Journey Day 471 | CDT Day 134

We picked up Carl Ownby, pushing a bike up the road.

10/26/87

Camplobacter: bacteria in food. Also known as traveler's diarrhea. Common lately in New Mexico.

I arise, finally convinced I need help in defeating my sickness. Leonard and Laurie suggest a recent acquaintance, but no answer to a phone call. Hotel manager takes me to a clinic, Leonard and Laurie to the post office. They drop me, I wait with trepidation. Nurse, then Donald Brown, a physician's assistant, recently from Odessa, Texas, diagnoses giardia lamblia (common backpackers' water-borne illness) and camplobacter and prescribes two cures. I pay, walking back weak when the hotel manager comes by and takes me back to the hotel after an errand. At the room, I share my diagnoses, take my medicine and drink electrolytes in Gatorade. Watch the tube, feeling weak. Talk with Carl who gets me bananas before riding off. Leonard and Laurie go off to eat, I call (PCT partner) Keith Jones at his office, he calls back, but it's rushed, distracted for him, we say farewell. I write letters, talk with Leonard and Laurie. I drink Gatorade in quantity. Leonard writes an article.

Checking (guidebook writer Jim) Wolf's draft of the next section, realizes it's 150 miles, not 90 as we estimated. Leonard and Laurie in a tizzy. We look at maps, no alternative, 80 miles plus on a road. Leonard nearly hysterical, blames Wolf. Watch Browns game, excellent game and team, but better with other Browns fans. Crash despite the TV, which no one is watching. Seemed like medicine made me feel instantly better.