Goodby to all that....

And so how did we get into August already? And not only "into" but almost finished. It will be time for falling leaves and pumpkins in not too many days.

I had an appointment with the orthopedist yesterday and passed another big target on my recovery timeline. I'm out of the aircast, can walk and go up stairs without crutches - I even had the battery charged and am driving again (no small thing with a stick shift). So I'm bidding farewell to all the walkers, crutches, boots and casts that have sustained me over the last couple of months. I start physical therapy next week and expect that will go for about four weeks or so. I've still got a bit of swelling and I have a ways to go before my back muscles are back to normal - but the end is in sight.

I saw a great quote the other day: "Life expands or contracts in direct proportion to one's courage". I don't know that I have ever thought of myself as particularly courageous - I do know that I have an almost biologic fear of heights, nothing will get me on the roof -but I do think there is something to think about in that statement. One of the many thoughts I had while pedalling cross country was the idea of reaching out, taking the risk, grabbing the ring when you go by. We had some tough days in the course riding Los Angeles to Ohio (my portion) but I would not trade the longest, toughest climb, the coldest, rainiest day for the experience of covering 2,500 miles on my bike.

And today I celebrated the new found mobility by checking out my local bike shop. The Cannondale 6/13 is out of production but the Synapse is an even better, absolutely beautiful bike(Jim, if you are still reading, you were right). It is too soon to think about test rides but just looking at bikes and actually handling the model of choice was worth the trip...And maybe I will even have a photo for the next post....