Photo Redux

At the suggestion of Doug, I took the power lines out of the very long distance shot (for a compact camera) of Enger Tower. I like it!

Enger Tower Redux

Doodling with Photos

Since I haven't been able to do much physically lately, I've had a chance to play with some photo editing. Published some on Facebook, so I though I'd post some here.

A trail in the Piedmont system

Another

A nice climb 

Enger Tower from the rocks above Skyline Drive

Looking west from the same rock ledge

Fall in the woods

The broken ribs are starting to feel better so I should be able to get back on the bike soon. I can't wait!

A Good Ride Spoiled - ER/Silly Safari Edition

Yesterday started off with me planning a photo safari by bike. Back in the Canosia Wildlife Reserve was to be the location. Deer, bear, moose, coyote, wolf, or anything else that moved was to be my quarry. I packed my DSLR and lens' in my back pack, along with  food and extra clothes, and set out to capture some images in the forest. I've ridden the road/trail many times before, but not lately. Things have changed - the hills have had some furrow/berms cut across them, and about a half mile from the river I was trying, road stopped. It appears the area has  been logged in a most bizarre way. A quarter mile wide pile of logs, branches, and debris stops anyone from getting through. I tried walking though, but it was almost dangerous, what with all of the sharp sticks ready to go through one's foot. I'm glad I was wearing MTB shoes with a stiff sole!

Frustrated, I turn back to scout another route. About a quarter mile into the return route it happened. I was trying to carry some speed going up a long hill, I hit one of the berms. A split second later, I was on the ground, unable to breathe. Finally, I did manage to breathe (obviously) but very painfully. I got to my feet and surveyed to situation. Cameras, cell phone, bike, all intact. No skin loss. To cuts or bleeding. No real signs of impact, just pain along my left side, plus difficulty breathing. I tried to ride the rest of the way up the hill, but deep breathing was unbearable, so a slow hike-a-bike up the grades and more coasting down, along with soft pedaling on the flats.

I finally got back to the van, loaded up and headed up the Lavaque Road. A stop at my folks house to grab some Aleave and rest, the home. We ate dinner and later headed to the emergency room at St Luke's Hospital to see what was going on. The doctor examined me and called for a CT scan, as he suspected I had damaged my spleen. Results were negative on the spleen damage, but showed a broken rib and the others badly bruised. Treatment? Nothing but some Loritabs and rest. Stay off the bike for a while, take a deep breath to make sure pneumonia doesn't set in ( due to shallow breathing, pneumonia is common with rib injuries), and stop taking metforman for a few days due to it's interaction with the CT contrasting dye  - that can shut down your kidneys. That would be just what I would need!

Climbing to the sun.

Weird place to pile wood and boulders.

Looks like big kindling for a big fire!

All in all, a beautiful day to take in the fresh, fall air and perfect weather. The ribs will heal and it's just another lesson learned. What lesson? 29ers' can't roll over anything if you don't pay attention!

Piedmont on Foot

Piedmont trials on gorgeous fall day.

Lots of climbing.

Up and up.

Believe the signs!

Rock drop. Not for me at this time.

This ones not too bad. Thanks, COGGS!

Still some beautiful foliage.

I went for a ride this morning on the Piedmont trails to see what the more advanced areas were like. Tough, twisty, up and down, rocks, more rocks, roots, you name it, it's there. I was very cautious and still had a couple of biffs. If there's one thing Duluth has, it's variety of riding that's second to none. Varied terrain from one end of town to the other, beginner to advanced, no one is excluded. Today my lack of fitness really stood clear. I haven't been out much due to so many circumstances beyond my control, but things are kind of settling down. We'll see. The pics above are from this afternoon, when I went back and walked what I had previously ridden. I was right, this is tough terrain. I'm glad it's just up the hill from where I live. Nothing more humbling than riding over your head!

Running?

What are running shoes doing on this blog? Glad you asked. You see, many years ago, I was a runner, cyclist, and skier all at the same time. I was engaged to my first wife and was a fat slob, so, I got back to cycling. I lost some weight, but the pounds didn't really come off until I started running. Three days a week were for running, three for riding or skiing, and one for rest. Eighty-six pounds gone in six months was what that accomplished.

I've been thinking about why it hasn't been that easy to drop the extra pounds these days as compared to my younger years. Sure, age has something to do with it, along with the many physical problems I have encountered in the last few years. Fine. Recently though, I realized that I used to run quite a bit. And that I enjoyed running. And I lost weight quite quickly running in combination with biking. So, why haven't I been running? My left knee was trashed for years, but now feels almost new. That excuse is now out the window. Time to get going.

As you can see in the above pic, I stopped at the Duluth Running Company and got a pair of Brooks Cascadia trail running shoes. I'll start slowly and build up the mileage as the knee allows. Fall is my favorite time of year to run, and there are lots of trails to explore in this area, so here I go.

Back In Saddle

I finally got out for a ride yesterday, the first in a month. The first couple of miles were hard, but I soon settled into a rhythm and things fell into place. 14 miles in one hour and eight minutes was a pretty good effort for me on gravel roads. This was the same route I took on my last ride before the Lyme's Disease knocked me out, and it took 4 minutes longer that time. My thinking is that I was getting sick for a while before the rash showed up. I'm glad my weight stayed down for the last month and will continue to drop now that I can ride again. Time will tell. 

Impatiently Recovering

A couple of more days left on the Doxycycline and I should be good to go. I'm feeling much better, but still get fatigued easily. I've tried to ride this last week, but in a few blocks, my legs felt like cement. At least he nasty body aches and light-headedness are gone. It looks like my next door neighbor may have gotten Lyme's too. More and more people I've run into have had it or know someone who has contracted it in the last couple of years. Be careful out there...