Ran Out of Things to Say...........

I have ran out of things to say.  People who know me know that would be impossible but honestly, I have nothing more to say.  So I am going to stop my weekly blog for now.  I will let you know when I book my flight, and I will blog when something happens - but for now - all is good and all is quiet.

No More Knee Stories

I saw the new physiotherapist twice last week.  With the first place I went to (14 times), he would put an electronic stimulator on my knee for 20 minutes and then give it ultrasound for 5 minutes.  I was in and out inside of a half hour.  The new physiotherapist has determined that the issue is not so much the knee itself, but is  where the hamstring muscle joins at the knee.  She gives the injured area a very deep massage and then applies heat to it for about 20 minutes.  They then treat it with ultrasound and also used another device (but I forget what it was, duh!).  She then does lots of stretches, almost bending me into two.  Unlike the other place where I limped out of the sessions, when I leave this new place after the one hour sessions, my knee feels great!  So after my second treatment, I tried walking 5 kms on Wednesday and it went fine - a bit of pain but much better.  I took Thursday and Friday off and then walked 5 kms on Saturday - a bit better than Wednesday and walked again 5 kms today and it was a bit better than yesterday.  So, I will continue with the therapy (3 times scheduled for this next week) and unless something very different happens, I will post no more knees stories.

On today's walk, which was flat and around local roads in the area I live - it was sunny and a pleasant 13 C.  I am not sure if it was the bright sun, the lingering effects of the anti-inflammatory medicine that I am on, or what - but after the 4 km mark, I think I seen a giraffe!  Maybe I pushed it too hard and was over-tired!  You have a look and tell me what you see!  Finally, around the next corner, I was back home.

Heading out from my house

Then turning down a dirt road

Almost Home

Heading back towards my house

This is not a cow or a horse!!!!

Home Sweet Home :)  

On the Road to Recovery

My expression when I found out that I had to have a needle in my knee!!!

I received the cortisone injection in my knee on Tuesday.  I took Wednesday off of work and the knee felt like new!  I wondered why did I have to go through the past eight weeks with all of the pain and physio treatments when a simple needle could fix it?  On Thursday morning, the knee once again was perfect but after driving two hours for meetings in Toronto, it was very sore and after the two hour drive home, it actually gave out a couple of times.  Friday I limped all day at work - Saturday was a bit better, and today (Sunday), it feels much better and I really look forward to meeting the new physiotherapist on Tuesday and beginning my road to recovery.

I looked back in my log that I keep of all of my training.  In November, I walked 598 kms, in December it was 300 kms, then 451 kms for January, and 432 kms for February.  Then after the injury, it was 90 kms in March and so far, 18 kms  for April.  The ironic thing is that I hiked through all of the wind, ice, snow, and cold - and now that the nice weather is here, I am not hiking.  I really miss it and hope that next week I will have all good news to tell.

He's Back! Well, sort of..............

Some fellow hiking members

Sorry I missed my blog last week.  Two weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to take two weeks off and that after only one week, my knee felt much better - and it did.  So on Good Friday, I walked 8 kms and it was sore, but bearable.  I took the Saturday off and then on the Sunday, went out with the hiking club and walked 8 kms with them.  By the end of Sunday night, the knee was very sore.  I think it is getting worst, not better.

When the leaves are out, you cannot see these falls

Blossoms are coming out

So, I went to a specialist this past Thursday.  He has referred me to a different physiotherapist and on Tuesday he is going to inject my knee with cortisone which is a steroid/anti-inflammatory.  He said that I may have to take it easy for a couple of days but this should make it much better.  I start seeing the new (and hopefully improved) physiotherapist a week from Monday - after the knee settles down from the shot.

Port Dover

Bikes are lined up everywhere

My friend Mad Dog

Me!

What have I been doing if not hiking?  I went to a very large motorcycle event this past Friday.  In this small lakeside town called Port Dover, whenever there is a Friday, the 13th, bikers from all over North America travel to this small town of about 2000 people.  The event is unique because some years there is only one, sometimes two, and this year 3.  Some years the 13th only falls on cold winter months.  But when the event does happen, the police close all roads leading into the town and only motorbikes can get into the town.  When the 13th falls in warm months, the numbers are huge.  It was a bit chilly in the morning with a overnight low of 0 (32F), but it got up to 17 (63F) and 75,000 bikers descended onto the town.  The next Friday the 13th is in July and there will be over 150,000 bikers.  I went with my friend Mad Dog and we had a good time.

