Date: 2003-07-20
From: The Inn At Long Trail (2155') 

To: VT100 (1690') 
Miles today: 1.4

Aloha! Ahhh... there it is, the sound of the trickling water, the feel of the wind in my hair, the sight of the monster rocks, and the smell of the wild flowers. It feels so good to be back! Right back where I need to be - another room at The Inn at Long Trail. The water you hear is the shower, the wind you feel is the fan blowing, the monster rocks you see are the ones outside my window, and the wild flowers you smell are in the vase beside my bed. Yes, I'm back... right where I'm supposed to be today.   Oh where to begin... well, at the beginning I imagine. It always seems the best place to begin.   After what I would call an unpleasant night's sleep (lots of "gotta go" stuff) I realized that maybe I should chat with someone more knowledgeable in the medical profession than myself. I resolved to seek medical advice regarding my...uh, problem. First though was shower and breakfast. Or so I thought.   Before I even finished showering Timber was back to inform me that one of the inn's guest was going to drive me to the hospital and wait while I was checked over. Huh? Aren't you supposed to be having breakfast? What inn guest and what hospital? I'm confused. It seems that she and Mouse Bait were discussing my health issues over breakfast and had decided that I needed to go to the hospital. During their conversation the inn guest became involved (I'm still not sure how) but it had been resolved that Noelle (the guest) would drive me to the hospital and wait. In the meantime Timber ordered me a dry breakfast of wheat toast and had it packed to go. Again, huh? By the time I arrived for dinner, Noelle's breakfast and my wheat toast were ready to go, Stephanie the waitress quickly filled two coffees for me and offered up her concern, and I was sent packing out the door. Uhhh.... huh?   Before I could even turn around Noelle had me at the emergency room and in the hands of the nurses. Huh? Everyone was wonderful. Noelle did as she said she was going to do and waited, and waited, and waited... and... {sigh} I can't believe sometimes how many personal trail angels I have on the Grand Adventure. Its almost unbelievable. Fantastic but unbelievable.   As for my diagnosis, it's believed that I am suffering from nothing more than a traveler's bug. A viral thing. Not contagious, just long lasting. Probably because I tried to "heal thyself" by doing little more than resting. Tests were run to ensure that it was nothing more and so far, so good. Giardia takes approximately three days for test results but the good doctor doesn't believe my timing back on the trail after Texas is long enough to have contracted giardia. Just a bug. I was sent away with a prescription for Ciprofloxaci, instructions to continue the Imodium and a promise from the doctor to call with the test results. (He did, all as suspected.) The prescription was written only as a precaution due to my unwillingness to wait three days for the giardia test results. Better prepared than sorry later.   Noelle, this week's trail angel, was then kind enough to drive me to the pharmacy, wait while my prescription was refilled and return me to the inn. All the while refusing any type of repayment. Couldn't even buy her gas or lunch. With short introductions to her parents and alohas all around, she was off and headed back to Boston. Such an angel. We've said this before but it's worth repeating - "I've often relied upon the kindness of strangers." And thankfully they're out there! Mahalo Noelle, you're an angel.   During my time at the hospital, Mouse Bait called to say aloha. She was headed north and Timber was on her way out to find a dress for the wedding. If things work, as I believe they will, I'll hopefully get to see them both again in the near future. Timber when she returns to the trail and passes me by and Mouse Bait after she reaches her next zero day spot. It would be great to see them both again. I still need to thank them for their concern and efforts of this morning. Hiker trail angels. Pretty cool.   Since then, feeling better, I found that I couldn't just sit here another day. It's beginning to drive me nuts. After thinking about it I made the decision to not have this as another zero day. After looking over the data and map I found that I could easily hike 1.4 miles to the next road junction and either hike or catch a hitch back. With a sandwich packed to go, boots back on, hiking poles (yeah!) in hand, I was out the door before anyone could stop me. Not that anyone would have. Wuhuu! I was back on the trail again! And it felt so good! Granted, it was only a short distance but it was still great!   My short hike went only down and through the Gifford Woods State Park. I understand that the many large tent sites and shelters fill up quickly during the fall "leaf season". I could see why they would. Lovely spots and I imagine it's gorgeous in here during that time. May have to consider that in the future.   I hit my end point within 35 minutes and was back on the highway with my thumb out ten minutes after that. In the end, I was back at the inn within an hour. It may have been my shortest day hiking yet but it wasn't a zero!   Now, with my laundry washed and dried once again, a lovely fruit plate with cottage cheese and ginger ale beside me (is that wise?), I'm feeling like a new woman. Well a newer woman anyway. I started to say that I see no reason for not being on the trail tomorrow but every time I say that I'm here. So this time I'm just going to say to watch for me out there. I'll be there soon. (Maybe not if Bob the bartender doesn't stop coming in to make sure I'm doing okay and refilling my ginger ale. I'm not even in the bar/restaurant!)   That's about it. It's way early but that's okay.   I haven't watched a movie or read a book in forever. The book ¢Vodkas of the World¢ is catching my attention. If I can't drink today I can at least read about drinking! So you go have a cocktail for me. A Godmother sounds tasty!BSandTs: noneAandPs: none you don't already know aboutMandGs: messy stomachs... waah!Critter count: 1x squirrel (but that one was the best one for the day!)