Miles: 0 

Total Trail Miles: 1342.7 

Ascent/Descent: -/- ft 

Start Time: - 

End Time: - 

Temperature: 29°C (84°F)

I didnt sleep well due to the pain and woke still in a lot of pain and struggled to put much weight on my left foot. I knew I would have to get off trail. It sucks and I cried a few times at this realisation, not how I wanted to start or spend my birthday. I opened Marcus's card to cheer me up and then slowly packed up. I said goodbye to Spliffy and the other hiker when they set off then walked up to the entrance of the campground to wait for the camp host to wake up so I could take him up on the offer of a ride into town. A couple of hours went by and he hadnt emerged from his can so when a forestery van pulled in to empty the campground bins I asked if I could catch a ride to town, the kind man was more than happy to drop me in Chester we just had to stop at one other campground on the way for him to empty the bins. He dropped me off at the café Cravings, I ordered myself some breakfast and an iced coffee and called mum. The plan was to try and get a ride to Burney where I could rest for free for a few days in the Church and that way I would still get to see shortcut. Mum posted on the trail angel FB pages on my behalf. Once i got off the phone, Stacey a local who was sat atvthe next table eating with her friend asked about my injury and then kindly offered to drive me to Burney the following morning! I took her phone number, astonished by the kindness of strangers once again. I spoke to Marcus and then started to hobble over to the hiker bnb. Another kind local pulled over and offered to drive me when she saw me walk. Bootscoot and her partner were at the bnb - they were just heading back out to trail after testing for a few days to nurse Bootscoots sprained ankle and Lauren (Bobcat) was also there resting after hitting her knee. Turned out Lauren was also trying to get to Burney so I checked with Stacey and she said she could take us both. After chatting to Marcus and mum again I decided to go to the ER in case they could diagnose if it was shin splints off a stress fracture. I waited about 2 hours till I saw seen and the doctor was useless. He said I had plantar fasciitis before even looking at my leg, when I said the pain was in my shin then he said it was also shin splints, when I asked if it could be a stress fracture he said they were the same thing...I came out knowing no more than when I went in. After that I ate dinner and went to sleep