my shoulder has been barking since my fall a week ago. pain feels like it did before the repair. tomorrow is more pt again on thurs which is also the 6 week surgeon follow up. i will learn what’s what. i worry too much but haven’t found the where with all to be at peace.

so, i am still just hanging out in the desert sitting in the sun reading mixing in walking. i am reading, paradise alley, about the 1863 new york city draft riots. largest civil and racial insurrection in america, civil war aside. man’s inhumanity to man. like almost 600 pages hard cover book. has my attention. my left arm has a nice tan, my right is sheathed in the sling blocking tanning rays.

holiday weekend in a tourist town. traffic backs up from just south of voc all the way oak creek canyon to i-17. you can get there from here, it will take longer.

nba playoffs, golden state and stephen curry shooting lights out. he and his team beat gonzaga years ago in the ncaa big dance. the zags couldn’t defend him much like the pros are having trouble.

previously i wrote that i walk paved streets to because of my shoes. these shoes are a walking version of a boat shoe. i have been hiking trails i biked on and a bit of bush bashing. i am getting in some good 1 hour hikes. i figure that next fri when i discard the sling that i will be able to tie shoe laces which will put real hiking shoes on my feet.

today and 2 days ago i hiked from the cultural park: girdner a several pieces of social trails. today i hiked a good bit of ledge n’ airy which is reputed to be well ranked as a tech trail. a local suggested a trail kitty established where a rider paid $1 per dab. if cleaned the rider gets the kitty. years ago i rode and walked it several times. trail is hardly ridden,it is a social trail not recognized by usfs. the method of travel affects the view of the trail.  bicycling looks for traction lines while gapping the wheel size, sometimes more smooth than hiking. sometimes i pick the ride line, i normally see the trail as a rider than a hiker who alters stride to adjust to the irregular tread. i did bush bash. i have enjoyed my hikes w/o encountering a person.

monday was 1st pt session. rebecca commented on how tight my shoulder is, that’s after 4 weeks of just pendulums. i have the stick exercises to do at home.

mon i stayed in west sedona. i drove west on 89A to fs rd 525 to check it out. it is a 2 lane improved dirt road that is washboarded. i drove 2.5 miles to 1st open camp spot. it was full on open. temp not unbearable. i sat outside reading.

tues i hiked from that camp spot. bit of cross country hiking. back @ van i set up my strongback chair then set down for sun exposure. i spent the night same spot.

this AM my camp spot was a landing zone for a hot air balloon. just b4 8am they were gone. i retraced the washboards back to 89a and back into sedona.

again i hiked per above.

i checked that my snap fitness card still gains me access. it did. there are several exercise bikes. i took a shower.

tonight’s camp spot is next road past rd 525. i am camped above and back of 89A, i still hear traffic noise.

monday night i was sitting @ my table doing whatever. i had consumed 2 big splashes of death door white whiskey, the first b4 dinner, the second just b4 i stood up. oh, i just finished self medicating. i stood up and became very unsteady and nauseous. i quickly sat back down. i waited for stasis b4 standing again. this time i was still woozy. in sat back down. i waited a bit more time. this time i made it to the open counter area. i reached up to the above stove cabinet w/ my left arm. next i know i am down on the floor splattered against the bed rest pillow. perfect match contact. the same springsteen song was still playing when i gathered myself standing back up. wooziness gone. i have concern that i stressed the stitching when i landed on my side. how fortunate the pillow and i were in the correct relationship. the memory foam pillow was a good shock absorber. first time i ever blacked out. i went for a walk several minutes later w/ no peculiar body. i will tell the pt at tomorrow’s session.

there is not a “real” book store. the worm in voc is the best of stores selling books. big business for used books. i checked out another store that sold used books. i bought an agatha christy mystery, that’s her line. i was unwilling to stick her out. i found a book @ paw prints second hand shop.

tomorrow is pt and wash day. this weekend is memorial day. i’ll hang down in voc.

bb king died last thurs. mayor of bluesville on xm radio channel 70. he played at one of the colleges i attended, i no longer recall which school.

my intent of the last post was to establish my independence w/ ability to take care of myself. this is not a continuation of that but because of that taking care of myself i am able to be back living in my van living w/ just a fully functioning left arm. i am right handed. i secure my deck shoes w/ cord locks as i am unable to tie my shoes. these shoes are not suited for technical trails which is good as i am to remain fully upright. when i can tie my shoes i will move to ones that are suited for trail hiking. i am freed of the sling in 2 weeks, 6 weeks post surgery. i do wander around in the desert while using a hiking pole. pulling on each sock one handed takes perseverence. i am able to button my pants and zip the fly incorporating a helping right hand.

i fix bfast that the menu has progressed as my ability to figure clean up. at first it was just 2 pieces of toast made in the stove, i buttered each and squeezed honey and spread around. a cup of cold brewed coffee washed it down. clean up was licking the knife off and saving to make an almond butter sandwich at lunch. i rinsed the cup out then put in the cupboard. next step was adding oatmeal which required whisking. i held the pan handle w/ my right and whisked w/ my left. cleanup i leaned hard on the galley counter to grab a hold of the handle to steady it while i scrubbed out the pan. i heated water in the pan and used soap and heated rinse water for everything. clean kitchen. last night i got a hankering for scrambled eggs. i made them for bfast today along w/ the toast and coffee. i broke 2 eggs using my left arm. no egg shell bits. more things to wash, dry, and put away. i have 10 more eggs to work on my proficiency.

more days of rain. i still search for rain fall totals here in sedona. riders head out under threatening skies then get dumped on. quite the sight to see the dripping wet and red mud splattered riders.

thurs i slept w/o aid of pain meds. i made it sleeping fitfully. during the day there are many pain distractions to push the shoulder pain into the background. however, once in bed w/ no distractions the pain is what i feel. i ditched the bed rest pillow when i learned that i can sleep on  my side. laying on my back still sends pain signals. i am still off the meds.

i walk streets around voc when it doesn’t rain. yesterday i found a buck folding hunter pocket knife. quite heavy for a single blade knife. i carried one like this on my pct hike.

last week a rider stopped at my van. he was paul from boone, nc. we talked about their trails as i had ridden a bunch of them. the song tom dooley is right at kerr scott reservoir. i gave stories away for free. he even got a free pic. he knows shrimper, a f.o.s. person. an article about boone was in the previous issue of bike mag that i clipped. i showed it to paul who was impressed w/ my saving.

monday is first day of pt, 4 weeks out.

2 nights ago the furnace would not start. time to take steps to make it healthy. i texted the guy asking for help. he answered back. later in the day i opened my email to find mail from him sent b4 i texted him. he wants to resolve the furnace issues. compliments to him staying on top.

my bike is a fixture on the back of the van uncovered in the rain as it takes 2 hands to put the cover on. i will need new cables b4 i start riding again.

what an experience my odyssey has been to see so much of america and ride so many miles of trails. i have experienced so much. i enjoy sharing common trails w/ riders. i have a connection. way more than if i had a home base and just ventured for for short distance trips. i would not have ridden in arkansas say, or pick another state.

friends from spokane, randy and terry, are riding turner burners.