Lame

On Wednesday Dave permitted me to ride on the road. Issue is there is no muscle tone to hold shoulder joint in place, just tendon strength that are not elastic. Any activity that stresses the shoulder will be borne by inelastic tendons which will prolly result in the tearing of the repair. Got to stay upright. He used his infamous elbow again. I am to use my arm as I would normally except over head. He gave me 2 new strengthening exercises.

So what’s been running thru my mind while waiting recovery is backpacking. Tuesday I shouldered my pack and headed back to Sisters Mirror Lake, a 4 mile gentle hike. I was able to put on and slip off the pack w/ little difficulty. The hike was a chore. I checked my journal and learned that my last backpack was just about 2 years prior back @ Redfish lake in ID. I took a break after an hour which was uncharacteristic of my modus. After all today is a test of feasibility, not crushing endurance. I made the lake only seeing 1 hiker, the joy of being a mid week activist. I scored the camp spot above the lake. This trip I am breaking in my new Tarptent model Moment. Steve and I set it up back in Sedona after we read the instructions and I watched the video. Set up was cumbersome but successful.

One person double wall tent w/ lots of ways to ventilate. I use a Thermorest I bought back in ’02 that I use in the chair which is the vertical black object which supports my lower back. I will pay the weight penalty for the comfort. I arranged my kitchen around the seat. Freeze dried dinner for a short cut instead of buying various dried eatables. Quite night. there are 2 vestibules in the tent, when opened I am able to look out which is a welcome change from the Pyramid. Lots of condensation overnight. I walked around the lakes basin and discovered 2 other lakes that are less visited and prettier but my camp was already set up.

Nice being encased in netting to keep the few mosquitoes perched on the outside instead of inserted in my skin.

Fitful sleeping as I don’t like the feeling of nylon against my skin. crawled out after the sun warmed a bit. made bfast and packed up. Fog was rising off the lake.

Oregon Cascades are volcanic. many lakes such as this one a catch basins as there is no in nor out. Mountain hemlock. lodgepole, & firs are dominant tree cover. Mature forest has living and dead

A short distance after I started hiking in I experienced pain in my right shin that persisted on the way out.

But the back story was before I hiked I rode my bike on the road for the first time really going after it. I believed that riding the exercise bikes would prepare me for sport specific use. Hmm. Plan for the day was to hike out to the TH and hang out drying out my gear and packing it away then drive back to Bend and go for another bike ride. Which I did. My ride this time was a bit further up the MT Bachelor road ignoring the shin pain. 14 miles today. After the ride the pain was so great as to cause me to heavily favor the other leg. Great pain.

After taking a shower I drove to Web Cyclery to share ride ideas w/ Kevin. Dave, the PT, walked in and I asked him about my pain. He said it came from pulling up w/my foot on the pedal. Treatment is foam roller which I did several times last night. This AM I able to walk almost pain free. I will take a rest day today.

Tomorrow I am heading back to La Pine to have my furnace serviced and also look at land.

I emailed a realtor in Oakridge who told me my land price range was more than 1/2 less than the going price of land. Seems like the dry side will be were I buy.

So, my feet seemed not overly unhappy. I will try a longer hike next time. My thinking is to finish up going north on the PCT from Stevens pass to Canada in September after my dentist visit. I might try a stiffer pair of boots, the 2 I have looked at do not make my small 7 1/2 size.

I carry a cone coffee filter that is too large for my cook pot. last night I researched various methods of making cowboy coffee. I picked the method that does not heat the coffee which releases the bitterness. I made a cup this AM and enjoyed it. I will eliminate the filter and its few ounces.

Ah, 10 Barrels and my status. I go in almost every night at dinner for one beer. The bar keeps that know me pour me a beer w/ o asking or waiting to catch their eye. We know each others’ names. So great.

Temps have dropped here to the upper 70s and low 80s, night time is down blanket snuggle and chilly get out of bed. I suppose if the furnace worked I might run it a bit but then I would need to close the slider door.

Off to do laundry and buy the PCT book for OR and WA.

I read “Wild” and saw the movie which I wrote about in an earlier blog. Cheryl called her pack, “Monster”. Mine wasn’t that heavy but weight is relative. I hoisted my pack and immediately I set lower in the water and my stride was shortened. One step at a time. I read the tent instructions and set it prior to first use. The rest of my gear is well known and used and no surprises were experienced.