June 14 - Front Royal, VA (Day 87 – milepoint 940.6)

Long day yesterday but felt good this morning and made the 3 miles to VA522 in less than an hour. Walked through a lot of tall grass and at one point I looked back to see a thick cloud of pollen floating behind me.

One of my few allergies, pollen, and today, I experienced my worst-ever reaction to it. Sneezing, runny, itchy nose, itchy eyes. I learned today not to rub my eyes after such exposure. I got a ride into town and by the time I arrived at the P.O., my eyes were severely swollen and getting worse. So I sat outside the P.O. sniffling and blowing and sneezing and trying to clear my eyes. I was temporarily blinded by fluids that were occupying the small space left between my eyelids, but I eventually was able to clear them enough to go inside and get my mail. The people inside the PO probably thought I was just crying…a lot.

Went into a pharmacy across the street for some allergy medicine and then met Bulldog for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant. Muy Bueno! We pooled our cash and split a cheap hotel room. The allergy medicine knocked me out for most of the day. Humbled yet again.

-Aquaholic