This AM I moved all my stuff from the house back into the van. The bed lowering and raising solution worked. I made the bed the way the sheets were sized for: the smaller sheet is the bottom and the larger is the top where in the house they were reversed. I screwed the comforter to the van body which keeps it from succumbing to gravitational forces to fall on the floor. Both the comforter and thermal blanket are wide enough to double up allowing  me to layer insulation. Forecast is for low teens outside, inside in upper 40s so I doubled up the blankets. I have never been cold enough to add my 20 degree sleeping bag into the mix.

As I tossed and turned last night I thought about retrieving the road bike from neighbor Bill’s barn. When push came to shove I left the bike lay. Mounting the Turner on the rack took some body contortions as I can not lift my right arm. I locked it into position then stooped to hold the fork leg then stood up and waved @ the fork up until I connected. Success: Bike on the van.

Snow fell on the Cascades several days ago affecting each of my pass choices. I wanted to drive N cascade but the was out. Next S is Stevens which has compact snow, traction tires advised. No predicted precip, just clear cold.

Today my plan was to drive to Leavenworth area then spend the night @ a snowpark near Fish lake. I drove US 2 west from Spokane to Leavenworth battling very strong and gusty N winds. Stud ruts and large sail area kept my attention focused on driving a straight line. Beautiful day w/ scattered high clouds in blue skies, the sun low on the horizon producing flat light. I crested a rise to be greeted by a face shot of snow capped mountains. Leavenworth has snow covered side streets and some side walks. I drove around trying to find Das Rad House, a bike shop, to experience bikers snow bound. I found the shop: the sidewalk hadn’t been shoveled since snow. A bike was in a stand and the electric Open sign was on…. but the door was locked and nobody was home. I am in snow w/ a mtn bike.

I headed west out of town to find the snow park for tonight’s stay. I found 4 inches of tracked snow, not plowed. Home sweet home. I have good tread M/S tires and a limited slip differential. I figure I will be able to back out to cleared road. Over the years I have stayed here albeit no snow.

I saved Stevens Pass drive for the morning for the views and make the ferry ride to Orcas in daylight.

My heater is radiant w/ no air movement. Neighbor Bill suggested using  a fan to move the air. I put batteries in my fan I used during hot weather & put it on the dash. Air is moving making it warmer, I prolly will not see my breath at the back of the van.

Yesterday @ PT Brian is pleased w/ my progress. I can almost fully extend my arm over my head while laying on the floor. Laterally I am still tight. He said some stiffness is good as patients that loosen up real quick have issues down the road. My road appears to be smooth. I am not able to do most of the stretches and strengthening exercises in my van. I hope to find inside space in the islands. Brian uses a tablet that he can take video and voice of exercises and email them to me. I open the link and view what he has in mind. Way cool.

Rough spots getting back into van life setting the computer up being one of them as I was spoiled in the house as the computer was always set up and battery full charged from house current. Tonight going to sleep in my own bed, may it be restful. 22 degrees. 8:33PM.

I finished  a true account of injustice written by Grisham, Innocent Man. take away: FEAR YOUR GOVERNMENT.

I am taking my bike, van, life, and physical therapy exercises on the road tomorrow, headed for the San Juan Islands for awhile. Tomorrow marks 11 weeks post surgery that repaired a complex supra tear that tore inside itself and finally off the humerous. 2 bone anchors and enough fishing twine to tie a small rats’ nest. 5 weeks of stretching 2X /  day to reacquaint my right shoulder to its purpose and service to my body. 3 more months remain conservatively for the repair and regrowth of the tendon tendrils to reestablish their connection w/ the bone  to sustain a fall landing on my right arm. More time spent figuring out things to do before my tires hit the dirt. Much thanks to my former neighbors for helping me along I spent 11 weeks sort of living in Julie’s mothers small house where i had running hot water, flush toilet, shower, a bed, and room to do my exercises.

Last week I rode gravel roads climbing out of Peone prairie down to the river and back out. Cold. I hiked on T-day in the Little Spokane natural area, a place I used to poached by headlamp years ago. Rough trail and lots of steep climbing. Slippery w/ frozen mud. I didn’t pay much attention to managing daylight or the amount of time needed to hike out and back. At my turn around at the bridge I had 80 mins of sunup light to hike what took me 90 mins and the last bit of hike was down a rough slippery trail that I did not want to negotiate in failing light. I made it back in the twilight.

I did eat a Thanksgiving dinner @ a local chain restaurant. I was disappointed, to me it seemed everything was made w/ boiling water. OK, the pumpkin pie was baked but the whipped cream was from a pressurized can. Last year’s celebration was with Charlie and Theresa in a campground out on Dead Horse Point in Moab. I whipped the cream using an egg beater.

I watched Gonzaga basketball games. Kudos to Spokane TV stations for sharing. Sat I watched The Game between Ohio State and that school up north, the first half on an exercise bike with its own TV. What a game. Go big or go home was the other school’s choice.

Single digit temps are forecast later this week here. The San Juans will be a bit warmer. I read a sales pitch for the islands that stated they get 247 days of sunshine and a third of Seattle’s rain. There are several campgrounds open year round. I have a desire to find a room or small house to rent during my stay.

I had expressed my plan of leaving tomorrow w/ Brian, the PT. He said that he would give me exercises and we could communicate electronically when needed. My opening paragraph is based on that premise.

Life moves along. May yours be staying w/in your planned banks.