Date: 2008-08-07
From: Salisbury - Whitehart Inn

To: Jug End
Miles today: 16.5

I was able to sleep in later than normal, thanks to the AC and a comfortable bed. We joined Y & Vigil Auntie for breakfast outside on the large porch of the Inn's dining area.What a picture? Early morning, doing breakfast at an Inn. It was a nice way to start the day, and a pefect ending to a good nights stay. It was just like having won the lottery. Too cool. One by one the others packed and left, I stayed behind and cleaned up the room. I didn't want us to be poor representitives for future hikers, I took out all the trash, washed any mud from the shower after cleaning gear and made a call before leaving around 10:00.Within the first seven miles, I had climbed Bear Mountain, once back down the other side I crossed another state line. Goodbye Connecticut, hello Massachusetts. Deep in the woods I stopped for lunch on a little island of rocks that had a flowing stream going around it on both sides. It was a calming spot, the woods were quiet, the noise from the water was just right and my thoughts drifted almost in a meditative state. I feel good.I walked past several cascades and pools of water, then enjoyed the ridge walk along Race Mountain. It was one of the best walks I have had in a while with beautiful views, I just couldn't take enough in.The second milestone today was hitting the 1500 mile mark. Have I really walked this far?... You betcha!My trekking pole tips have worn down to the plastic and offer no grab. I can't rely on them and have not been able to find replacements. While walking on a rock edge, my pole slipped out as I applied weight. I fell 4 feet off a ledge to the right of the trail and glad it wasn't 40, as I crashed down with my right arm taking a direct hit along the rock below. I laid there not moving, assessing my injuries. I honestly thought I had broken my arm. The pain certainly indicated it, so I waited a while then began to feel for swelling and displaced bone?My other hand was bloody from feeling around, I could only move my right arm enough to just see that flesh was missing from the elbow down. I eventually was back on my feet but unable to grip or even hold my right treking pole. I'm thinking more & more my arm is toast? I can not afford a hospital visit,   as I have no coverage for this nor am I budgeted for this type of expenditure.I started running options through my head? I would wait until morning, if it was broken but didn't appear to be a compound fracture, I would find a town with a pharmacy to make a plaster of paris cast. My other option was an auto body shop, where I could pay to have some fiberglass and resin appled to my arm after wrapping it first. If it was worse, I had some other ideas, however they would be a stretch and a last resort. Hopefully I won't have to entertain them?Quitting however, was not an option. I have waited too long and have come to far, it would take a hell of a lot more than this, to do me in.Pain is nice, pain is fun, pain...is your friend.I eventually caught up with Sprite & Freckles, they checked my cuts for anything I couldn't see. We pushed on and found ourselves on a high ridge when the black clouds and thunder came heading our way. I stopped on an open and exposed outcrop on the peak and fumbled with mostly one arm to take a picture. It was an incredible looking storm just on the next mountain. This was going to be a bad one and heading toward us fast.Realizing our vulnerability due to exposure, our pace quickened as we scrambled as fast as possible to get off the ridge.It was too late, we needed to find a place now! Sprite found a small flat area, with a large rock wall that helped block the now high winds. There was partial cover from sturdy Hemlocks and we just got our tents up in time as the storm was right above, hammering rain down on us.There wasn't much more that could be done, We were just hoping that we didn't attract the lightning that was striking near us?After a time, with the rain still pouring, I still had to eat. Moving awkwardly I prepared my dinner from my tent. I opened the rainfly as much as I could to ventilate my burning alcohol stove. The temperature is cooling down rapidly, I may actually be able to sleep in my bag tonight? Fortunately I remembered having some Tylenol 3's for my broken tooth in Virginia. So far, about 100 times I have bumped my arm & elbow sending me into instant shock waves of pain. I never realized how much I do this unknowingly? I would end up doing this 100 times more during the night when I rolled from side to side.