"Do what you can with what you have where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
I've written this post in my mind at least three times. I considered writing a tribute to my husband, who has so lovingly and patiently helped me deal with my ups and downs. I thought I might discuss my health, but there really isn't much to say. I'm scheduled for a bone scan and a CT scan in the next two weeks and may have something to add then. In keeping with my theme of "dying or going on vacation", I could discuss our accomplishments and future plans. I think I'll go with option #3.
At my April oncology appointment, I asked my doctor how long she thought I could safely plan a trip -- in other words, feeling well enough to do the basics. I was surprised at her answer. She said if I didn't hold her to it, she thought I'd have six months. She then added the caveat that one of the variables is "what I'm willing to do do treat it." She knows that I've repeatedly emphasized that I value quality of life over quantity of life. As good as I've felt, however, I expected her to think I could safely plan a trip in the next year.
I'm at the stage where you have to schedule everything around doctor appointments and tests. We already knew we were going to take a bike trip on May 19th to ride about 70 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) from Ohiopyle, PA to Cumberland, MD.
Reality
We drove to Ohiopyle, PA which has a great state park famous for white water rafting in the rapids of the Youghiogheny (Yug) River. The GAP Trail is 124 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD. Here the path connects to the C&O Canal Trail enabling the ambitious rider to ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Bill and I both find it difficult to walk any distance, but we didn't anticipate some of these difficulties:
- At our first BnB, we were required to climb a rock stairway of about 20 steps with a rise of about 10 inches for each step -- almost impossible for us.
- The second night, we stayed on the second floor of a BnB with a very low toilet and no grab bars. I struggled to get off the toilet.
- On our first day out, we rode 33 miles with over two hours in a severe thunderstorm. This made the path muddy and more difficult to navigate. The entire path had a small uphill grade of 1% to 2% as we were traveling up to the Eastern Continental Divide. On any other day, I think I could have done it, but we were both so exhausted that we didn't have the strength to go to dinner. We settled for instant oatmeal cereal at the BnB.
- I was aware of the "cancer" in my chest and had pain in my underarm where the lymph nodes had been removed.
- All of the above made me aware that my future could include physical challenges I am not yet ready to accept.
So How Was the Trip?
I knew once we'd been home for a week, all of the memories would be good. On the first day, we rode through a major thunderstorm. My phone signalled a tornado watch, but when we arrived in the next town, the sirens were a call to the volunteer fire department to clear downed trees and power lines. It was not fun. However, we met several cyclists at a local lunch stop. Two were riding from D.C. to the state of Oregon. I was impressed.
Day 2 was beautiful. We traveled up to the Eastern Continental Divide. From there we had a beautiful view. However, as soon as we went through the tunnel, I came in too "hot" and managed to fall. I insisted that Bill take a picture of me looking like a beached whale. From this point on, the trail gradually descended. We stopped in a town called Frostburg for the night.
