Date: 2007-08-05
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Last night, I made the decision to take another day off in Hanover. It was the correct decision.At 8 AM this morning, I met Kiwi and Matterhorn in the front lobby for a continental breakfast. They were headed out today, but I thought about going to see a movie. Once I returned to my motel room, however, I felt like sleeping until the matinee movies were scheduled.As I was nearly sound asleep, I started shivering and shivering. I turned off the air conditioner then pulled the blankets over my head, still trying to stay warm. Two hours later, I felt nauseous, walked to the "porcelain throne" and knelt in front of it. That triggered the inevitable, but for some reason, I woke up later, flat on my back on the bathroom floor with my head away from the toilet. I don't know how long I had been in that position or what happened. All I know is that I was filthy in the worst possible way when I woke up some time later. I was confused, but knew that it would be prudent to find a doctor. With the little amount of energy that I had left, I pulled myself into the shower by the handicap rails, still wildly dizzy. I cleaned myself and dried off then I called a taxi, a fellow hiker with a car, and the front desk of this little mom-and-pop motel. They arranged for their daughter to take me to the emergency room. I was so appreciative, and also tried my best to clean up the bathroom floor.When I arrived at the emergency room, I was the only patient there and the nurse and doctor were able to see me right away. I was given an IV of saline, they took a blood sample, checking me for white blood cell count, and any possible tick bacteria. I have been quite amazed that I haven't pulled a single tick off of my body during this trip. After about four hours in the E.R, the doctor indicated that I had a bad stomach "bug" of unknown origin. My white blood cell count was more than double what a normal person has. I don't know much about medicine, but I inferred that a large population of white blood cells meant that they wee attacking something "bad" in my body   It's doubtful that it was from my breakfast this morning. I also tested negative for any tick-borne diseases, including Lyme and also giardia.When I was released from the hospital, I called a taxi to take me to the drug store for my prescriptions and then to take me back to my motel room. It looks like I'll need a few days to recover, fight this bug and get my energy back.   I have absolutely no energy, still shiver, and think that I have a low-grade fever. My winter mail drop came at the right time, before I head into the White Mountains. I put my thick socks on, winter hat and long johns. I still shivered and almost got inside my sleeping bag, too.A few hours later, after explaining my situation to friends and relatives, I received a phone call from Beach Bum. He and First Wife will be in town for a few days. If I'm well enough, I might be able to hike with Beach Bum once again.I don't know how long it will take for me to recuperate, but if I return to normal, I will still hike northbound, one day at a time and see how far I can go. What happened this morning hit me hard! I'm having a tough time even writing this journal. I'm so glad that this did not happen on the Trail.