Ridge Manor to Home via the Withlacoochee Trail.

Greetings from the shade of my kitchen in Inverness, Florida,

In two weeks Steve and I are flying to NY to watch the solar eclipse and visit his family.  This weekend they got seven inches of snow!  

I can't remember if I purged my winter boots when I was cleaning out my storage or if they are stored up in Steve's attic.  I guess I will have to do some searching before I buy a pair.  We might even do some skiing or snow showing in the Adirondacs while we are there!

As you can tell from the title of this post, we made it home from our bicycle ride.  I apologize to Steve, as I did not spend a lot of time planning this trip, I guess. And our motels turned out to be a lot further apart than I had expected.  We didn't always follow the Google path.  So we had three days in a row of higher than planned days.  50-ish.  And me on a new-to-me bike seat.  Let's just say, the pain made me wonder at times why I ever thought this would be fun.

Steve was a great sport, though.  A really good travel partner.  He not only didn't complain, but looked for the positive and the delights wherever we were.

We both agreed that this Tuesday we would be riding our trikes.

On our last evening we walked down to Brooklyn Pizza, which we had visited before.   A great choice.  We both got baked pasta and it 😋 was satisfying and yummy.  I highly recommend it after a long day of riding.  Did I tell you about this dinner already?

Sunday morning we filled up on the motel omlettes and then rode our loaded bikes down the sidewalk to the Withlacoochee Trail.

Just a reminder that I posted a blog each day we rode.  You can find them in the March 2024 posts on my website, www.susanstraley.com. On my phone I pick the four lines in the top corner and then pick archives to see the list.

I think they are in the "Archives".  I was really bummed to learn the email wasn't going out to folks letting them know when I posted.  Though I did share some of them on Facebook. 

On Sunday, my sit bones didn't hurt...  for about the first 100 feet.  I certainly could have done this ride on my trike, though I appreciated the electric assist on the hills and in the wind and on Hwy 50, and when I was tired.  😆 

Today I was back at it with exercising with my friends (30 minutes of HIIT and 30 minutes of yoga).  It didnt hurt my sitbones and I could tell my sciatic pain is reduced.  That is interesting because I didn't do much stretching or PT exercises on our bicycle tour. 

 After exercise, I went to PT.  I had a different Therapist today.  She put me through a couple stretches and then started to massage my left leg and buttock.  Man, she could really dig in.  I was groaning a lot during her massage, and not with pleasure!  She told me not to exercise anymore today.  

So instead I did my laundry and bought myself lunch.  Then I went to visit my good friend, Jean.  I love her, she has been a good friend and makes me laugh.  Today we had a project to work on a little bit.  

She and her husband Keith went to the Sparacia Winery on Sunday and report that the violinist that plays rock and sings is there again this year on Sunday afternoons.  I hope we can get there before we leave Florida.  It was such fun last year!

It is a lovely breezy day here.  My sister reports they got a wet heavy snow up by her in Wisconsin.  I am looking forward to seeing her.  

I called her on Saturday and her husband answered like he has done for many years, "Is this the party to whom I am speaking?"  Love it.  A part of him remains as dementia slowly whittles away his memories and abilities.  I wonder if he knew who I was.  Or was he just reading the screen when he handed the phone to Mary and said, "It's Sue Straley."

Speaking of Dementia, some of my fellow former caregivers will remember Debbie Selsavage and her partner, Ed.  Ed Youngblood passed away recently.  Debbie reported that he was trying to work the wonderful work they did together up to the end.

Bettie Davis who was instrumental in advocating for the paving of the Withlacoochee Trail passed recently.  She was very active in the community and did a lot of bicycle traveling and tours in her retirement.  Her spirit had already faded with dementia.

Dang, I hate to end this on such an down note!

My neighbors are gathered for the afternoon social at Linda and Gary's.  Time to go say,  "Hi".

Big hugs all a round.   

Oh I forgot to tell you, I found  Joe the Troll!  Remember we picked up Joe when we were on a bicycle tour in Wisconsin this summer?

I was digging deep unto a pocket in my purse and there he was!  Hiding from us!