The farmers got a good downpour last night and I got overcast skies and 10k winds this morning which is pretty nice. Speaking of farmers (again), taking the back roads always provides great landscape views of farm land and huge bails of hay.
I had to post a google map instead of my Map My Ride App because after I took this magnificent shot :) I forgot to turn the app on again. I have to do it at least once a year.
Since I had appointments all morning, the ride didn't happen until afternoon. The first ride ended at 5k because of thunder and a thunderstorm warning. Apparently London and Toronto got downpours, but we got nothing. Afterwards I ventured out for a second ride.
PHOTOS: In just a day and half, the sunflower in the backyard has started to open up.
Detours, Construction and Closures, oh my.
I try and ride on as many lesser travelled roads to avoid possible death by Impatient Driver who doesn't give a mitre clearance beyond their mirror, passing at break neck (or break me) speed. Anyways, strangely, this summer seems to be the year of construction on the lesser travelled roads.
I've accomplished 50% of the 500k goal as of today. Completely unexpected. When figuring out how to accomplish the km goal in 31 days, I figure what distance I need to cover daily in about 25 days, since there are going to be days that I can't ride because of weather, health, or break downs (the bike, not me). Strangely enough, there has been no rain in the first 11 days of August. Good for riding. Not so good for farming. Fortunately, the only thing I'm farming are a few vegetables in a planter box, so artificial rain through a garden hose is the solution to that dilemma.
I broke this ride into two rides of 15 & 5 km with a half hour break in between.
28 C and 20k winds makes for a sweaty ride.
A year ago, we spent two weeks in Newfoundland. We had been to every province except NFLD (no territories as yet). It was always on our radar to visit, but we felt we needed enough time to make it happen. We did a lot of miles and experienced many things. One surprise was making an unplanned visit to Gander Airport. It's more than just an airport inside. I recommend it to anyone visiting NFLD. Seeing the musical, Come From Away, was never on our list of shows to see, but since it was playing in Gander where it all happened, we bought tickets. It was far better than I had expected. My personal favorite part of NFLD was Fogo Island. The island was saved by the brilliant and generous Zita Cobb. One of her projects was a luxury and very unusual Inn. We actually got to tour the inside because we could never afford the minimum cost of 2k/night with a minimum stay of two nights (3 in the Summer). The story of Zita Cobb is fascinating.
PHOTO: Bonavista, NFLD
I had a call from the Infectious Disease doctor yesterday. I have a follow up appointment in two weeks. The results of the MRI haven't been reviewed yet. And, she put me back on anti-biotics for another 2 weeks in the meantime. I'm sure every unhealthy thing in my body has been torched. Bugs won't even land on me anymore.
Early one morning a couple of days before being discharged from the hospital, I was sound asleep when the light flicked on and I opened my eyes to see a doctor standing over me saying she was going to put a PICC line in and I needed to sign the sheet she had in her hand. Once again, I had no idea what was happening -- I mean, I was sound asleep seconds ago. I asked, "when is this going to happen?" "Now," she says. Oh. Kay. I sign it. She starts closing off the room to make it sanitary and no one is to enter. It was turned into a portable operating room. And off she went inserting a tiny line into a main artery in my arm that went up around my shoulder and down to the heart. She had it done in about two minutes (or less). The lady was a pro at this.
While annoying to have it in my arm for the past month and a half, it has come in really handy. Of course the anti-biotics are administered via the PICC port, but anytime I've gone for a blood test or injection, no needles. All done through the PICC. Even the contrast that was added during my MRI was through the PICC. No poking or poor attempts to find a vein. (Prior to this, in the hospital, I had bruises all over my arms from the more than 30 "pokes")
The photo (not intended to gross anyone out) is the line going into my arm with the anti-biotics hooked up. The "bulb" is under pressure so that no matter what position it is in, the liquid is forced to go up the line into my arm. It's pretty cool. Takes about 30 minutes to empty and is done once per day.
