Date: 2018-07-09
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Hamburg Microtel
Miles today: 8.8

Even though it was a late night again, today I woke up normal time and was one of the first ones out. The morning was flat but rocky. But it wasn¢t as bad as yesterday and I felt okay, so still made pretty good time. My legs were still pretty beat up though so I needed urgent care. Was even thinking about the injury podcast and was so happy that I haven't had anything that has delayed me yet, but oh well it was bound to happen!The descent into Port Clinton was super steep and loose gravel. At the bottom was a sign if you need a ride anywhere call Eddie, which was perfect because the urgent care would have been a hitch. I called and he was there in 15 minutes.I was the only patient at urgent care (should have been a sign) and it went pretty quickly. I saw a PA who was not super confident what it was. She called in her colleague (not sure his credentials) and he confirmed didn't know the agent, but "unspecified contact dermatitis". So basically I touched some plant (they don't think poison ivy) that caused an allergic reaction in my skin, then either blistered or being in the sun caused heat blisters before it. They didn't like giving steroid shots, so gave me prescription for Prednesone and suggested anti-histamines (i.e. Benadryl). Overall they didn't seem real confident in the diagnosis, which kind of worried me but I guess it is tough to know exactly what happened. They didn't see any signs of cellulitis (when a cut gets infected and spreads blisters).The Walmart was basically next door, although since it was kind of an interstate exit everywhere I had to walk around fences, parking lots, etc. so ended up being closer to 15 minute walk. It also went pretty quickly, I would have done a resupply but didn't need anything! That's why I was hoping to skip Hamburg in the first place.Right by the Walmart was an AYCE Chinese Buffet. Apparently Benadryl makes you hungry, but I didn't need any help with that! I actually was good and ate a lot, but not enough to fill sick. They didn't have a huge salad bar, but my favorite dish was actually the pizza! Next door as the crow flies but still a bit of a walk was a Cabela's. It is more of a hunting store, but listed in the guides and supposed to be hiker friendly. They even will shuttle hikers from the trail to the store. I didn't see anything I really needed but of course good people watching.The hotel was across the street, but also a bit tough to walk to. Their hiker rate was $90, which is a little more than I felt it should have been but didn't really have options. It wasn't a bad place, but I would have put it in more of the $50-$60 dollar range. But it had beds, showers, continental breakfast, and laundry so was worth it.There was a sports bar, Pappy's, attached, so I stopped by for dinner (hiker hunger still real, even with short days!). I actually sat next to another hiker and a guy that worked for Cabela's. He was asking us about what kind of things we think they should stock - they are trying to be hiker friendly. May even become a mail drop. I didn't realize Bass Pro Shops recently bought them out, so I think things settle down they will have some freedom to step outside the corporate mandates and personalize the store. A few minutes later, a big group including Treehugger, Santiago, Crawdaddy, Smiles, and some others came in and invited me over to their table. I kind of hung out, but didn't want to stay a while so I could be back to my room for Jeopardy. They asked the waitress if she could put it on, but they couldn't hook the sound up and I wanted quiet while I watched because I am serious about it. Two of the hikers were nurses and were surprised that they urgent care didn't give me a shot or a Pred Taper (basically take a lot at once to shut down the system, then lower dosage later on). But I told them the dosage of what I had and they thought it might be enough, just wouldn't be as quickly as with the taper.After Jeopardy, I was too tired to go back to the bar so just rested in bed. Felt great, and hopefully the medicine will work quickly and these blisters will pop!