People here have been so nice to me. I’ve always heard that ‘Northerners’ are stand-offish, but that has not been my experience at all!
The first night here, I stayed with Vanessa, because I knew I would get in later in the day. I knew Vanessa did laundry at her house. I had a very nice stay at her place!
In 2016, I had stayed with Maria McCabe, but Maria shuttles to the laundromat. Maria will be 90 years old in a week. I didn’t want to trouble her to take me to the laundromat late (and I was terribly stinky) so I stayed with Vanessa the first night and then moved over to Maria’s the next.
What a jewel Maria is! I just love her. She is from Germany and married an American serviceman, and then came to live in America. She is a strong woman and tells it like it is, but she has a heart of gold. She has had some health problems in the two years since I’ve seen her. She has sciatica and has a lot of pain and trouble walking because of it, but she is sharp and quick-witted. She confided that if she has to stop taking in hikers, she won’t want to live. She says she loves hikers and loves helping people. She still drives to help and visit friends and neighbors in need.
She drove to the farmers market and got some ears of corn and shared it with me. I helped her shuck it. That is corn in her hand-her choice of a pose! 😂 She is a character!
Maria took me to the ER of the hospital today. She wouldn’t accept any money for shuttling me. I felt guilty….but she told me not to argue with her because it gave her a headache and made her sciatica act up and hurt. She was appalled and said she wouldn’t take money for taking a sick person to the hospital. She won’t take my money. May God bless her for her kindness. She said they call her a Trail Angel, and if she took my money it would ruin her status. Will you say a prayer for Maria? My heart hurts for her.
The people at the hospital were awesome! I don’t like going to the doctor. I avoid them like the plague! Everyone, from the lady working the desk, to the nurses, those who drew blood, and the Nurse Practitioner who saw me were nice, patient, attentive, and they really listened. They apologized for the long wait. I apologized for having to come to the ER for something that was not an emergency. The Nurse Practitioner looked me straight in the eye and said, “This is serious! I’m glad you came in! You did the right thing.” They take Lyme Disease seriously up here, because it’s a real problem here. I’ve talked to a lot of locals who have told me they had it!
The guy who came to draw blood had a terrible time getting a vein. It’s not his fault. They always tell me I have tiny veins and have trouble finding one. After sticking me three different places without striking gold, the guy gave up. A lady came in and said, “Word on the street is that you are a ‘bad stick’.” 😂 She looked, and tapped my veins, and it didn’t take too many times to finally find a vein. Unfortunately, a third woman came and said they needed more blood, so they had to go through the process again.
The Nurse Practitioner said that results of the test take 3-5 days to come back. She said with my symptoms, having hiked through prime Lyme territory, and having had a tick bite (I did pull one off of my leg with the tweezers, but no bullseye rash) that she felt I should start the antibiotics, and call them in 5 days for test results. If caught early, it can be cured. If not, it becomes chronic, and hard to cure. There is a hiker here named Mountain Dew, who said she knew a hiker who got antibiotics from a Doctor but didn’t want to take them, and he got so bad he had to leave the trail. So I’m going to take my antibiotics.
When I was getting my prescription filled, I was having a bank card issue and was asking questions about banks in town. A lady I didn’t even know offered to drive me down the road to try an ATM there. She not only drove me there, but took me all the way back to Maria’s, rather than dropping me off at the Pharmacy. I asked a store manager of the grocery store here a question, and he went out of his way to find out the answer, including texting their ‘IT’ guy. Everyone has been so nice!
There is a ‘Little Free Library’ outside of the grocery store (which has a deli) and there are tables and chairs for people to hang out and eat or read. I’ve been intrigued with these ‘Little Free Libraries’ for a while. It’s just a place to leave a book or take a book.
I was running a low grade fever at the hospital. I still feel like I have it. They were also concerned because my blood pressure was high. The Nurse told me I had the heart rate of an athlete! (I popped a few buttons off my shirt bursting with pride. I’ve never been an athletic person, but boy have I earned that badge these past 4 1/2 months!)
They said it could take up to 5 days before I would start feeling better if this is Lyme Disease. I’m not sure whether to stay another day, or if I should leave tomorrow and just do low mileage.
