The good news at our house is that Pam is sleeping peacefully. OK, she's sleeping soundly, but in this case I find the noise a good thing. She had outpatient surgery on her hand early this afternoon, something similar to carpal tunnel but different in a way I don't understand. The dr. came out and said everything went fine and he could see how inflamed the tendon was. Should be all good now. She's got pain pills that seem to be working very well and the recovery should only take 24-48 hours. She has to keep her hand above her heart for that amount of time and keep the dressing dry for something like two weeks. Gonna smell real good when those bandages come off!
My bike riding hasn't gone well this year. I got lazy and didn't start after my usual winter hiatus until a month later than I should have. When I did start my times were way too slow. Just about the time I was getting back in shape we went on vacation and I lost two weeks ... and gained four pounds. Nothing quite like cinnamon rolls to put on the pounds and lycra shorts to show exactly where they went. For most people four pounds wouldn't be noticeable but I have such scrawny bones - think a bird's skeleton - that even a small amount is apparent. And nothing like "The Perfect Mile" to shame me into serious bike workouts. Learning what those three guys put themselves through to break the 4-minute barrier shamed me.
So I when we got back a week ago I determined to get my weekly mileage back up where it belongs and the times back down where they belong. This morning, seven days later, I did a 19 mile ride at an average of 18 mph, a pretty good clip for me. I'll do 15 tomorrow and 24 Wednesday - and then lose another 10 days while I'm up in Washington. I'm going to try to walk vigorously and maybe try a little jogging if my hips will allow so that I don't have to start over when I get home.
Additional motivation comes from thinking about bike camping next summer. I've been doing some research and learning lots. And some friends in the Seattle area are thinking about joining me. Maybe a trip over on the Olympic Peninsula. Yes, it's a year away, but doing 50+ miles a day over consecutive days, pulling around 40 pounds of gear along is not something one does spontaneously.
One of those friends, Sue, crashed on a bike ride over the weekend. She's fine; just a little road rash. Painful but it'll heal. The important thing: she was wearing her helmet. She bounced her noggin off the ground and didn't even feel it. OK, I'll skip the cheap punch lines here and just take this opportunity to say, once again, if you ride a bike wear a helmet. No matter how far you are or aren't riding, wear the stupid helmet!
Now I gotta go out into that room ... whaddaya call it, the kitchen? ... and fix myself something to eat. How does that work, exactly?
1 comment:
Here in WI, helmets for motorcyclists are optional. I can't believe how many don't wear them around here. On the other hand, one can get a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt in a car/van/etc.
Dave's grandpa died while riding his motorcycle--never met him. My father-in-law was only about 12 years old when it happened.
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