Monday June 11th: I managed to make it to the post office and send out my food boxes for Kennedy Meadows and Independence. While at the post office I learned that there was a bus that left from the bus stop downtown Tehachapi which took you to the trail head. I talked a very nice lady (who was at the post office picking up her mail order glue for a quilting project she was doing) into giving me a ride to Kmart, which was very close to the bus stop. While at Kmart I decided I wanted pizza for lunch before catching the bus to the trail so I walked a mile to Hungry Howies and got just that. After walking back to the Kmart area and getting a soda from Burger King I realized just how awful I was beginning to feel. For days leading up to this moment I had felt very tired and uncomfortable but I thought it was just being a thru-hiker. It was at this moment, however, that I realized I was getting sick. Baboon and I walked 7/10ths of a mile to the Ranch motel and got a room for the night. Before I could even realize I had laid down I was out cold. I Slept 8pm to 8am.
Tuesday June 12th: At 8am I still had a fever of about 102, if not higher but I was hungry (which was a good sign). So, I walked the 3/10ths of a mile to the bakery and got a bagel for breakfast. After breakfast and the walk back to the motel I discovered that my glands were all swollen and my throat hurt like I was getting strep throat, AND my whole body was covered with HIVES....everywhere except my face. I uncomfortably slept the rest of the day away. Baboon has an account of us going to the grocery store and getting food for dinner....I barely remember this. I was in a fever haze.
Wednesday June 13th: When I woke up in the morning all I wanted to do was go back to sleep and sleep all of Thursday away also. Even though I felt like shit still I felt better than the day before and that was enough of an excuse for me to pull my ass out of bed and pack my things. I caught the 10:47 bus to the trail and hiked a tiny 11 miles before all my energy was spent.
Thursday June 14th: This morning I started to finally feel a little better again. The only issue with today was the lack of water. There has only been water about every 20 miles or so and you know, its the desert. Its hot! I only had a few sips of water this morning and I had another 7 miles to hike until the next water. I made it and boy was I happy to see the tank....even if it did look....questionable. I sat there and drank three liters and packed up 4 more liters for the next 20 miles. I'm at camp now wishing I had taken 5 because I'm terribly thirsty and I only have 1 liter left and 7 miles to hike tomorrow morning before more water. Miles today = 20. Before hiking in the desert I thought I knew what it meant to be thirsty. My standard is forever changed!
Stress fracture, shin splint, infected poison oak, poodle dog bush, foot infection, hives, fever, dizziness, throat infection, pinched nerve in my back.....I'm taking bets on whats next!!
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