Weather forecast still wants probability of rain. Yesterday I abandoned a ride for another hike in Moran SP. I hiked from Cascade lake up to Twin Lakes all by myself.
My heart on Sunday started sending me trouble signals. No symptoms of a heart attack, just feeling my heart beat on the surface of my skin. Concerned something was amiss. I cut my hike shorter than planned and drove back towards town to a DR office, part of Island Hospital. Scored a walk in appointment. A nurse triaging me commented on my Pen Again saying that she misses hers. She checked signs to learn if I was having serious heart attack. No she concluded ( and I knew). Medical staff is all dressed in casual street clothes. I returned to my van and retrieved a spare pen and gave it to the nurse. I hinted that it was for painless administration of any medical treatment. She said she would not use the square dull needle. She never touched me again. Another nurse performed an EKG shaving my body hair under the electrodes. She didn’t get bribed. DR was 50ish fit woman w/ incredible hand shake. She checked me over and found just happy path conditions. I worry a bit.
Visited Wildlife bike shop. I met the outgoing park ranger, dismissed from his job because of inability to perform physical tasks as a result of a rotator cuff damage incurred on the job. Face value pretty shitty was the state treated him.
Drank a beer @ local brew pub. Should at least learn its name. Dinner was @ the Kitchen again. Creative food vendor.
Spent night @ airport again.
Today’s forecast was for cloudy and in the low 40s. OK, time to learn if I can lift my bike off the rack. Success. I pedaled from Ship Bay to up into the park. Paved road w/ places of no shoulder. Vehicles were respectful leaving me space. I am able to bend my shoulder allowing me to assume the athletic position going downhill @ 35mph. My knees are barking this evening.
Shower @ Golden Tree hostel, still looking to visit w/ owner Ian who is always away mid afternoon visit time.
On my first day here I figured out a shower and a free place to sleep. And stores & beer. Familiarity breeds contentment. I solved my household chores. I am comfortable. There are 3 other islands to visit before I leave on Wed night. I should check out Friday Harbor.
Another beer then dinner @ Mexican restaurant and sleep @ airport. All within prolly 1.5 miles by road. Eastsound is skrunched against the h20 and very compact. The ranger said about 5,000 people live here year round. A brew pub, a conventional fried food macro beer tavern, a great grocery store, & a bunch of shops. Jaywalking and waiting longer @ the stop signs are the norm.
I ask people if they are locals. Mixed answers as there is no definition or pedigree granted. Some said 15 years. others said if you spend a winter you earned your status. I need a Carhart jacket to blend in better than my Patagonia puffy. The store did not have a medium.