Heading out of town

So I will get the injection on Tuesday and see where it goes from there.

Canadian Pilgrim Meeting - Toronto

I walked 8 kms on Monday and my knee was very sore - so I decided to stop walking - for a couple of weeks.  I have not walked for 6 days now and my knee feels like new - no pain at all except for it was a bit stiff after the two hour ride back from Toronto yesterday.

What was I doing in Toronto you ask?  (Well, we can pretend that you asked).  Twice a year, the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims holds a meeting in the basement of a Toronto Church.  The meeting lasts about 3 hours - they have keynote speakers; a representative from Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), a major outdoors equipment supplier in Canada gave information about the latest equipment available; networking; some folks brought their backpacks to demonstrate what they carried during their Caminos; equipment swaps; updated news from the Canadian President of the group; and they had draws for equipment and books.  Generally this event (which is free to attend) is well attended with about 250-300 attendees.  But this time it was standing room only with about 400 people there and a lot of people had to stand for the entire 3 hours.  Because I live two hours away, I try to get there with time to spare.  I like to sit in the front where I can both see, and hear, what is being presented.  Author Robert Ward was the best speaker, telling and reading excerpts from his book 'All the Good Pilgrims'.  The book is a collection of tales from his many walks on the Camino, which now total 8 times.  I have read this book twice, but it was 10 times more enjoyable hearing him tell of his tales in person.  A close second was a gentleman who was an unscheduled speaker, who told of how three separate hours on the Camino had such a influence on his life.  It was amazing.

The meeting took place in the basement of this church

This is me (and my truck) in front of the church prior to the meeting

My friend Ivan from Sarnia went with me and I got him to take these pictures

Okay, there was one chair left, but I think it was because it was broken

So I am planning on continuing with my physiotherapy this next week, still taking the anti-inflammatory pills, and since this coming Friday is Good Friday and a holiday here in Canada, if the weather is good, I will go on a short walk and see how the knee feels.

I went off the anti-inflammatory pills last Sunday and by Wednesday was noticeably limping again - so back on the pills.  I went to physio-therapy three times last week and am scheduled to go again this week three times.  I  walked 5 days last week including today when I walked with the Hiking Club for the first time since hurting my knee.  It was a very beautiful day here today, about 14C and very sunny.  That being said, there were only five hikers out today.  I suspect it might have been that we just finished having 24 hours of rain and some folks may have thought we were doing trails today, but it was all on a paved path.  I took a few pictures which I will post below.

Things are looking up!

My knee feels much better, although still by no means back to normal.  I have been going on shorter, 5 mile walks that are on flat surfaces.  I have had three physio treatments so far with three more scheduled for this coming week.  The physiotherapist says that the more walking I do, the better it is for my knee.  I am hestitate though as the knee is sore when I am walking.  Tomorrow will be the first day that I am going back off of the anti-inflamitories again.  I want to see what the knee will be like without them.  Hopefully by next Sunday I will be able to tell you that the knee is all better :)

On a happier note, I think I have finally found the perfect sleeping back for me.  It weighs less than 2 lbs, is big enough for my big body, and provides more privacy that the sleeping sack which I pictured in a previous blog.  We will see.  I think it is about the 4th or 5th bag I have bought now.  Still trying to figure out how to deal with rain.  Poncho, rain jacket, umbrella, all three, or maybe nothing.  I am sure a rain on a 30C day would feel good.

MEC Caravan Sleeping Bag +10C Weight: 1.18kg (Long) This generously cut bag provides plenty of room, even if you’re a large or lively sleeper. The roomy foot section permits your feet to find a relaxed position without fighting the bag or crushing the insulation. A full length zip lets you convert it to a comforter on warm nights. For all its luxury, the Caravan still comes in at a reasonable weight and packed size. Shell is polyester. Lining is nylon. Insulated with Hyperloft Eco, with 50% recycled content. Offset-quilt construction to prevent cold spots at the stitching lines. Drawcord with single-point adjustment. Roll top stuff sack included.