As some of you may know, on the last day of Gila, I managed to do a nice little number on my unsuspecting ankle. I’d like to tell it as so… I was screaming down a treacherous descent, when a bear came onto my path giving me no choice but to obliterate its existence… while singing the star spangled banner. Me not the bear, c’mon a singing bear is just not believable! OK, what really went down was me and a handful of other guys while moving briskly, but smoothly over a flat valley road. That’s what happens when someone tries to squeeze where they cannot fit. Such a crash left three other guys with loads of road rash and me, mostly unscathed with an ankle that was broken in 4 places.

With the close observation and high quality treatment from local (Mesa) Podiatrist and longtime cyclist Lewis Freed, my recovery has been relatively quick and surgery was narrowly evaded. After logging 7 weeks in a couple of casts (pink, so hot right now)  its on to a sweet removable boot. Also, knocking out  the physical therapy side of things at Proactive Institute, a little bit of walking and long missed quality time with my friend Mr. Trainer.

What has come over the past two months since the bear incident has been a mostly positive experience. Knowing that I would not be turning a pedal tomorrow, the next day or even weeks from then quickly brings the big picture in to view. As a positive note, there has never been a better time for a good viewing of the big picture. There is also the chance to live a little differently, develop some relationships, read (even a few books without pictures),  do some manual work and drink copious amounts of the caffeinated black gold.

But alas, my time to take to the roads of  Tucson seems to be  steadily approaching. When that time comes to strap questionable light blue helmet back on, I’m going to do so as a rider that will allow myself to enjoy my sport a little more… just have mercy on me when you pass me on Mt. Lemmon!