The Achilles Inhibition

June Twenty-nine: I cannot believe it has only been two weeks. God has a funny way of changing the plans of man. Alas, man has no plans, but pieces to a broken puzzle.

Two weeks ago from today, I was on the road to Port Angeles to begin what was going to be an amazing 3500 mile bicycle odyssey down the Pacific Coast and through the Mojave Desert and Sierra Nevada Mountains. However, things didn't go according to plan. After just three 60-70 mile days on the Olympic Peninsula traversing the National Park and Forest and fathoming at the lack of awesomeness in the Quinault Indian Reservation and after the terrible bridges of Hoaquim and Aberdeen I arrived slowly to Cosmopolis with not only some aches and pains, but an injury as well. Whereas my knees have been aching, I acquired a mysterious pain at the end of my heel and below my calf. At first I thought nothing of it because I have never had a pain there in my entire life. It was just an annoying pain that should vanish shortly. It did not. With three miles left to travel to my lodging at Artic RV Park (which boasts "bicycles welcome") I had no choice but to have my Dad (who was to be my support guy for the first 5 days or so to get me started) get me and drive me the rest of the way. That was Wednesday, June 18th. I wanted so much to push through and finish that day. It kills me not to complete something.

When we arrived, the host lady was nice and brought me some ice for my Achilles tendon and also my left knee.
I looked like a wreck. My spirits were not down though. I just thought I should rest and take some ibuprofen and see how it feels the next day. The next day I had to make it to Astoria whether I rode or or got a ride. One way or the other we were headed south. Meanwhile, I posted my predicament online and through the course of the evening and next day I received quite a lot of advice, some of it differing, some of it helpful. Needless to say, I know a lot more about Achilles injuries and bicycle-related injuries and remedies than I did before. The next day I made the decision to rest more and get a ride south. We drove through Raymond, a cool little town filled with hundreds of metal sculptures. Further south, past South Bend we came to Cape Disappointment, which I thought was fitting given the circumstances. After some brief sights of the ocean, we arrived to the Astoria bridge and stopped to view it and test my bike after resting all day. A female cyclist who I can only refer to as "Blue Top" because I never caught her name met us before the bridge to say hello. We first met her in Port Angeles. She was on her way to San Francisco at the time but now her plans had changed because she wanted to see the Columbia Gorge. Anyway, she exclaimed that she had a similar problem and just put on a compression brace that seemed to help a lot and recommended us to find a pharmacy and ask about braces. We took her up on that advice and several pharmacies later, finally purchased an ankle brace and some naproxen to help with the pain.

From Astoria, we continued south to 1) help me to stay on schedule and 2) find some place to camp that night. We arrived in Tillamook and stopped briefly at the Cheese Factory to sample some cheese all the while limping along. It hurt even to walk. The whole while I had my head against the window dreaming of riding. I was watching all the sights pass by, the sights I would've seen on my bike, the road markers and ocean views. I missed it. My Dad asked, "You miss it, don't you?" All I could do was nod. After a cloudy and rainy evening at a marina, the next day we finally arrived in Lincoln City and made our way to Devil's Lake State Park which I knew had hiker/biker sites. Thank goodness for the glorious Oregon Coast. It was here, on Friday, June 20th, the day before the summer solstice that my Dad was heading back home. I had a decision to make. I either was going to be left at the park to rest my leg for a few days and see how it felt...or head home with my Dad. It was a decision I did not want to make, a decision I did not see coming. But alas, it was here. We found some side streets to test out my bike once more. And after a pause and knowing I had to make a decision quickly, I told my Dad that it just hurts too much and I...I couldn't finish, I just broke down into tears. This was a dream journey that was 2-years in the making...and after just 3 days it's cut short? But why? What are you teaching me through this Lord? This is hard. This hurts.

 It was mostly silent on the drive back to Salem. This trip was surreal but now it was surreal that I was returning. It still is. I had no other plans for the summer. I wasn't supposed to be back. I was supposed to be on an adventure and return with spectacular pictures, memories and experiences...not this, not like this...I felt defeated.

My sister's family was in town and I was excited to spend some time with my nieces and they were excited to see their uncle. Over the next week until Friday, June 27th we all went camping in Washington, only about 30 miles from where I was to ride my bike the week prior. Camping was a lot of fun even through the rain and cold. Fires and s'mores and games were a plenty. It was a much needed relaxation for my foot. It still hurt, but with every day it has been feeling better. Praise God! When I came home it was nice to spend some time in an actual bed, something I haven't experienced in 2 weeks. I had to let me roommate know what was going on because I would be in and out of my apartment. I couldn't exactly stay there full time because someone was renting my room. Yay money! I really had no desire to update or tell people I was back. I did, to those who inquired, but honestly I did not know what to say. It not only hurt physically, but emotionally as well.

It is now the penultimate day of June and I am still in the process of sorting through my things and drying out my tent and patching my sleeping pad, etc. So what shall I update? What shall I say? I should be in the Redwoods by now exploring large trees. I was asked what my plans are for the Fourth of July. Well, I have none. I was to be in San Francisco by then. Well, here's the deal. I still have to get back on my bike and go on a few rides with my panniers to see how my legs feel. I no longer feel the need to go to the doctor because my heel is noticeably getting better. It is not perfect. I still can feel it here and there, but the stretching of it is diminished and I may need some more rest.

So, with some packing issues and biking issues, I will also be looking at a map and try to figure out if I can do a modified bicycle adventure. Not sure where that entails...I could head from here to San Francisco and cut across to Yosemite and Tahoe and back up. I could cycle further south and catch a bus up given time or meet someone mid way to drive up. I don't know. It could be as early as July 1st, or it could be a few weeks down the road. I do not know exactly where or when yet, but I do know that God has me in His plans. I do not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future and me in His arms. Thanks for praying and keeping invested...my cycling days are far from over and adventure is just waiting...it waits until I am ready...my circles are not perfect yet...but I trust they soon will be...Perfect Circles now and forever...all is not lost. Pray, seek, ride, and find your own adventure this summer...