Date: 2017-05-18
From: Tentsite at mile 574.3

To: 0 Days Inn Hostel, Bland, VA
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

I actually woke up to an alarm this morning, I want us to get into Bland, Va today so Bev can see a Dr for her headaches and dizziness. I sure hope she's ok and it's not lime disease or high blood pressure. We woke up at 5:30 am and was walking by 5:45 am.The walk today wasn't strenuous, actually very enjoyable for me....but miserable for Bev. I walked ahead of her but kept waiting to make sure she was okay. Her headache is bad so it's good we'll be in town today. Bev looked on her phone and found a outpatient clinic in Bastin, Va.....about 6 miles from Bland, Va.  Jeremy at the 0 Days Inn Hostel said he'd pick us up today and will take Bev to her appointment Friday morning.I saw a huge black snake today that would not get off the trail. I banged my hiking poles together, threw a few small broken sticks at it but no way was it moving!  I looked around and found a LONG stick and picked the darn thing up and placed it off the trail and ran on by!  I watched to see if Bev was coming so I could warn her about it, she hates snakes too. Just as soon as I ran by he/she (snake) it was slithering back out on the trail....I sure hope Bev doesn't see it.I got to a cool shady place and waited for Bev and to ask her if she saw the snake... and she did...lol  She threw a bunch of stuff at it too but it did move finally for her. We rested a short while and had a snack...It was 1:00 so I reminded Bev we needed to keep on going because Jeremy was expecting to hear from us around 3 or 4 pm...We still had 5 miles to go. I feel really bad she's so miserable.I reached a dirt road about 3:30, about .05 from were we'll to be picked up. I waited for Bev to catch up before I called him. She wasn't far behind, she walked over to me with tears in her eyes she took off her pack, threw it on the ground, kicked it and said some profanity to it, looked at me and said, "I'm all done, I'm going home!"  I looked at her and said what? She said it again and told me she had already called Marcel (her boyfriend) and he's on his way!  I then reminded Bev, remember we aren't suppose to quit until we make it through Virginia!  We had discussed this a few times and had agreed to try really hard to get through Virginia. Oh no, I thought...what am I going to do? My stomach was sick, I was discouraged and kind of mad at her but at the same time I was thinking....I'm going home too.We walked to the road and the whole time I was thinking I need to call "Cozy" my coach....She'll talk me out of going home and encourage me to go on. I called my husband, Dan first and told him about Bev going home and of course he said, please come home too. I told him I was going to think about it tonight and make my decision by morning.  I called Cozy and she gave me a lot of great advice, she asked me not to go home to just take a few days off and stay at the hostel before I make any decision because I was doing great and these emotions are all normal. I did remind her....and she knew I've been thinking about wanting to go home a few weeks now and how homesick I've been. I promised her I'd sleep on it.We made it to the hostel at 4:30 pm. I've talked with Cozy again too. Thanks for all your support Cozy, I hope I haven't disappointed you?