Another Restart To Posting

Been a long time gone!  But I just started another blog to track my photography habit that has also re-started.  So, seems not right to ignore this one that started me in blogging many years ago now. 

Also, maybe if I start posting about ridn, I will start to ride more.  It worked this morning.  We have t experienced a lot of varying weather this May.  The first half was nasty, cold, windy and cloudy.  We couldn't wait for spring to kick in.  Before that was to happen we got about 8 inches of wet snow and a deeper blast of cold and wind.  However, in not too many days, we went right to summer.  Upper 60's dew points, high 80's with high humidity, had me scrambling to get the AC's installed.

After the heat left, a cool air mass came in to take over.  This morning it was in the 40's.  By the time I got on the bike it was just breaking 60.  But the drier air after a big rainstorm was crisp and clean.

I have not been riding much since I had to stop spinning this winter.  In part because Kind Cycling's owner/operator, Rachael, had to shut it down for the COVID measures.  I did do some at home in the basement, but it was hard to get motivated.  I did do one good hour-long, hard session, but afterwards I felt not that great.  In fact, I was having trouble breathing, had a dry cough, body aches in various places and ran a fever.  Symptoms often associated with the COVID virus.  I didn't get tested or go to the hospital, although I thought at times I should.  I just waited it out and did breathing exercises and rested a lot.  Last thing I wanted to do was spin or ride.  Besides the weather in March and April was horrendous.  


Finally I woke up one morning and knew it was on its way out.  As I felt better and better I started doing more activity.  But again, the weather was very depressing and I wanted to take it slow coming back.  Eventually, I went to have an Antibody Test, but it came back non-positive.  So, I probably had another virus.  Doing work in the yard and walking the dogs further and further, I built up some stamina and felt like I was getting some fitness back.  Donna and I did a loop around Summit Lake on the mountain bikes that went well.  Alix, Donna and I did a out-and back on Coach Road on the rode bikes that was also a good check on my fitness.  Two days ago the three of us met at Alix's and we rode the Luther Forest Trails, which was loads of fun.  And today I did a loop around Cossayuna Lake.  So far so good.  

Being open is a state of mind.  With the lock-down, feeling crappy, lousy weather, bad news all over the world, imposed limitations on our ability to freely move about, it is easy to get bogged down.  We continue to have restrictions on commerce and other interactions, but if we let our spirit and our minds get locked down, shut down, limited, we lose everything.  I want to keep RIDN and Posting and will do my best to make that happen.  

Still Ridn After All These Years!

Well, it's been a few years since I have even looked at this blog, and lots has happened.  However, the title remains a true statement.

Last post was October 4, 2014.  Ironically, one year to the day after that post I had the first signs of Cardiac Artery Disease (CAD) that would require Cardiac Artery By-Pass Graft (CABG) surgery a month and a half later.

I will describe the surgery in more detail later, but suffice to say, I am fully recovered and still riding road and mountain bike and snowboard.  I even added a ride: a BMW F700GS motorcycle to the stable.  Also a new road bike was purchased in August, 2012, but I did not write about it.  Both my Parlee Z5 and the BMW are amazing machines that I feel very fortunate to be able to enjoy on our amazing roads.

Another go at posting?

IPad Air with Zagg keyboard may make it possible for me to resurect this blog?

Time will tell.

Rides are going well as I have found a way to keep the heart ticking normally (I think).  Havee hooked up with Bruce and Art for some impromptu and MHCC club rides.  Been slowly pushing it harder and so far so good.  Tour of Batteenkill new route may go right past our house and new start / finish at Washington County Fairgrounds is very tempting, as these are all MY TURF.

Hiking has gone very well too.  Did Giant, Iraquis, Boundry and Alqonquin, along with several lesser than High peaks with Donna, Kevin and cousin Andrea among others.

