Thread Drift

[mimitabby]

Imagine standing on a 2 inch wide ledge, with the next step (foothold) another ledge 2.5 feet below, so you basically have to do a one-legged deep knee bend with 35 lb on your back. And do that a dozen or more times per day, combined with a horizontal distance of 10-14 miles. This last stretch, I think, won't be as ledgy as the more northerly parts. And as usual for Vermont hiking, it's supposed to rain 3 of the 4 days.

oh Deb, be careful. Sounds scary! I hate walking on ledges!

I also hate deep knee bends!


I myself am very nervous about the Menage a Trois race i am in on Sunday.
my racehorse/captain is WAY competitive. I must be nuts!!! my poor DH is having anxiety dreams about this same race. He is on a team with another big strong character and a very sensible but fairly fast woman. I am the only
one on the back of a tandem (that i know of)

[Bicyclette]

BMo3 - Good luck with the neuro

KY - I like the wildebeast

Deb -WOW!! Hope you have a great time and don't get too wet

Mimi - Good luck on Sunday - I'll bet you do great

[SadieKate]

To prepare to meet another neurologist and find out the results of my MRI, I bought Scharffen Berger Bittersweet and Ghirardelli Intense Dark-Espresso Escape bars. I think I am set, at least for the morning.

Heh, I just rewarded myself with a Peet's Mocha made with SB - had my first closed MRI and didn't freak out.

I learned about short bore MRIs. I could see the wall beyond my feet the entire time as I was only rolled in up to my hips and a closed MRI takes just slight more than half the time the open MRI did (as takes a better picture). I was a very good patient. Well, other than grousing about the 3 pages of forms to be filled out -- all med record stuff that has been in the same health system for years.

[DebW]

oh Deb, be careful. Sounds scary! I hate walking on ledges!

I also hate deep knee bends!

These aren't vertical ledges with long drop-offs, just short (6-8 vertical feet) stretches of bare rock that are steep enough you need small flat spots to put your feet on and sometimes roots to hold for balance. My hiking partner from 2003 did this hike in 2004 and hated it because of the mud. There are shelters every 5-7 miles so at least I can get out of the rain. And if it's raining all night and I'm alone in a shelter, I'm using a one-gallon ziplock bag instead of going outside to pee.

Best story from the 2003 hike was when we decided to take a day off in town. The local B&B was full, but the owner said he knew a woman who might take us (2 women and a dog) in. So we stayed with a wonderful 80 year old woman who first wanted us to check the beds to see if they were all right (we'd been sleeping on plywood for 2 weeks, the beds were great). She fed us venison chilli for lunch, we hung out on the lawn with her neighbors all afternoon, she cooked us breakfast (even an egg for the dog), and drove us back to the trail. She offered to keep the dog while we finished hiking, but a day of rest did the dog good and he continued on with us. A week later after bailing off the trail and hitching back towards my car, we ended up in the same town and got to visit her again. Such a treat meeting a gracious and down-to-earth woman in a little town in Vermont. I got a Christmas card from her that year.

[DrBee]

Cool story DebW!

BMo3 - good luck with the doc!

[Bikingmomof3]

I just gor back from the neurologist. I suffered a stroke at the ripe old age of 36. I will be going back for more tests Oct 18th. I have been placed on an asprin regime as well as a calcium entry blocker. Thanks everyone for the good thoughts. At least the numbness is not from my bike. I am not supposed to drive, but I can cycle-I am not even questioning that one.

[mimitabby]

a STROKE!! good grief! what's your prognosis? Does it run in your family?
I'm so sorry to hear that!

[Bikingmomof3]

Yes, strokes run in my family, but with my history of migraines and the severity of them, I knew it would happen, just not when. I will go to hospital on the 18th for an EEG, CUS, and a TCD. Until then, he has given me meds to try and keep my vessels/arteries happy and free flowing.

also I am 37, geez, I do not even know how old I am.

[SadieKate]

Geez, what news! I think you need lots of SB.

[Brina]

Yeah, I'm leaning toward the mad plaid, too. Color is good, plus it's pretty warped. Kinda the twisted Catholic Schoolgirl look.

twisty catholic schoolgirl is always such a fun look.

[Brina]

BMo3 oh, gosh, a stroke. glad you are okay. I hope you get good answers and meds that keep things under control so it doesn't happen again.

Deb - that hike sounds intense. Enjoy - or, survive - whichever your goal is.

[chickwhorips]

wow a stroke! i'm glad the figured out what was wrong, but sorry to hear that. glad you can still be on your bike though!

[Bikingmomof3]

I have to face the sad truth that my Terry commuter skort and my one and only pair of running pants are too big now.

I can squeak by with them, but they wad (skort) and droop (pants). Right now Terry has old skorts on sale for $35.


The deep and burning question is: which is better, "wildebeast" or "mad plaid"?

http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail....s&item_no=9511

.

I vote mad plaid. I went to a Catholic all girls school, taught of course by nuns. I like the idea of mad plaid.

CONGRATS on the weight loss.

[Bikingmomof3]

Sk-congrats on not freaking out during the MRI. SB is a wonderful way to celebrate.

Deb -you are a brave woman. Have fun, be safe, and I cannot wait to hear all about it.

Mimi - You will do great on Saturday.

I am looking around for more chocolate, oh I did not get enough SB.

[DrBee]

BMo3 - Good luck with the next round of tests. I hope they can keep another stroke at bay. At least you can still bike and eat chocolate! Keep us posted!