Skyline Drive

This black bear was in the tree at Thornton Gap. He walked out that thin limb with all four paws. When he decided to climb down the tree it took less than 5 seconds.

Carita and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary by taking an overnight in the Shenandoah Mountains and a drive up the famous Skyline Drive. We got out of Julius and did two nice hikes. The first was at Bearfence Mountain where we hiked part of the AT. On the way to the summit we had to climb over a rock scramble which was much harder than anything in the White Mountains. After lunch at Big Meadows Lodge we hiked down a mile to Dark Hollow Falls. The trail was easy to follow, but had a constant grade; the kind that really gets your heart pumping on the way up. I took liberty from Carita and ran the return trip.

In the Shenandoah's the leaves have turned colors and 70% of them have fallen to the ground for the winter. However, those that remained on the trees were beautifully golden. It was another world and we enjoyed our time, how ever short, that we spent there.

Seeing the bear was icing on the cake for our trip. By 5pm on our last day we had only travelled 40 of the 65 miles of our projected Skyline Drive trip. We decided to cut it short and cut off at Thornton Gap. We must have been drawn to this bear, because it was in a tree on the off-ramp to Thornton Gap that we saw the bear in the tree. What a treat!

We have a video of the bear, but the digital world is not allowing me to upload it hear. I'll try again soon.

WyeJuvenation

Bountiful Corn!! A harvester transferring corn to a truck in a field on Sharp Road.

Driving over the Bay Bridge yesterday morning in route to my 6-week post surgical check up, I was struck by the beauty of the building day; light wind, crisp sunshine, fall colors, and warm 65 degree temeratures. It confirmed for me that packing running clothes in the backpack earlier that morning, was not just an exercise in futility. The plan was to return to the Eastern Shore after my Baltimore appointment and hit the roads and trails on the island at Wye.

Wood Frog running the road at Wye Island Tuesday afternoon.

It was 2:07 when I closed Julius’s door at the picnic area to start the seven mile “out and back” run to Ferry Point Trail. Decked in a sleeveless EMS shirt and tanked up on water, I quickly fell into pace and took in the surroundings. Immediately, the sounds of Wye filled the rhythm of my mind; honking of geese, twittering of birds, rustling of corn stalks by deer, sporadic crunching of leaves by squirrels, and the drone of a nearby combine-harvester filling the bin with corn. But, along with that came the sense that I was alone; alone in a place where I am usually in the company of running buddies. Michael Valliant and I have enjoyed a couple of hundred miles of running together at Wye Island over the years. It was with him that we laid out pre-marathon “long” runs and discovered the rejuvenation powers of a few hours running on the island can bring. We have enjoyed good runs with our other buddies, as well, all of whom have enjoyed Wye Island’s fields of grain and forests of maturity.

Right after my appointment I thought about texting the RUR group; inviting them to join me for a run at Wye. Surely, one of them might be able to play hooky? But, something made me think otherwise. Perhaps it was the thought that I might ruin the rest of their day, making them wish they could meet me, when they couldn’t. Or, maybe I didn’t call anyone because deep down I needed to have a solo rejuvenation time on my own two feet.

My right knee draws my attention while I run. I have pending a surgical procedure to adjust a torn meniscus. I can feel it with every strike I take, some with less intensity than others. But, I’ve run about a thousand miles on the knee like it is. However, the injury got worse after the Trail Dawgs Race in April, and now it is hard to have a run where I don’t notice it (a few times I’ve had to stop in the middle of a run because of the pain).

But, with recovering from shoulder surgery, the thought of having the knee done seems overwhelming. I have decided to delay knee surgery until my shoulder recovery has gotten to a point where it is no longer intensely taxing on my body. Dr. Murthi assured me that I was recovering extremely well, ahead of schedule in some areas, and that the atrophy and weakness of my left shoulder is going to take a long time to recover. I was encouraged by what he said. In the week leading up to my appointment with him, I have been experiencing pain in my arm that has held me back from doing some of my strengthening exercises. This has been very discouraging. Running does not hurt my shoulder, at all. Patience.

The Rise Up Runners who supported (Joel???) the Michele Laughman 5K in the rain on Sunday. From right: Lori, Laura, Wood Frog, Shaun, Mike B, Mike V, Brennan, Dominic, and Kathy.

On the brighter side, I was able to run the Michele Laughman 5K on Sunday with my friends. Even though I was at least three minutes off from my PR, I felt strong. Even my knee seemed to behave. So, during yesterday’s run at Wye, as long as I kept my mind active in thought, my knee didn’t bother me.

On the return route from Ferry Point the sun was strong on my back. I slid my shirt off my shoulders and let the sun warm them. With positive thought and visualization I willed the sun’s warmth to heal my ailment. It was a good mile of running like that in the sun. With focus on my left scapular muscles I could feel my blood respond to the sun’s energy and warm that area. It is blood flow that heals. The mind can actually direct blood flow, but it takes practice. I, hopefully, inched my shoulder to a fuller recovery.

Wye Island is a place where:
· green Osage fruits lie on the ground
· cool briny water from the river at Ferry Point feels refreshing on my face
· pick-up trucks with teenage boys arrive for an afternoon dove hunt (at first I thought they were looking for a place to drink beer)
· birdwatchers seize their prey
· the roads never get any shorter
· a person has full opportunity to clear one’s head
Pay no mind to the orange "CHECK ENGINE" light. Julius's 220,000 odometer reading.
On a lighter note: Our good reliable friend turned another milestone in his life yesterday. Julius has provided my family and friends with 220,000 miles of transportation up and down the East Coast and beyond. The only place where my family has spent more time is in our living room and beds. Julius is a reliable friend; we salute you.

