Virginia

"In the words of my grandfather on his death bed, 'Gaze fondly upon today, for tomorrow is bound to suck worse.'"

Journal Entry 4.21.00
"A zero day here in Atkins Virginia. I arrived yesterday at 1pm after a mere 12 miles of hiking. Went straight to the Dairy Queen and had a large Blizzard with Butterfinger and peanut-butter cups. Then I hung out with Salty and his brother Ping-Pong watching movies in their motel room (Desperado, Top Gun, Matrix, Full Monty). I have some new foot pain to worry about - I can't bend my big toe forward or backward. I am hoping and praying it will pass by tomorrow."

Journal Entry 4.22.00
"An extra rest day in Atkins, VA. My toe is completely swollen - cannot bend in either direction. Morale: LOW."

Journal Entry 4.23.00
"5pm at Knot Maul Branch Shelter. 14.3 miles today from Atkins. When I woke up this morning my toe was still swollen and I could barely touch the area around my big toe. I started to get nauseous and dizzy just thinking about the pain. I was terrified to start hiking - afraid that I would make it worse, afraid that I would fall and not be able to continue, afraid of having constant pain. The first 2 hours were slow and I was limping the whole time. Eventually I was able to get my pace up to 2mph. It was an extremely difficult day for me. But I am here and I lived to tell about my tales once again. Sometimes I really do not know where I find the strength. Tomorrow we are supposed to do 18.8 miles and honestly I am terrified that my foot won't be able to make it. But for now I am enjoying my few moments of rest and I'll deal with tomorrow later."

Journal Entry 4.24.00
"8:20pm at the Jenkins Shelter. 18.8 miles today on the gimp foot. Ugh. It took almost 12 hours to get here. I had to take it slow because of my toe - it's still swollen and unable to move back and forth. I've been walking almost exclusively on the heel of my right foot for 2 days now. I am exhausted. Plus it rained lightly all day and of course the rained picked up for the last 2 hours of hiking. Then when I got here the shelter was full so I had to pitch my tent in the rain. Ugh. Then I had to cook diner in the vestibule. Ugh."

Journal Entry 4.25.00
"10pm in George and Murry Ann's house in Bland, VA. A crazy day full of ups and downs, highs and lows. It rained all night with rain dripping right on my forehead in the tent. It rained this morning and all day. My foot was KILLING me. I nearly broke down on the trail from the pain. I hiked 12 miles and was feeling very depressed, disappointed, low, and sad. To top it off I fell in one of the creek crossings full-on up to my waist. It just couldn't get any worse. I got to the road in Bland at 2pm and started walking down to the post office. I was picked up by a man named George who gave me a ride to the post office and waited while I switched out my supplies. When I got back in his car he asked me where I was staying. I said I don't know. He said well you're invited to stay at my house and have dinner with me and my wife. :) I couldn't believe it! George then asked me why I was limping and I said oh, I'm fine just a little injury. And he said you are NOT going to get to Maine with that limp - I am taking you to a doctor. (As it turns out George thru-hiked the trail himself several years ago). So he made an appointment for me and took me to the doctor at 7pm, waited while I was seen, and drove me home. AND the appointment was free, including x-rays. I couldn't believe my change in luck! Dinner was asparagus, sweet potatoes, biscuits, split pea soup, cake and ice cream!! Cre, Snapshot and Pit are also here enjoying the hospitality The foot has been diagnosed with Morton's Neuroma."

Journal Entry 4.26.00
"10am in George and Murry Ann's house. I'm waiting for my 1pm appointment today at the podiatrist. As luck would have it they have an opening. I had a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and scrambled eggs before we dropped Cre, Snapshot and Pit back on the trail. Please let this be the beginning of the end of my foot pain..."

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