Date: 2007-07-11
From: US201, Culvers Gap

To: Auburn, Alabama
Miles today: 0.0

The diagnosis is in - I (Mike, Toesocks2) have a broken rib. I wish I could say that it only hurts when I laugh, but that would be a bit of an understatement. The last four miles of Pennsylvania got me, as I fell on a wet rock in the descent into Delaware Water Gap, and something in my pack, either the tent, tent stakes or tent poles, were slammed into my back when the pack and my butt absorbed the fall. It didn't hurt much at first, but it has gradually become almost unbearable, especially at night when I lie down. I've developed numbness in both the lower right sternum and abdomen, and upper right back. My orthopedist in Auburn, Dr. Bob (McAlindon) of Houghston Sports Clinic, says that a lung puncture would really be dangerous, and so I should refrain from weight lifting, running, hiking, or anything where I could fall, for four to six weeks. He also diagnosed Gloria's trigger finger, due to overuse on the trekking pole, and she is taking a steroid pack but not having success. She will probably need an injection and possibly tendon surgery. We don't think we will be returning to the trail this year. We've rented an extended stay studio suite in Auburn and will start preparing to live full-time in our Lazy Daze RV when the factory in Montclair, CA tells us to come get it.The fall occurred on a Wednesday and we left the trail on Sunday, July 1. Thank God that Lady Bug and Natural High were within sixty miles of us with a car and were kind enough to come get us and drive us to the Newark, NJ bus station. Thank you, Lady Bug and Natural High - we think of you as a neice and nephew! The bus ride to Alabama was a story in itself. We couldn't rent a car or board an airplane because my Alabama drivers license had expired on June 15 (they had denied me both an early renewal in February and a mail-in renewal, which is limited to active-duty military and college students with proof of status) The July 4 weekend had strained the bus system to its max, filling all the buses to capacity, even filling the bus stations with four or five times their intended capacity. They sold tickets to any and all, but couldn't seat everyone on a buses. We slowly made our way south, stopping in Baltimore, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greenville and finally Atlanta. There we switched buses and went on to Opelika, AL. We marvelled over how far from home we had walked - it took 26 hours by bus to get back home. Each station was more crowded and seedier that the previous one. We witnessed one profane passenger, a woman from NYC, get kicked off the bus by an irritable driver. We've concluded that everyone should take a long distance bus ride, but don't go alone, and don't bother with a two-way ticket.REFLECTIONS ON GEAR. During the hike, we switched to down sleeping bags from synthetic, primarily for weight and bulk. We had no trouble keeping them dry. We also switched from Whisperlite to Pocket Rocket, primarily for cleaner burn and simmering capacity. We had trouble getting butane canisters, however, and had to carry a pepsi stove and HEET as a backup. We switched from water pump to Steri-lite but only used it one day before getting injured. In Damascus, Toesocks1 switched from shorts to a hiking skirt - she eventually bought three as she lost so much weight and had to downsize. Hiking skirts were more convenient for undressing in shelters and for potty breaks, and were much cooler when hiking.REFLECTIONS ON RETURN TO THE REAL WORLD. People drive so fast, but we are trying to keep up. We are still washing dishes with a thimble full of water, and feeling guilty when tossing dirty clothes into the hamper after only two days wear. We find ourselves scanning the horizon for thunderstorms and thinking about packcovers and getting to shelter before the storm breaks. We are trying to monitor our caloric intake, now that we are no longer hiking for eight to twelve hours a day. And lastly, looking for a restroom is most inconvenient - no longer will just any tree do. In the lyrics of Takoma Tedd, "The people are the trail," and we very much miss our hiking buddies and the trail friends we made. We think about them continually. Hikers are a different breed - but they are us.