Date: 2004-07-30
From: Greymoor Monastery

To: Great Barrington, Mass
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Start: Greymoor Spiritual Life EnterDestination: Great Barrington, Mass. (via New York City and Grand Central Station.) I was up early to say goodbye to Trail Dog and Spincycle. It took some effort not to cry, but I persevered and they got underway. Bro. Leo is taking me to the train station this morning. I go south to New York City, and then get on a bus and head north to Great Barrington to meet Trish. The ball field is quiet and empty with everyone gone. I found a jewelweed bush. The oil has been used to releive itching, and I am desperate for relief. I wash off with the cold water as best as I can. Then using my fingernails I squeeze the stem and wipe the oil on the rashes. It leaves a greenish looking color on me. I found some gauze pads in the hiker box and use duct tape to cover what I can of this oozing, nasty rash. I do not want to gag every one on the train or the bus. But I have to remember not to raise my arms! I spend and hour on the train, and once again I find myself in Grand Central Station. Once again I wander around like a mindless person, whose brain has been overloaded by too much stimuli. I could not even decide what I wanted to eat. It seemed like hundreds of people were hurrying here and there, almost in a mad rush. What is the hurry? I finally get an almond bagel and drink the water I have left in my bottle. It hurts to sit, so I just keep walking around, watching people, and trying to calm down. I have three hours before my bus leaves. I finally found the restrooms and headed in hoping to find a large handicap stall. There are signs all over, please watch your personal items. The handicap stall is out of order, so I have no choice but to try to get into a regular stall. Not a hard feat except for this house on my back. There is not enough room to put it on the floor, so I have to leave it on my back. Trust me when I tell you that it is near impossible to sit on a toilet with a backpack on and even more impossible to get to the toilet paper, much less use it! I have to catch the shuttle to the Port Authority where the bus station is. That means buying yet another ticket. At the bus station I find a chair and put my pack on the floor in front of me. I prop my feet on top of the pack and start reading the rest of my book. Thirty minutes before departure, I wander over and get in the bus line. Unlike the train ride this morning, I want to make sure I have a seat. The bus is late and as I begin to board the driver asks me if I have any camp fuel in my pack. I had not even thought of that. I set my pack down and got my fuel bottle out. I asked the driver if I could just leave my pack there while I went to find a trash can. He told me to just set the bottle against the wall, and get on the bus. I worried about that fuel bottle the rest of the trip. What if someone thought it was an explosive or something? Flammable bottle of liquid found inside the Port Authority Bus Station. I could see the headlines now. I tried to remember if I had ever been finger printed. I don't think I have so they could not trace the bottle to me. Then I worried about some child getting a hold of it and drinking it. My duct tape was wrapped around my fuel bottle, my most necessary piece of equipment. I have no tape, no fuel, and no bottle. Okay so those are things that can easily be replaced. Do not panic! I alternated sleeping and reading for the trip. The traffic in some construction areas kept us moving slow and the bus was over an hour late getting into Great Barrington. I remembered the bus stop from last year. It is right in front of the Days Inn. There is a drug store next store, but it closed just as we pulled up. I had intended to get some more Benedryl for my itching, since I had taken all that I had. I also remembered how expensive the motel rooms are in this area. I reluctantly got a room and unloaded my stuff. I grabbed a chair and took it into the bathroom and placed it in front of the vanity. By climbing up on the chair, and turning around, I could see the rash on my backside and down my leg. At least I could see the parts not covered by gauze and duct tape I had put on it earlier. Hmmmmm..It looked really bad, in fact a lot worse that I thought. As foolish as I felt, I got directions to the hospital and headed to the emergency room. I would have preferred a medical clinic, but there was not one locally. The doctor took a look at the back of my leg and above and said " Well, did you sit on the ground naked or what?" Turns out it is poison sumac, which you do not even have to come in contact with to get it. I have been really careful about watching for poison ivy, but poison sumac, I don't have a clue what it looks like. He was also concerned about my blood pressure, since it was extremely high. He gave me an injection that he guaranteed would "cool my jets" along with two prescriptions. I just want to quit itching. It is not too bad as long as I am hiking, but watch out when I stop. Of course I had not thought to bring my headlamp with me when I walked up to the hospital so my walk back was slow and in the dark. There were only sporadic street lights here and there. I was tired and stressed and did not even feel like going to get something to eat. I mean, I can't even sit down. I rummaged through my food bag and fixed a bowl of Granola, one that is coated with dry milk and you just add water to it. Not very good tasting, but at least I could kneel on the floor in front of the bed and eat. I really needed a zero day, but today was one long ride after another. I am excited about getting to hike with Trish. There is nothing like another woman's company to share the day's adventures with.