No walking today, but I did do about 150 steps and an elevator ride to the workout room. For some reason, a lean-forward posture on an exercise bike is fine for a short while. I was the only taker; everyone else was either at work or enjoying the beautiful weather outside.
Category: Move
Walking in another me’s shoes
Today, as usual, my range was 0.2 miles, just enough to reach Open Book. The kindness of strangers brightens my day, like the young guy who noticed me approaching two sets of doors and turned back to hold both open for me. Seats are always welcome, including this one where I can rest while waiting for the lights to change. I’m certainly gaining insight into the slow-go years, but I’m hoping physical therapy and an MRI will put me back on the path to the go-go years.
One block at a time
Walking is very important to me. This morning, I walked to Open Book for a cuppa and an old-fashioned donut, and in the afternoon, I saw my family medicine physician, each about 0.2 miles from our building. For now, walking 0.2 miles slowly is plenty, made possible by Gabapentin until physical therapy hopefully resolves this. I’m so grateful for my compassionate care team.
A beautiful fall ride on the Gitchi-Gami
I felt my age until I got on my bicycle on this beautiful fall day. While Dwight hiked the hills, I explored a short section of the Gitchi-Gami in the opposite direction from yesterday, staying a little closer to Lake Superior this time.
Railroad Island
Cycled with a friend around Railroad Island, a St. Paul neighborhood hemmed in by train tracks. An Italian restaurant, an Italian market, and a supermercado highlighted its strong immigrant ties. Riding along mostly quiet residential streets, we passed the oldest brick house in St. Paul and stopped by an urban farm holding an open house.
A short cycle ride to the 26th Avenue North Overlook
My nephews would’ve enjoyed scrambling on the climbing net at the foot of the beacon… maybe a dozen years ago. The beacon leans out over the Mississippi at this overlook in North Minneapolis, a short ride from our home. This was my first outing in three days: the study treatment has kept me laid low, which means it’s doing something! It felt good to be out among people clearly enjoying the beautiful day.
Where the bison roam
Had a great bike ride through Spring Lake Park Reserve with a friend. We’ve cycled this stretch that includes bluffs above the Mississippi, downriver from St. Paul, plenty of times, but today was different. It was the first time I actually got to see the bison up close on the restored prairie.
Annual airport ride
It was time for my annual cycle ride to the airport. Sadly, planes were landing on other runways as I passed by these approach lights. At Terminal 1, I “discovered” the car rental building, a place I would normally never visit, of course. Escalators go directly to different companies’ rental counters and cars. I took the Blue Line home, which was the main reason for visiting the airport today; until today, the LRT had been closed for a few weeks for upgrades.
A steamy ride
Delicious! The study nurse brought in a fan and pointed it right at me. I’d arrived overheated and soaked after a steamy 16-miler complete with a breakfast stop at Lake Harriet with Dwight and a huge rubber duckie.
Mind the gap
It seemed safe enough to ignore the diversion signs while running errands. The 20-year-old Blue Line LRT is closed for seven weeks for major maintenance, including replacing some track and upgrading signals. I sometimes take my bike on the train to reach further-out trailheads, and it’s our go-to route to the airport.