Chronic injuries and pain can be a nightmare. I’ve been lucky that my arthritis has been relatively easily managed in terms of inflammation and pain and the back pain was managed mostly by getting into positions that didn’t hurt and taking it easy. But I know people who are not so lucky and require medication and therapy just to bring things to a tolerable level. Pain is a terrible thing and our culture seems unprepared to deal with it. That’s another topic though..

Congratulations on your 1500 miles on the Stella. Hopefully your own medical adventures will abate allowing you a few more miles before the snow flies. I’ll drop you a note and perhaps we can get together for lunch and talk about riding in winter!

I definitely have a good chiropractor and I’ll be like new soon (I hope). I’ve found chiropractic to have great benefits for me when it has come to injuries involving the back and neck.

I did have a Saab 99. Bought it from a neighbor in 1980(?) when the water pump went out and you had to pull the engine to replace it. I tinkered with it for awhile but eventually sold it to a more serious Saab enthusiast.

Thanks for the kind thoughts about the photos. Sometimes they just present themselves and all I need do is press the shutter release…

It snowed a bit on Sunday morning — just some flakes and ice crystals in the air. I am not excited to see snow this year.

Thanks for your kind words about the photos and text — it helps to know someone finds some value in them.

I keep thinking of something I read once in a yoga book, “You are as young as your spine is flexible.”. That holds a lot of wisdom and when my back got bad I felt really old really fast.

Key West seems a long way off…

It sure seems like a lot of things are happening health wise. Similar stories around the house and appliances — things are just falling into disrepair. But all are manageable and the latest input from the medical community is positive.

I abandoned pole vaulting to focus on high jumping and the triple jump. My performance was less than stellar though I suppose I had some fun. The outstanding memory seems to involve after practice meals on Wednesday night at the local Howard Johnsons where we tried to clean them out on all you can eat chicken dinners. Never managed that no matter how many team members showed up.

It appears the injury was mechanical and not AS related. I’m on the mend and hope to be on two wheels before the snow flies. I’ve stayed with the Honda van because I suspect the drop into the Fit wouldn’t be fun.

Shaving wasn’t an issue. Putting on socks, tying shoes, putting down dog bowls, picking up dog logs, anything that required bending and straightening was agony. Much better right now.

Thanks for the positive vibes and here’s to aging gracefully!

Hope you are back in the saddle soon.

The thing I hate most about chronic pain and my own “debilitating episodes” is how much they get in my way of doing what I enjoy. Pain is depressing enough. Adding deprivation of joy is just plain unfair.

One of these days, I would like to share scars and surgery stories, and get your advice on the best choice of winter tires so I can keep commute to the Innovation Park on two wheels for well into this winter.

Hope you’re back on the road soon.

That last photo of Paul with the two bikes, the arched hill, the tree and sky, truly sublime. You have a great talent to spot, frame, and take shots of that caliber, you have my respect.

I always enjoy your photos and thoughts and today was no exception. So close to my own heart.

I hope you can get some relief and some more rides in before the winter snows blow up there in PA.