Over and almost all way back to Bend. Many hours spent operating the van’s controls. Visited with my sister and her husband Bill. Stopped in for overnights at Steve’s going and returning. Excellent fall weather conditions. Teton Valley on the west side of the Teton range. Road trip over to Jackson then N a ways with the the Tetons on our left. Loop, returning same side. Tourist.

Far out: Friday night eating Thai I received a phone call, I saw name BenFreehub, from magazine. He saw my van parked across the street, he lives in Victor. Invited him in. He wrote and photographed the article about me in Freehub mag back in 2013.

Tomorrow back at La Pine.

Everyday I gain more range of motion on knee. However, disheartening, swelling went from 17 to now 16.5″. Yesterday was 5 weeks. Several days ago I lifted the bike off the rack to pump up tires that might have lost air from not riding. Able to perform task.

Highway US 20 east and returning west. Sage desert.

Additional:

Back in 2013 I was flagged down at Peaked Sports in Driggs by 2 people standing in the street in front of the shop, they were holding the centerfold pic from Bike Mag article. I stopped and visited. I was told they would hang the pic on the wall of a restroom in the shop.

Pic still there. During a later visit I bought a print from file and posted in the other restroom. It’s still there also.

Sister Lynn and me in Teton NP:

cell phone  pics are smaller than Olympus I carry mountain biking.

Recovery takes up most of the day, I will make time during that recovery to write this.

Yesterday was another session of physical therapy on correct knee. The PT, 4th therapist to work on my body, gave me more exercises and knowledge. Gave me a shrink sleeve to replace the manual wrap. He also gave exercises for my shoulder. Combing knee and shoulder exercises take a chunk of that recovery time. I also do random knee exercise during the day like attending to the stove while cooking dinner. Flexibility and making muscles fire is therapy.

Anyway, every day I notice improvements as in healing. Breaking news: today I walked a piece of the road I’m on, maybe 1/4 mile, in the most normal knee flex during walking. Pushing range of motion to tolerable pain level. Bedtime is mostly pain free as I am able to raise my leg by itself  and no searing pain when first standing up.

However, most of my time is spent on my van’s driver’s seat which swivels around to mate with my raised drop table. I look the length of the van, about 11 feet. The longest length in my house is 20′. Adjusting and accepting my enclosed space.

Yesterday marked 4 weeks post injury, 2 more weeks of swelling before reduction will occur per 1 DR.

I will return to Bend after Victor road trip to continue PT and recovery. My living is easy here where my needs are met. Trails are easier to ride for regaining what I will have lost. My wrists have shrunk. I’m not sleeping as well.

Chill has set in, 46 degrees and overcast. Heater performing its function. 5 gal propane today, paying attention to onboard supply.

Staying on my property sometimes for 2 straight days. Some days I do not speak. I listen to XM, mostly Outlaw Country for audio stimulation, receiver, not creator.

Tomorrow I pull up local anchor to embark on a round trip road drive to Victor, ID. I might be a bit excited about leaving my comfort zone. For preparation is fueling up. Van health is in good repair. I drive my house which has my stuff, I don’t have to make a travel bag. Whatever the weather condition where I visit I match conditions to my wardrobe. Back on the road. Level of anticipation or apprehension of leaving is directly related to amount of time spent at a place.

I pass a small barbershop on way to La Pine. I had been paying attention to the shape of my beard as below my jaw was thatch while above was shorter. I had no image of my hair. Today as I passed the shop on way home after laundry. I passed the shop, Nah, I’m going to do it. I turned back and took my place in a 2 chair cut shop by women. Sign gave discount to seniors. My time there, customers were white haired men, 5 of us. I guy balder than me, told the cuter he was changing his style to leave the fuzzies on his bald pate as temperatures were dropping and he needed the warmth. Many pictures of amateurish auto racers, the former owner. Women have left them hanging and no connection. So, my beard has been shorn and hair ends evened. $12 cut.

Consuming time.

Ah, Friday news.

Afternoon PT session with another therapist who worked the hematoma care and the refiring of dormant muscles. I continue to learn about how a human body works. We humans are essentially the same wiring and plumbing with genetic variations, some are detrimental to survival of organism which is its primary purpose. That’s nature, what we do with what got is nurture. Mixing the 2 in whatever amounts is what our life is. What is known to me about bad nature is my body’s producing internal blood clots which nurture’s fix is taking an anticoagulant. DR told me that fix caused this hematoma. A PA told me in essence is I have chosen this lifestyle and its inherent risks. Bottom line: I will pay the piper when dues are  levied.

The PT worked soft tissue on my thigh where pain resides. At first I guarded her ministrations but she persisted resulting in lessening of pain and appearance of skin wrinkles indicating reduction in swelling. Elevation lets gravity pull down the broken down blood absorbed into the lymphatic system that plumbs back into the circulatory system to be eliminated. Do the given exercises to cause dormant muscles to remember their function. I do the exercises first then  wrap my knee with a hot water bottle, at device’s max temp of 120 degrees, verified by a digital thermometer. Then lay on the floor to elevate my leg on the rear bulkhead for 10 mins. The heat enlarges capillaries to carry the bad away. She showed how to make my leg work to walk. Knee bend ever so slightly. Walk as needed, no extended walking.

Every day I feel improvement in reduction of pain and discomfort. Every day what it is is better. While I linger in bed putting off potential discomfort from a chilly bedroom and shooting pain from leg when swung to vertical and weight put on it. Because pain is reducing I now anticipate feeling my leg’s improvement. Start day with lips turned up.

An hour later I learned another it is what it is from ortho DR exam of my shoulder. Don’t let me push, don’t let me pull to reveal the tale: Suspect tendons are no longer attached. I have range of motion no strength, other muscles have picked up the slack as structurally they are able. DR told me solution is shoulder replacement as elective, advised living with as is doing PT. Surgery has risks. He looked at my knee, he was the DR I saw first off.

Drove back to property. Hot during day then cooling slightly as sun fades. Residual heat keeps van warmer than outside until temp drops well after midnight. I start with just the sheet over me, chill sets in I pull over a single layer of summer down blanket and switch on the heater. Between the 2 actions my bed, with comfortable top and bottom sheets over a 2″ memory foam on top of 4″ high density foam 30 inches wide and 6 feet long, cuddles my sleep.

4272′ elevation. 9;17 AM temp is 46 degrees. Solar panel capturing little energy as numerous trees block sun and of angle of sun. The new controller reveal energy incoming and going to battery. Displays capacity level. The 2 house batteries are charged by the overflow from the alternator and the 1 solar panel. Learning that much time is needed to replace volts consumed even with engine help. Shorter days are coming followed by longer days.

Sat morning. Go Cougs.