Date: 2012-05-02
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.3

This morning I said my goodbyes to those I had been hiking with knowing that they would push on ahead of me. There's always a chance on the trail that you'll round a corner one day and they'll be there, but no guarantees. I wasn't hungry but forced myself to eat anyway knowing that I would need the energy. I started the morning's climb and even though the hill wasn't that steep and it was still early and cool, I was sweating and overheating. I felt so weak and dizzy that I was having trouble even keeping my feet once I got to the top and hit the loose rocks there. Less than half a mile in and I was already exhausted and felt like I had done over twenty miles already. I sat down on a rock assessing my situation. My symptoms were getting worse and now met all the indicators of Giardia or Lymes (untreated these turn into thru hike killers). And here I was hiking further into wilderness. I could continue to hike, covering very few miles and take the risk of not treating a potentially serious illness or I could take advantage of being in my home state surrounded by family and head home early to seek medical attention. And I was so frustrated at the timing of this all as I ha been looking forward to surprising my mother on her birthday for weeks now. I must have sat there for a good ten minutes before deciding I would call my Dad and see what he thought. I honestly couldn't tell you if I wanted him to talk me into staying on the trail until Sunday or to encourage me to come home.   Finding signal was my next challenge and I eventually left the trail to climb to the top of the ridge line where if I stood just so on a rock I got just enough signal for a few static filled rings where the phone actually connected 1 out of 5 tries before dropping the call. After a few calls to my Aunt and Dad that got answering machines, I was so tired and frustrated with fighting for signal that I finally just gave in and tried my mother. The phone seemed to ring forever and I sobbed in relief when I finally heard a her voice. For the record just let me say that my mother is a saint. "Mom, I'm really sick, I think I need to see a doctor." her response, "I'm coming, where are you". Of all the states to get sick in, Virginia was it. All I had to give her was the nearest road and a creek name. (Which is why I should be carrying a map) and I knew once I left the ridge line I would have no more signal. Resignation, relief, happiness, anticipation, uncertainty, sadness, nausea... all these emotions swelled and ebbed in turn and return as I headed back south, rewalking the ground it had taken so long to conquer yesterday.   But the call had been made and the course was set. I ran into Tipsy and Fetch, Ox and Finally Huff and Puff on my way down the hill. So sad to leave those girls again and I felt so guilty when I learned they had been pushing so hard to try to catch me all for nothing. I know for sure I'll see them again though even if I have to hunt them down. Got to the road and found a rock to lean against and wait where I could be easily spotted by a passing car. A few hours later after pick up truck after pickup truck I finally recognized her car. A bittersweet greeting after so looking forward to seeing her again but not under these circumstances. And what a feeling to be traveling so quickly North again covering weeks worth of effort in a three hour drive. Thank you, thank you to my mom for once again giving so readily. It was good to be home again, the front garden is in bloom, my dog thinks I smell amazing, my cat practically raped me, and my room was just as I left it, comfortable, my own. Appointment to see the doctor is set for tomorrow and hopefully I'll be able to make a plan once I know more.