Day 16: Stage 14: Pau, 78km (20 on foot), 🌥️, 20°

Some People Will Do Almost Anything For Their Blog!😂

The day began as usual. I was up early, dressed, downstairs and on the street by 7:15. It was a long stage today, some 44 km, and in order to protect myself and save some energy before another long stage in two days I took a taxi out of town and up the route to Saint Pé de Bigorre. It’s a beautiful little town situated on a lovely river and I think it would be a destination all by itself.

Ordinarily, I would’ve walked today’s part in two stages. However, due to accommodation timing ahead I had to cross this long section in just one day. Otherwise finding a place open would not have been possible on Sunday. A strategic decision made to facilitate the stages ahead. I think Rob would approve!😏

A patisserie was open in the village, and you know what that means.🙂

It was a calm, beautiful early morning walk along the river.

There was a long stiff climb out of the valley, and I went up at a nice steady pace that seemed to hardly touched me.🙂 Sort of that moment when everything feels perfect.

Farm country still, but no bells today.

As you can see, everything was going really well. Until I got a sharp poke in the upper left side of my torso that made me wince. I thought it was pretty strange, so I waited for a couple of minutes before carrying on. I thought perhaps it was a muscle that I had strained. These walks do take a toll.

I had two more of these events. The second time I sat down and researched heart attacks but I had none of the symptoms. So I walked on. The third time it happened I stopped at a farm where I charmed my way past two seemingly nasty dogs. The owner didn’t answer the door. I said goodbye to my two new friends and shut the gate behind me.

I walked back out to the road and called the French emergency number. They have operators that speak 40 languages so I knew I’d find someone who spoken English. I eventually did, and I went through all the details with them. They linked me up with a Doctor who also spoke English and she told me that I made the exact right decision to stop walking. They coordinated an ambulance pick up that wasn’t as straightforward as it sounds. I was out in the countryside and not on the walking route. Using my GPS app, we finally sorted it out, and I put my gear away as much as I could and got ready to be picked up.

The ambulance arrived and they checked my vitals and strapped me to a gurney for a bumpy ride to the main hospital in Pau. Siren screaming!😱

The three guys were great.

They took me in and the staff checked me out immediately because of a possible heart event. EKG was clear and they took blood tests which were also ultimately clear. I felt fine all this time, but they have a process. I had a good talk with the doctor at admission. Turned out he visited a friend in Vancouver and knew the area where I was from. He even showed me pictures of his visit. It was all very cordial.

Unlike in Canada, once you are admitted in France they put you on a gurney to keep you comfortable. I’m still sitting here waiting to see the doctor to get discharged and it’s now 18:30. Probably 2 hours still to wait. Same as at home.

Now many hours later I’ve seen another doctor who said, “I have the heart and pulse of an athlete, and excellent blood work! She wanted to speak with a cardiologist just to be sure of everything.

Finally at 12:30 AM I have the approval to go, but nobody to declutter my body of all the things they’ve stuck to it and and into it.😂

More tomorrow. Now I need to find my way to the hotel that Annemarie booked for me. Definitely a few more things to sort out tomorrow, but I feel fine and I’m carrying my pack to the hotel! It has been quite the interesting day.

You’ve got to admit, it did spice up the blog a little.😉 Good night!

Geoff🏥⛑️🚑