This coming weekend brings a confusing array of offerings. I will do my second bout of coaching a Saturday swim practice for the Masters. Then, what to do? St. Michaels High School is having a 5K run. The rescheduled Tour de Trappe is being held offering 10, 40, or 100 mile options. Hmm…what to do? AND, rain is in the forecast. We’ll see what happens. In the meantime, swim, run, ride, appreciate, and love ~

Four Week Update

It has been four weeks since my shoulder surgery. At times I feel I’m 90% back to where I was before surgery; other times less. I’ve eased back into work these last few weeks, as I have with running, cycling, and swimming. Physical Therapy has been a good part of my recovery thanks to the good people at AquaCare in Easton. Brian, Jeff, Laura, Kim, and others have moved, twirled, stretched, pushed, yanked, and zapped me in all the right directions. It is a fascinating field.

There may be a 5K or two on the horizon this month, but there is also an appointment with a knee specialist on the twelfth. Surgery on my meniscus tear may be inevitable; more on that later.

Surgery Accomplished

Day one after shoulder surgery...so far so good.

Yesterday’s surgery went extremely well and I am nearly pain free today; that’s the short of it. Here’s the rest:

We were scheduled to arrive at Kernan by 9:30 to do a physical examination, an EKG, and some blood work before my 12:30 surgery time. Carita and I left the house at 7:15. When we got to Skipton, Route 50 was closed in both directions due to an accident near the Wye Mills Route 662. We detoured past Fike’s Orchard with only a 15 minute delay in the overall plan.

When we had just turned onto Route 2 Ritchie Hwy, my phone rang. It was Angelica (mission control) from Kernan. She said the patient scheduled before me drank coffee this morning and they had to give him my time slot; could I come in early for my operation. I told her we’d be there in half an hour, but was she aware that I still needed my pre-op exams? She said fine, she’d handle it.

We rolled into Kernan at 9:08, Carita gave me my last pre-op remedy, and we marched into the hospital like brave soldiers. Theodosia checked us in, asking Carita more questions than me because our health insurance is in her name. We never waited more than 30 seconds for anything all day long. I was immediately admitted by Nurse Gabriel from Trinidad. She passed me off to sweet Lois who prepped me and gave me my first IV. Unfortunately, the first IV didn’t take and another nurse, whose husband had recently fished out of Tilghman Island, got me connected and fired up with the IV.

Then Brian Duggan, the chief resident, whom I met last week came to give me my physical. He looked hurried, and he was. My exam consisted of a stethoscope on my back in two places, two breaths, stethoscope on my chest, one breath; he asked me if I smoked or drank (I told him i have 2 beers on Wednesday nights), and that was IT! I asked, "no EKG? No blood work?" and he threw a hand at me and said, "awe, you're healthy enough". So, i'm really glad i didn't go throw all the convulsions of trying to get my pre-testing done here in Easton beforehand.

Next came my anesthesiologist, Dr. Banks who was a young woman that knew all about what my anesthesiologist/friend, Ona, had told me to ask about. Ona is on my swim team, along with another anesthesiologist, John Mulfur. I asked Dr. Banks if she was the best, and she said she was. She gave me a light dose id of sediative that felt like a couple of drinks. I remember saying, “there’s one vodka tonic…” then a few moments later I slurred, “There’sssssh two vodka tonicssssshsss”. I remember a few moments after that, then the next thing I knew, nurse Gena was waking me up after my surgery.

Me showing the Iceman blanket. The tubes hook up to hoses and tank of ice water for cooling the shoulder. It's very COOL!

Dr. Murthi came in to tell me my rotator cuff looked fine and that i did not need any repair there. He did the decompression and some clean up of some arthiritus on my AC joint. I was a little groggy, so I don't remember much more. He was rushing off to do another surgery and told me he'd see me on Tuesday. Carita was soon sent in to me, they got me dressed, gave her some instructions, and sent us on our way. My left arm felt like a piece of rubber. I had absolutely no feeling in it at all. They had given me a nerve block. My left hand felt hot to touch, but the only sensation I had in the arm itself was that it was cold.

At home we settled in with the Iceman cool water circulation system for my shoulder. It is like an in-floor-heating/cooling unit for the shoulder (see photo above). The girls arrived home from their first hockey game (victorious) and my parents gave us a visit as well. Green fish curry (yumm) was my first meal followed by fresh apple pie that the girls made from the apples in our yard. Life is good.

I am home, up, and about this morning; been to Farmer’s Market St. Michaels, and now am going to the museum for the boat auction. We'll see what report I can bring after Tuesday's visit with the doctor. ~

Thanks to all the well wishes and prayers. They worked….

Sunday....
It is now Sunday at noon-thirty. Before and after surgery Carita had prepared homeopathic remedies for me to take: Arnica for pain, Hypericum for nerve pain and healing, and Calengula for general healing. I have been taking these since Thursday. I only took 4 prescribed pain pills since the operation, the last being taken 31 hours ago. There is something to homeopathy, and though i dont' have a complete understanding of it, i am a believer. I don't expect to take any more narcotics during my recovery. I am taking an anti-imflamatory twice a day, however. The doctors and nurses said i would need the pain pills for ten days; i took them for 12 hours.