Saturday

Midway down Green's Settlement Road is a sign warning me that there's a cow crossing and for the first time in 5 years of driving regularly that way, today I got to stop for the cows. Below is Buddy, he's not one of the cows that was crossing the road. Instead, he lives at Katie's and is an orphan. Because he hangs out with Pony Pie so much, he thinks he's a pony.

Buddy, the Confused Calf

Lot's of dirt roads today as Elaine and I took Lady and Asia to 1099/Horse Camp. 1099 is the designation of the Forest Service Road we take to get to Horse Camp and it's dirt, but this view from the driver's seat is another dirt road between Katie's and Elaine's house and I liked the trees and sky so much that I picked up the camera from the center console and snapped a pic as we drove.

This morning, Elaine and I met up with JoAnna and Carol and had a lovely ride. It was like old home week as everyone and their brother had the same grand idea. The local endurance community was out in full force, as well as the folks on Walking Horses and Quarter Horses being ridden western. It was almost like a super highway full of horse traffic, but unlike a crowded highway, we would have intervals in between meeting other groups where it was just us.

The weather sites report that it was just as hot as last week with temps in the upper 90s and high humidity, but it didn't feel that way. It felt cooler. Asia was rarin' to go, wanting to trot fast and then canter and enough with this silly walking. Thankfully, she rates because I did ask her to walk a good bit.

And Carol, who is an emergency room physician, listened to my sad tale of woe about my back and the sterling reports from the MRI and X-rays (my spine gets an A+ on both) and agreed that a CT scan with contrast (which means getting a lumbar puncture - eeep!) is NOT the way to go as she believes that there is nothing wrong with my spine. It's a relief to hear that as I'd already discarded the suggestion. I'm going to keep doing the exercises the physical therapist gave me and hope that I strengthen the back. Carol thinks that I injured the ligaments and that the best thing to do would be to let them rest, but that would mean not riding a bike or a horse for however long that might take and although my back would feel better, I would go mad. So, PT exercises, ice the back, keep applying the TENS unit daily. I love the TENS unit: it's the good and awesome crack.

I am scheduled for an EMG on the 24th and Carol thinks that's an ok test to have done. I have the feeling though that it's going to be inconclusive and that Carol's suggestion to rest the back is the best. Since that's impossible, more strengthening exercises followed by stretching and icing it. I may cancel the EMG.



My dirty Tahoe after all the dirt roads today. The car wash a week ago is just a dim memory now. I could have taken it for a wash this afternoon, but I'm going mountain biking at Dauset tomorrow, so best to wait until tomorrow afternoon.