Long, Lonely Summer Ahead

 


I've developed a bit of a problem this week that may impact my
seasonal riding.

We had an unseasonably late snowfall fall this spring, leaving about 6
inches of snow Tuesday I think that melted during the day before
freezing that night into some slippery stuff.  The wife went outside
Thursday to shuffle some of it and slipped, breaking her ankle.  I
should have taken care of the snow, but I thought it would melt
quickly.

ER said she needed surgery, and recommended admitting her to the
hospital.  The surgeon at first said no pressure on the foot for 6
weeks, followed by another 6 weeks with the cast remaining in place.
Yesterday morning before surgery he revised that to 8 weeks of no
pressure on the foot due to her age and the fact she takes Evista for
osteoporosis (sp?).  Following surgery yesterday, he said her bones
are indeed weak, even for a woman her age (we think she's hitting 70
this year).

As I've mentioned a dozen times before over the years(at least), the
wife has a shortened and weakened leg, a forgetful mind, and a balance
issue. It's her good leg that she can't use for the next 8 weeks. I'll
be bringing her home today.  I guess I'll be performing a combo of
vacationing, teleworking and getting an assistant to take care of her
when I have to be gone.  Our friggin' house has steps all over the
place.  The kitchen, dining, bathroom, and front door are on one
level, the living room and family room are a few steps lower, but
separated, while upstairs is upstairs.  She's going upstairs for now,
where her bed and bath are on the same level.

This is not going to be fun.

My real problem however, is how to attend a HOG Rally scheduled to
occur a short distance away (150 miles)in early June, and take another
week long ride with my sister, which if we do it when e normally do,
would begin about the time Sue would get her cast removed.  The HOG
isn't really important at all, except that my sister was thinking of
attended and was asking whether or not Sue and I wanted to attend.

The July ride, which was going to be the Top of the World Highway to
Dawson City, is more important, but there's really no way I will leave
her immediately after the cast is removed, primarily because I'd want
to make sure the metal and bone will withstand full use.  I could
delay the trip for a little while, but darkness returns in August and
neither one of us are into night riding (no street lighting, pot
holes, frost heaves, animals, etc).  I could tell the wife she's
going, but climbing on and off the bike doesn't sound like something I
want her to do.  I could buy a sidecar rig for my underpowered bike,
or buy a newer model (there was an Ultra I think with sidecar for $22k
in Craigslist this week).  I could buy a new Ural.  Doing that might
cause me to delay paying off the house, though.  We'll see.  She might
bite on the sidecar lure.

Major Bad Times ahead.
Robert

 

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:53:48 -0800, Robert Bolton


Sorry to hear about your wife Robert. The important stuff is making
sure she gets better. There will always be another Hog Rally and the
Top of the World Highway will be there next year.

 

wrote:


Thanks Don.   We'll see how well she's doing in July, but the
priorities are set.

Robert

 


<snip>

Well, that definitely sucks, Robert.  Sorry to read that.

But maybe it just seems darker than it is.  Remember this one?
http://www.xidos.ca/OddsEnds/MiniStories/BreakaLeg/tabid/109/Default.aspx

Gladys broke her ankle pretty good there (pins put in), but it didn't
mean ceasing to ride as a passenger.  She still has one good leg left,
right?  That's all you need.  You just help them a bit getting on the
bike and help them getting off, if needed.

No need to go all the way to a side-car rig, IMO.  Even with a side-
car, they still have to get in and out.  The only difference is that,
with the side-car, the bike's standing upright, but a passenger can
get on a bike sitting on its side-stand (with a little help if
necessary) too.

Just tell her, "Hop on, tootsie, we're going to the rally!  Gladys and
Don did it."  <grin>

 

On Sun, 18 Apr 2010 06:34:39 -0700 (PDT), "Road Glidin' Don"


I like the greenery in those shots.


Well, her good leg is now the one the DUI nailed back in the 60s, but
we'll make do.  I imagine it's about to get a little stronger than it
was.


I mentioned to her we could get a newer Harley with side car, and she
was all for it.  She was 3 sheets to the wind on morphine at the time,
but that's just a technicality.  I imagine riding that way wouldn't be
as fun as on two wheels though.  We'll figure something out.  If
nothing else I'll help her up with the bike on its stand.


She chuckled when I told her what you had to say about riding, Don.
She's got a lot of spirit.

Robert