A recent knee problem has prompted me to follow my doctor’s advice on the need for a non-loadbearing exercise regime to strengthen quad muscles and make this type of injury less likely in the future. She recommended a recumbent, stationary exercise bike.
We had always planned to extend the covering over our back deck and since I absolutely refuse to ride a stationary bike inside the house, the timing was perfect. Deck cover is now done, bike is in place and I have embarked on an imaginary, stationary bike ride across Canada to visit my son in Ottawa. Things are off to a slow but steady start. It took me some time to cover the gravel road out of here but now I am onto the highway (metaphorically speaking) and rolling along.
Resistance is set low, speed consistent at about 17 miles per hour and as I recover, I’m keeping the riding time to thirty minutes per day. It’s like cruising on a very smooth track. There will be time enough to build in higher resistance, greater speed and lengthier rides. The longest journey starts with a single step. Or should I say, a spin of the bike wheel?
Granddaughter, Emma, at Save-On Foods in Campbell River – having fun posing with my book.
We’ve just come through an amazing two weeks of friends, grandkids, kids and nieces visiting us at the lake with all the fun, laughs and good times that go along with such times. Please watch for future posts covering the highlights. I’ve had a wonderful break from social media and am coming back refreshed and happy.
My niece, Chelsea, enjoying a reading break. Her choice – Chasing Down the Night, of course!
Final edits on Maelstrom are keeping me at my computer for thirty minute blocks several times per day. I now set a timer and get up when it goes off. Good knee health and all of that. I find it amazing just how fast thirty minutes can fly by.
The garden has moved into high production mode and we are reaping the harvest. Yesterday I was busy making blackberry jam and tonight’s dinner features fresh green beans, zucchini and tomatoes.
Reason clears and plants the wilderness of the imagination to harvest the wheat of art. (Austin O’Malley)
disappearinginplainsight 
Hi. Virtual/imaginary biking is a great way to motivate yourself. I am on a bike ride down the length of the Saint John River. Keep going! Jane
Many thanks for the encouragement, Jane. It was your imaginary cycle trips that inspired me.
Sounds like lots of summer fun. Beautiful views while you cycle your way back to good health. And dinner sounds yummy! I love cooking meals with veggies and herbs from my garden, too.
It sure is a treat to pop out to the deck and snip fresh basil, or dill or cilantro. As the ripe red tomatoes mount up on the window sill, I see in my future, fresh salsa put up in shiny pints glittering on the countertop.
Lovely late-summer news! Super garden: I can tell your summer has been less dry-as-a-bone than ours .. your petunias are still flowering! We’re getting rain now, but earlier it was dry, dry, dry, and cool and grey, here. Whatever! Also like you making blackberry jam (jelly,no seeds!) – ours from the free berries on some ancient common land nearby – also plum, and raspberry. Love the family pics with the appropriate book too, & can hardly wait for the next volume. Am just starting out research for my No. 3.
We had an unseasonably hot and dry July but the first couple of weeks of August provided some much needed rain to perk everything up again. I’m too lazy for jelly so we live with the seeds. This is the first year our thornless, cultivated blackberries have produced and they are just going wild out there. Best of luck on the research for your third book – hopefully in the same series?
A great spot for an exercise bike Fran, and no traffic worries. I’d be in trouble if I set up a stationary bike or a treadmill here in the apartment. Chelsea looks like she just grabbed that book when you walked in 🙂
The spot is perfect. Exercise should be done outside – right! So much more uplifting with the sounds and sights of nature. Chelsea was actually reading the novel on her visit here and what fun to watch a reader make her way through my work. I had one rule – if you chortle, laugh out loud, swear or gasp – you must say why. Lots of fun.
I hope that your knee injury is soon left in the dust! ❤
If stationary cycling can do it – I’m on my way. But it sure is a slow process – both the healing and the building up of imaginary kilometers.