I passed my one year anniversary. August 13. I spent the day painting my hall and then went to the Multnomah Art Center - the neighborhood public art school- to help prepare for their entry in the upcoming neighborhood parade. Had fun finger painting and glue gunning making a segmented sea monster.

My ankle is sore lately and I am not sure why. My routine in Costa Rica was different. A lot of standing and walking slow - while on lectures and tours of the rain forest with guides. Also, walking to town etc. But less aerobic work outs - long, faster paced hikes. I have also been doing less of physical therapy stuff while I was gone - lunges etc.

I am still able to walk and hike. The aching is more when I am just walking and sitting. It is also clunking a little more. Maybe just more time spent in sandals. Still, even though this may be a setback I am so thankful for all of the things I have been able to do this spring and summer.

In looking back on the last year, I think I have done a lot. Gone back to school studying Spanish and writing. Had a few nice road trips and done ironically, a lot of walking this spring. Also, the big trip to Costa Rica. I am not sure I would have started stludying Spanish if I had not been incapable of other more physical things as I had been thinking about it since I retired almost 4 years before but had not acted on it.

I finished the day by walking in the evening with my husband and dog in Council Crest Park, the scene of the crime. It was a beautiful and hot evening.

BACK FROM THE MAN EATING INLETS OF COSTA RICA

Well, my ankle and I just got back from 1 month in Costa Rica. I spent 2 weeks of studying Spanish with a homestay and 2 weeks of stludying biology in three different locations. It was a great experience. However, while all of my classmates - most a good 35 years younger than me- were wearing cute little sandals, I was clumping around in sensible shoes. I love Costa Rica but I am telling you there is a broken ankle waiting to happen in every block in town and around every muddy bend in the rain forest trail so I was very carefull. I wadded up streams and dodged huge grateless storm inlets. I did wear my water sandals a few times and once I slightly twisted my ankle - yes on wet grass Yikes. So the next day I was back to sensible shoes. Also there is slime on lots of those steep sidewalks. It was the rainy season and it was.

I am so thankful I could do this trip and had very little problems other than the complete obsession with every step.
I even zip lined. It has almost been a year and I went through so much time of fragility when I could not even imagine doing something like this.

The last couple of days of my trip involved a lot of standing and walking slowly and my ankle is sorer than it has been in a while.
I believe standing is harder on it than walking. Also there was a long and exhausting day of travel to get home. So we will see how it is doing in a week or so. I did a little walk in the Hoyt Arboretum today looking at trees.

CANYONLANDS

We spent several days camping in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. My ankle and I did some great hiking which involved some rock scrambling.
While other parts of my body were sore - My hip and the toe I cut. My ankle did amazingly well.
It was beautiful down there. We camped with friends and also spent one day in Arches National Park.
I wore my hiking boots but no tape or brace. At one point my ankle twisted a little and there was a sharp pain which was scarry but after the initial soreness I actually think it was better. My loud yelp embarrassed husband.
I am still quite nervous when I walk down the grassy slopes of the park - the scene of the crime park. I scrambled all over Canyonlands and boulders but still afraid of that park.

I am working on lunges in front of the mirror. I do not do these well. Knee drops in, hip drops down. Arch falls. This is one of the things I am working on now but it is tiring of mind and body. Continue to walk on my toes.

SPRING WALKING AND HIKING

I realize I have not been blogging for a long time and my progress is continuing. I have been taking long walks in the hills around my house. 8 & 9 miles. Recently, I went on vacation into the Redwoods and did a nice hike off trail, bushwhacking on quite uneven ground and through bushes. Discovered many lovely things including this house of sticks made by a Wood Rat and a few beautiful little springs and an old homestead site complete with daffodils.

In general I feel that my ankle could hike many miles but I am very tentative going downhill and it is still sore. At night when I flex it there is a strange sensation that runs through my whole body and sometimes I feel it just drains the energy right out of me. I am not sure what this is. If it is still part of the healing process or some weird nerve thing. My ankle also clunks quite frequently when I flex it. I try not to do that as it is disconcerting. Still, it is such a relief to be able to walk quite long distances. I have quite a bit of strength in my ankle pushing down, up, and outward but much less pushing inward and less range of motion in that direction as well. Perhaps this will improve my skiing as I will not be able to snow plow or stem christie and will have to ski parallel. I did not make it up this winter but felt I could have done. Probably would have stayed on the baby slopes for a while.

