Date: 2018-07-31
From: Crawford Notch AMC Highland Center

To: Home recovering
Miles today: 0.0

I was at the breakfast buffet around 6:45 and had a huge bowl of oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar, a bowl of yogurt with fresh fruit, a plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, hash and potatoes. I finished it off with a cup of coffee. I can certainly put away some food! The funny thing is I'll be hungry again in less than 2 hours. I've become one of those people I used to see making return trips to the buffet, swearing I'd never eat like that. But as a thruhiker the calories are necessary. But it doesn't make it less embarrassing. I showered and packed my bag and left it in the room for Brian to carry down when he arrives. I waited outside the entrance to the lodge and Brian arrived around 9:40. He went up and got my bag and we loaded up and drove River to the Webster Cliffs trail head where we left off yesterday. Then we headed back to Route 3 and into the town of Twin Mountain where we stopped for breakfast because Brian hadn't eaten yet. Lucky for me...I was hungry again! So I had 2 eggs with homemade hash and a GF bagel with butter and extra cream cheese. I know....I feel like a hobbit sometimes with the number of times I eat in a day. I had a noon appointment at my chiropractor so Brian raced down the highway while I was too busy agonizing over the pain sitting caused me to be concerned about what the speedometer said. Lucky for him. I turned the seat warmer on to try for any relief. None was found. I got to the Dr right at noon. I received treatment that provided minor instant relief of my headache and a bit of freedom for my legs. When we left I rode home laying down in the back seat. Much more comfortable! The rest of the day I iced and took Advil and layed down or stood up as much as possible. Oh, and I got ice cream!On Wednesday I went back at 9:45am for another treatment. More successful but I'm in so much pain still and I couldn't sit. Again I rode in the car laying down in the back seat. My chiropractor suggested I may need to call my PCP for pharmaceutical assistance. Its not my first choice but I understand what he's saying. I do prefer natural remedies over prescription when possible. I was at my PCP office at 11:45. She understands me and she's also a hiker. I gave her my goal to be back on trail and she prescribed a steroid and muscle relaxer for me to help me sleep and reduce the inflammation in my back so I can heal. I want to get back on trail and I want to be sure I'm well enough to not reinjure myself. We discuss some back strengthening exercises also and I'll add them to my morning practice. Brian brought me right to lunch (I'm starving again) and then to get my prescriptions. I took the first dose immediately. I'm ready to be unbroken!! Kyle and Lisa came over for dinner and we enjoyed a BBQ and store bought sides. Not typical of me as I love to cook but I'm giving myself a break for healing. By Thursday morning I was able to sit with less discomfort. Some real relief! I rested more and spent an hour or so at the office completing a couple of minor tasks successfully sitting before going for an ice cream at Richardson's dairy. The best! On Friday I was even more improved and made breakfast for Brian and myself before heading to visit Crystal, Emily, Violet and Silas who hiked out to see me on trail last Sunday and left the treats for me at Zealand Falls shelter. Sam was at work and we unfortunately didn't get to see him. I had a fantastic couple of hours with them on their small farm and showed them what I carry in my backpack. Then we headed home so I could rest more. We watched the afternoon severe storms on TV while some of them played out in our front yard. I was really feeling that breaking myself came at a good time as the visions of me sprinting across the presidential range trying to get below tree line and away from these storms gave me heart palpitations! I'm glad not to be up there today! Brian was scheduled to see a baseball game with a friend but it was rained out. So we went to the store and I baked chocolate chip cookies and banana bread for him. It was nice to do something for him and brought about a sense of normalcy. Tomorrow he will bring me to North Conway and I'll be ready to hike early Sunday morning. It's been a beautiful few days with him. But I'm looking forward to resuming my hike also.