Date: 2010-05-25
From: Springer Mountain, Georgia

To: Mt Katahdin, ME
Miles today: 60.0
Weather: clear sky

                     Randy and Doyle's                     "WALK FOR THE KIDS" We are off the trail right now. Had ourselves a rough stretch. Three days of rain, with everything wet, we started up over Dragon Tooth. I was in pain from toenail problems. Doyle was in pain from abrasions where his pack was rubbing from all the moisture. Raining, bad visibility and the roughest stretgh of trail we have seen yet. Climbing up and over rocks is one thing, but when you come upon ladder rungs drilled into the rocks, the word "Fun" is quickly removed from your vocabulary. We had fallen in with Bird and Nanapuss. Bird was hurting with shin splints. When we started down the ladders, they helped me carry Doyle. Every time we started downhill Doyle would stop. The downhills were the most painfull for him. I gave him an Ibuprofin to help him out, which it did. When we finally made it down the mountain, we walked to a store about a 1/4 mile away. I knew I wasn't going back in the woods that night and Bird and Nanapuss agreed. A trail angel in the form of Wayne gave us a ride to a motel about 10 miles away. I rented a car the next day and gave Bird and Nanapuss a ride back to the trail. Bird was going to hit the next shelter and stay off his feet for 2 days.Doyle went to the vet, Dr Rich Bryant, who helped immensely and was very patient with Doyle, and got his Lime shot and they put him on antibiotics for the infections from his pack. I have ordered a new pack that will strap differently and avoid the problem areas. Got him to the groomer and gave him a hair cut. Even with all the flea and tick stuff, ticks are still a problem. So the short hair cut will help as well as keep him cooler. I ended up at a clinic, and a Phycicians Assistant, Ken Anderson, who was a hiker decided to drill holes through my 2 big toenails to relieve the pressure and the pain. They bent over backwards to help me. They got me an appointment with a Podiatrist the next day. The Podiatrist decided to remove the toenails since I was going to lose them anyway. More antibiotics and a week of soaking and bandaging the toes have worked wonders. I see Dr Wilhelm again on Thursday and I hope to be back on the trail by Friday. I clean Doyle's sores twice a day and he is also doing fine. Okay, my whining session is over, onto the good stuff. With this time off I have been able to return some of the trail magic that has come my way. Doyle and I go to the trail with drinks and snacks and we give hikers rides to the store or to a restaurant. It helps pass the time while we are off the trail and gives the hikers a little lift. Our arrival at Shenandoah has been delayed but if you are still interested in joining us please e-mail me through this site. As always, if you are enjoying the journey, please remember the kids and donate to the JIMMY FUND.                              Danielle Grossman                              Jimmy Fund Walk                              10 Brookline Pl West                              6th Floor                              Brookline, MA 02445                              617-632-5029                              danielle_grossman@dfci.harvard.edu                        Thank You                        The Wizard and Uncle Doyle