadian versus American healthcare systems, but this hospital was great. It was a huge complex with everything including, I think, research facilities. I got in, registered and was immediatly seen by a nurse who took my vitals. A few minutes later, the attending physician, a super nice guy, came over for an initial exam. I was wheeled off to get a few X-rays and was brought back to the waiting room, where a huge TV was on, so I watched the Discovery channel for a bit. The physician came back and told me there were no fracture and he was waiting for the radiologist's final verdict. The nurse came and wrapped my ankle up and put it in a brace. I was finally given a few prescriptions and a few documents with very good and clear information on how to treat ankle sprains.Everyone was extremely friendly and efficient. I was in and out in an hour. 10/10. That would have NEVER happened back home. I would have waited HOURS AND HOURS. We called the shuttle driver to tell him that we were already at the medical center and asked him if he was still willing to pick us up to bring us to a motel in Waynesboro. He agreed so we waited in the ER's waiting room where there was a vending machine selling frozen foods and dinners and a microwave where you could heat them up. Awesome!The shuttle driver, a man named, Greg, came by around 4:15. He was very nice and talked a bit about Waynesboro's history and pointed out all the interesting places to eat, which is of great interest to any hiker. Great guy!We are at the Quality Inn and are planning on staying here a few days to heal and recuperate. Shrugs went to the pharmacy to get my prescriptions and he also brought back a pie and ice cream (which, of course, have great medicinal value!)I'll see how it goes. - Axon