So there you have it! That’s all of the news from Lake Wononskopomuc! No joke! Maria drove me to the Lake, pointed to the sign, looked at me straight-faced and said in her thick German accent, “What is the name of that lake?” When I tried to pronounce it, she laughed at me, knowing there was no way I could pronounce it! She is a character!
Rebound, Special Ed here. I have been following your adventures, good and bad, since I last saw you in Hot Springs, NC. Wow what a time you have had! Bert, like Leen, is a saint! I am commenting now because I lived in Salisbury for 9 years, and my son was born in Sharon Hospital. I attended Salisbury Prep School and later taught there for 5 years. I hope you don’t have Lyme’s disease. Miss being on the trail with great people like you and others I met. Take care. All the best to you and other hikers.
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I’m so glad you got checked! Praying for positive news! I’m glad she ordered the antibiotics. If it even something other than Lymes disease the antibiotics should get you back on your feet. I call for another day of rest.
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Yes, Ma’am! I respect your opinion! Will do.
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I vote for staying an extra day also; rest up and let those Yankees show you their hospitality.
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😂 Thanks, Cindy! I think I am going to stay another day.
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Special Ed!! Thank you for your comment. I have thought about you often and wondered how you were doing! That’s BUD to you, Bucko…not Bert. 😂😉 yes, he is a saint, and I could tell Leen was, too, when I met her. 💕 How cool that you lived here. It was Sharon Hospital that Maria took me to today. You take care, as well! I wish you all the best with your quest to finish the AT piece by piece, and everything else in your life.
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Hahaha! Maria sounds adorable! I love people like her. I always loved the people wherever I moved up north. Different cultures but nevertheless, very nice people. I’m so glad you’ve been treated so well and that the doctor put you on antibiotics. I hope you will rest another day and let the antibiotics get into your system good. I’m praying you are feeling better soon. I love you, Kara!
❤ Liz
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She really is adorable. I start crying when I think of leaving her. I really have a soft spot for the elderly. Unless I wake up feeling terrible, I think I am going to leave tomorrow. I’m feeling antsy about getting behind. I’ll just take it slower and stop early if I need to. I love you, too. ❤️
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Saying a prayer you don’t have Lyme disease!! And thanking others for your blessings.
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Thank you, Amy. Me, too!
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I think you and Maria look great in this photo. Praying for both of you. Remember it is also about enjoying the journey. God’s speed dear friend.
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Thank you, Judy! I think about you often! I hope things are going well for you. I have been thinking it would be fun to take you on an overnight hike when I get back! 😃 I do appreciate your prayers, and the reminder, friend!
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What delightful people you met! Love the pictures. I am praying that this is not Lyme, and that the antibiotics help you fight off whatever it is.
Stay strong, Rebound! You got this!
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Thank you, Helen! 💕
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Wonderful stories minus your test…. so hoping it doesn’t come back positive. Good for you on taking those antibiotics. If you can take an extra day of rest, do it.
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I’m taking this seriously. I don’t like taking antibiotics or any medication, but I’m taking every single pill!
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Are you feeling any better?
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Just a touch. The Doc said it would take about five days for me to start feeling better. It has been four. My headache is a bit better, but I still feel tired, my neck is stiff and my muscles are sore. Glad to be in a hotel tonight. This bed feels like I am floating in a cloud!
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A touch is better than none. And so glad you’re not at the Bates Motel. 😊😊
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Amen on both accounts!
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Thank you for asking!
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Ugh….lyme….I hate it. So thankful for antibiotics! What was your blood pressure? Glad you’re heart rate is good. Exercise will do that for you. Rich went to the docs once for an odd sore throat and ended up having his heart checked bc his heart rate was low. Turns out it had nothing to do w/the sore throat–it was bc he was training for a marathon at that time (a few years ago). I’m glad you’re having a good experience in the North. I would say there is some truth in the generalities of culture but good people everywhere! Glad you’re experiencing the good ones here! Hugs!
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It was something like
157/something. I usually have low blood pressure. I hope Rich is recovering nicely from his surgery! Sending hugs back to you, friend! 💕
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