Getting the Boot

This should be a blog entry about an idyllic weekend in West Virginia. Our long weekend included a nest of Phoebes (a kind of flycatcher) on our cabin's front porch with lots of little baby birds and a mother and father who anxiously watched the intruders (us) so much that we moved our chairs to another part of the porch.


It also included a very enjoyable ride on the Allegheny Highland Trail, with it's .8 incline on the return (we were pooped by the last 2 miles of the 25 mile ride, it's better when downhill is on the way back.). There was also a nice lunch at the renovated Bedford Springs Resort (worth a visit -- amazing place, especially if you like massively good historic renovations). The Springs has several hiking paths and we took a 2 mile up and back that was lovely. As was 95% of the next day's walk at the Nature Conservancy/Potomac Audubon's new site near Great Cacapon.

Unfortunately, the downside of that walk was my downfall -- literally and figuratively. Foot stumbled on a rut (and on a branch that made an awful CRACK!) and I went tumbling onto the gravel -- with a foot going other way. Getting up it was clear all wasn't well. So we hobbled back down to the car (about 1/4 mile) and back to the cabin, where, after climbing the two-story steps, my undone sock revealed, well, it wasn't pretty and needed attention. So. Good soldier, and very helpful spouse Ken had to pack up all (we hadn't planned to return til Tuesday morning) including the cat and back we went through traffic -- dropping me off at HC General about 6:45-7:00. 3+ hours later I was home with a splint, diagnosis of a broken ankle bone and orders to see an orthopedist in a day or so. "You're going to become good friends with an orthopedist" were their exact words. So I did. Saw a Dr. at MD Orthopedics up the street (nice place , good staff/Drs, but a 4 hour wait for treatment a bit long guys) -- crutches, etc for a while. So I've traded hiking boots for a different boot. Sigh. And become dependent on the kindness of spouses, friends etc for all transportation etc. And did I mention we live in a two story house?