Phisical therapy is still ongoing although I don't go as often. She has me working a lot on balance and keeping my arch from completely caving in. I am to walk while concentrating on keeping the arch in its proper position and not pronating so much.
I have always been flat footed but now my left foot is extreme. Among my current assignments is to walk 300 steps (on each foot) on my toes each day, also to balance on my left foot.

My dog is also recovering from orthopedic surgery. She tore a tendon in her knee and had surgery on her leg. They broke her leg and repositioned it slightly so she can do without the tendon. This surgery is in liu of the traditional surgery which replaces the tendon with an artificial one and is supposed to be more successful. For 8 weeks we slept on the floor with her and restricted her movements almost completely, only taking her outside for quick potty breaks and not letting her climb stairs or get up on anything. Since she is used to the furniture and sleeping on our bed we changed our lifestyle quite a bit. But that part is over and she healed well. She is now gradually getting her strength back by increased daily walking and has taken up her usual spots on the furniture and our bed. Today we went on a little hike for her and a longer one for husband and myself. She was overjoyed to be out in fresh air and wilderness.

We are unable to distinguish our injured crow. Since she was continually getting better and more normal looking we hope that she is still part of the crowd and we just can't recognize her any more. She seemed to be able to hold her own the last few times we could identify her.

The above picture is the house of sticks I found while walking off trail in Humbolt State Park.

5 mile hike

I hiked 5 miles on urban trails today with about an 1500 foot elevation gain. My ankle has been getting stronger but still has pain. Its sore tonight.
I am doing a lot of balancing work. Standing on one leg. Good leg call me a flamingo. Bad leg- I look like a windmill with my arms swinging trying not to fall over. Have been progressing though.
I don't know why I still have pain. I am glad to be out of doors and getting some exercise. I still find it difficult to go down some stairs. I can tell exactly how high a stair riser is. If its over 7" then I have to hang on or go one step at a time with both feet.

Physical therapist says I should go skiing. I am waiting for just the right day. Nice weather not too much new snow to push around but not icy. Snow is disappearing off of our mountain so may not get the chance.

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS HIKE

On Christmas day I took a little hike. We were visiting son and family out of town. I probably hiked about 1 mile and even went off trail. I was wearing my hiking boots and had wrapped the offending ankle. I also had my hiking poles with me.
It was great to be out in the wild. I had taken another little hike a couple of days before.

The physical therapist has told me to start walking on uneven ground as that act of balancing will strengthen the muscles in my ankle. After the Christmas day hike, I walked around my sons neighborhood for a while and that was painful but the next day I was doing better than ever, with less pain.

I seem to improve in fits and starts. Plateau for a while then improvement . I also got new shoes with better support and that seemed to help.
The source of pain seems to change also. After Thanksgiving most of my pain was in the inside of my ankle, right above where the plate is. Then, it seemed to move to the actual joint inside. That has seemed to improve in the last few days.

I am doing a lot of work on strengthening my leg muscles. Clam shells with the stretchy band. I am riding the bike for longer, also and with more resistance.

Still, I am unable to plan for the future. I cannot picture where I will be in a couple of months and am unable to make plans that involve physical activity. A friend asked my if I wanted to go on a snowshoe overnight in the end of March. I just am afraid to commit to it. Right now I can't imagine being able to do that. Hiking in Peru next summer? would I be crazy to commit?

THANKSGIVING

I went to the doctor Tuesday and he seems to think I am on track. I am impatient but I believe I am getting stronger and the very sharp pain seems to be gone. The doctor says he is glad because he really wouldn't know what was causing that. Dr W says not to baby myself. So feel beter about the 1/2 mile I did on the bike path - which left me in quite a bit of pain the next day. He also said to alternate between ice and heat. I have only been icing.

I have abandoned the boot completely. The crutches,boot and walker now into attic. (I am too surperstitous to get rid of them completely.) Mostly wearing my hiking boots.
Out of town for quite a few days. My husbands sister passed away after a long illness. A sad time for us.
I have come down with a bad cold or something uky so have not been back to my stationary bike routine but am feeling like I can go a while. I am doing little stints on my treadmile at almost its slowest setting.
I now have a car I can drive. It is a fun zippy car, old but hopefully will be ok for a while. I have a new sense of freedom.
Driving, no boot and walking better. Still - no hike in my near future.

Now must address the 4 pounds I have gained. Porbably more in fat terms since I have lost muscle.