On April 1, 2010 I set out for my volunteer job at Tiritiri Matangi Island. The water was like glass on the harbour as we left Auckland City for the trip to Gulf Harbour and then Tiritiri. As a guide, everytime I visit the Island I experience so many new and different things.It is amazing how much I have learned just on observation alone. This day, there were too many guides, and I was asked to buddy up with another guide who had a rather large group. A perfect scenario for me, as I was keen to hear about this guides perspective, and learn a few tips from him. We took the longer track (the Kawerau Track) with our group. The tide was high, water was clear, but there was a briskness to the air. I felt a bit chilly, so I pulled my sweatshirt on, and then my wind jacket. About half way through the walk I felt an intense pain in my head shoot through just like a spear. I wasn't quite sure what was going on, but now I was also hot as ever...could it be those hot flashes? I am not one to get headaches..but this pain just kept getting worse. Luckily I had some tylenol, so I popped a few with some water, and continued on thinking I was just fine. But...I was not. By the time I got to the Lighthouse where we excuse the visitors to do their own exploring, I was shivering, and the pain was getting worse.
I decided to take a very slow walk back to where we meet the boat, resting along the way, drinking more water, taking more tylenol. I did see some amazing bird action as I sat on the benches along the way. By the time I made it to the boat, they were boarding, so I took my seat. Unfortunately, The wind had come up in the Gulf, and the water was not at all calm for the ride home. I have gotten better everytime I venture out on a long boat ride, but this ride home was less than smooth. As we departed the ferry in Auckland City, I had to catch another ferry to Devonport. My feet felt like lead, but I made it to the right pier just in time. I am always doing the 'ferry run' so it felt good that I didn't have to run this time. Sometimes...they pull away just as you get to the gate...and I wasn't going to have that happen. By the time I got home I was completely out of it. Rob called and said he was needing to work late on a project with one of his employees. That gave me time to take a shower, and try to lay down. Thankfully, I had already made dinner, so I could lay down. My head hit the pillow, and 4 days later I finally woke without a throbbing headache, and achy muscles. I thought I was over this thing...but Monday night came, and the headache came back only worse, and now a very harsh cough came along. The cough kept getting worse, and the more I coughed the worse my head felt...not a good way to spend your days. Finally, after 12 days of this ridiculous nonesense I went to the doctor. She determined that I started out with a flu bug...still waiting to determine if it was the H1N1 virus as she took all sorts of blood. But then I got a secondary infection in my lungs. Lucky me...I think Rob should get a medal for having to listen to me hack my lungs out all night long. Neither of us is sleeping very well. I am now taking an antibiotic that I hope blows this crud out of me. The only reason to share this with you is...if you get that nasty headache...go to your doctor...do not wait as long as I did. I have been quarantined for too long...and I pray to the gods that Rob stears clear of this nasty virus. And now the big rains are due tomorrow... :( Bugger!
0 comments:
Post a Comment