On day 2 which was also lake #2 I started to feel the sting of an insect bite on my right belt line. After supper I had a good look with my compass mirror and it looked like I had multiple bites. Sleeping the night was not too bad. The next day another portage (another lake) and things were starting to heat up along the belt line. Another look and it was spreading and ulcerating. I did not sleep very well that night as pain had started irradiating up my back to the neck and down my spine to the site of an old discectomy and spinal fusion. When I woke up on day 4 the problem had spread to my groin and scrotum. Time to get back home. Packed up, had a 30 km day with 2 painful portages and reached my car after dark. Shower at midnight and next morning waited for the doctor to open shop. Finally it is shingles I developed on this last trip. Doc says starting treatment on 5th day is not such good prospects. Being 81 and never had an infection or organic health problem (but lots of broken bones, torn ligaments, etc) I was surprised at this. So maybe if you are over 60 and are going out into the woods for some time maybe consider a Shingles vaccine.
Be safe,
Gerald
Be safe,
Gerald