Viral infection - Time off in Liverpool.

 

Only twenty km on my first full road day of my attempt to walk around the world. I walked from Liverpool to Widnes on a chilly day feeding an insatiable thirst, almost as if I was in Australia! I also had trouble eating, for I could only nibble my food and after a couple of mouthfuls, I felt like vomiting. Clearly something was not right. 

Just before the Church View Pub in Widnes, Karma my cart got several thorn punctures in the one go along a narrow path which I was obliged to walk along as traffic was busy. I met many wonderful people along the way, as John Shaw who had earlier given me great directions said when he came out with a monster snack pack said... " Us  Scouse love the Irish, we are essentially the same! "  Thorns are a nightmare for this kind of a cart. Luckily I don't come across them a much. I usually just get new tyres and inner tubes, I will also have to get some if that gu to put inside tubes. Cyclists say the gu slows them down, I say punctures slow you down! 

After making repairs to Karma I went inside the bar to watch the Carling Cup Final which featured Liverpool the team I once supported fanatically since 1973. They lost on penalty kicks to Manchester City, my next city on the walk. I had by then become concerned about my illness and had decided it needed attention. In the bar, I got talking to a friendly group of eight lads and when I told them my concerns they gave me the name of places to avoid if I wanted to continue my walk! The Whiston Hospital was highly regarded. After one of the lads called Dave Chatterton offered to mind Karma, I took a taxi nine kilometres for only £8.80! As everyone says here, things are properly priced here, not like over in Ireland. Inside the hospital, there were about fifteen people ahead of me. I produced my European E111 health card and the first class treatment I received was all covered. Unlike in Ireland, this hospital had serious manpower at their disposal and there was very little waiting for me. I had taken the precaution of taking copies of my medical records which included breathing and CT scans after my run around the world which included running through much smog and areas of Indonesia where tyre dealerships burnt waste tyres at the side of the highway. After a chest x-ray and other checks, I was finally discharged at three am. My diagnosis is a viral infection, the advice I received was just to rest until I recovered before continuing my walk. The treatment I received in Whiston Hospital was first class, there were, at least, a dozen personnel in total who were working on me! With no place to stay that night I was allowed to sleep there. At breakfast time, Dave texted me and kindly picked me up. He very generously offered to hold onto Karma until I recover. We had an interesting chat about travel, as he is well travelled, and has spent considerable time in India, a place he loves after four trips there. On Dave's wi-fi, I booked a room in Liverpool. Thanks also to Fergus Owens, Barry Drennan and John Shaw for their kindness and effectively sponsoring my stop in Liverpool.

Photos courtesy of Frank Greally, editor of Irish Runner Magazine. Pictured with Frank and outside Run-Logic before my departure.