The Crash and The Journey Back

Saw my orthopedic surgeon today for my "one year" follow-up!  I grew A LOT of bone! Great report today! I couldn't have asked for a better doctor and team. It's hard to believe a year ago my journey with him began. He also agrees it's hard to believe a year has passed. He was pleased and impressed at how much progress I've made - in fact I'm ahead of where he thought I'd be. A lot can be said for a positive attitude, willingness to work, never giving up and turning frustrations into motivation. I have a good understanding of what's holding me back at this point and it is just going to take time. So much of the top of my femur was destroyed in the initial accident, with the first implant, it's subsequent removal and second implant. If that grows back it would be surprising, but the good thing is the muscle shadow is there and going to where it is supposed to be. Of course that's the one that's causing my limitations on hills (riding/w...

So one year ago, I started off on a journey to ride 54 miles in Blount County, TN.  I would have never imagined the journey it turned into.  None the less, instead of rehashing the past, it's best to move forward.  I think I've done a pretty good job of that. Tomorrow, May 19, 19 - the goal is to ride 27 miles in Bedford County, VA as part of the Storming of Thunder Ridge.  I've done just about every distance at this event with the exception of the Century, the Mountain Only (I've done the mountain as part of the 75 mile route twice, both times in the rain) and the 27 mile "Cifax Ramble."  Funny that my doctor said, "at one year, you will be 50% of where you were the day before you crashed."  Check at the mileage goals, ya'll!!!  Is that creepy or what? I will try to post some pictures on Facebook, Instagram from the day tomorrow.  It's going to be hot and humid, so I'm thinking 27 miles isn't going to be easy.  I'm not ou...

This past Saturday was windy, so I speculated that I could go ride down Timberview Road and back and be sheltered from the wind.  The road is normally not too busy and it's a rolling type road so I knew it would offer a bit of a challenge.  I also could ride Hanging Rock Greenway once I was done to make a fairly decent mileage/time ride.  I elected to take my Cx bike with its flat pedals.  I halfway thought when I rolled away from my car, "if I'm up for it, I'm going to ride to the water's edge..."  I should never think of doing something because my dumbass will do it.  Timberview offered a few opportunities to let the bike roll, again there was some loose gravel which made me a tad nervous and there were a lot of cars.  Oh well. I pedaled along enjoying being buffered from the wind.  I finally arrived at the end of the road where the gravel/dirt begins and headed on down the trail.  Well when one hasn't ridden on rocks, roots, ruts, one sh...