Fall so far has been dry and warm.  Today marks the end of the drought with an all day rain and a fire in the woodstove.  Donna's mother and sister are visiting tonight.  Alix has been home for several weeks and will remain a feew more before heading to North Carolina, which may be a winter riding destination in the near future!

What happened to 2012?

Had some free time today waiting for Donna to get treated at the ER at Glens Falls Hospital. A cornea abrasion from a sharp pointy object that greeted her in the morning. So, using my iPhone in the waiting area I opened up Blogger and did some posts. Later in the day I was editing and started reading some. Good to revisit the past and reflect. I noticed the gaps, and one really big one, like the whole of 2012. So, filling some gaps and adding keywords and pictures is now a goal, along with, keeping up with ongoing entries.

2012 - an attempt at recalling events with some accuracy!

shoulder dominates

On December 23, 2011, nearly one year to the day out from my BTKR surgery I went for my second snowboard session at Killington. The first and second days were great. I was bending and carving and compressing and it was fantastic to be riding again on new legs. I stopped for a break at 2 but decided to walk over to the Superstar chair for a few more runs. As I put down the board and lifted my one leg to get into the binding, the other boot skidded out from under me sliding on sugar snow over hard ice. I went down with all my weight on the right shoulder. Instant blinding pain shot into my brain and any attempt to move my arm resulted in the same. I was down for awhile and people were checking on me. Finally I made it back to the car. I was in trouble. Had to drive home without moving my right arm. I stubbornly refused to get X-rays or treatment hoping it would get better with rest, ice and ibuprofen. Finally I went to Donato and he couldn't do a thing. I waited until after I completed a  Conference I was in charge of at work, but then got into a surgeon for MRI. Bad news. Complete tears of 3 of 4 rotator cuff tendons, plus bicep tendon was totally torn out of the insertion of the humorous. OS this time was young and confident. He did a great job with my surgery on February 23, 2012. Needless to say my riding activities from late December 2011 to now were non existent. Now it's rehab and recovery time again. 

It would be mid May before I could do much riding. Even stationary bike put pressure on the recovering shoulder. I did 2x per week PT plus every other day at home PT to get the shoulder back.  By mid June I could ride the road bike pretty well but lacked endurance. It was hard to keep weight down but I did through controlling intake not burning calories. The last week of June we had a family vacation in Puerto Rico and I was bound and determined to not be fat AND to ride a surf board. 

My knees were doing well but I did have some scar tissue in my right knee that was keeping me from correctly firing muscles in that leg when standing and pedaling up hills. It was very frustrating.  I had goals on the bike of completing the a couple of Century Rides in September: the club century and a MS Century which included a climb up Notch Road to the summit of Greylock. 

The week in PR WAS FANTASTIC! No riding but lots of time in the water, salt water. SNORKLING, body surfing and walking plus resting and relaxing were great. Lisa, Alix and Donna and I had lots if fun exploring the countryside as well. Our day on the surfboard was fantastic. Beautifully formed , small waves were perfect for learning. We all got standing pretty quickly. It was as much as a rush as I thought it would be, confirming why I did not take up the sport earlier: I would be a total surf bum!!  

The time my leg spent in salt water, plus the abrasion of the board on my knee resulted in the scar tissue coming up to the surface of the skin. Eventually I was able to remove it!!  My shoulder took a setback from the paddling, but that would recover. The big deal was that now my right knee was not short circuiting the leg muscles and they fired correctly I discovered on my first ride when we returned. 

The Century rides were completed. Not just completed but done to total satisfaction as I was able to train well so I could ride well and finish strong. The two of the most enjoyable 100 milers of my life.   The club ride was in great weather and I joined up with a younger group. I was able to drop them and was joined by Bruce who was out there looking for me. The MS ride is one i long wanted to do for a customer whose wife suffers from the disease. Terry, Caleb and I rode together and that was special as I got them stated in cycling and now they excel at it. They had to slow so I could stay with them, but my goal was to not have that be too slow and it was not.