It was a nice night up until the end. Kirby was back in town and we planned to hang out Tuesday evening. It was a nice day so we met up in Georgetown and went for a canoe ride for the last hour the rental place was open. We’ve been downriver before so we went up river this time. We hung out with some ducks and geese and checked out some old stone culverts. Along the way we saw some small mammal swimming by the shore. Only the top of his head was visible so we couldn’t tell what it was. Once we got close out came the big flat tail with two smacks to the water before he disappeared. I didn’t realize beavers hung out in fast flowing water like that. I’ve seen them do unbelievable things in the hills of Appalachia. That was typical beaver I thought damming up small streams to impressive ponds with huge stick dams. Our guy in the Potomac popped up downstream so we floated down to check him out again. He let us get within a good 10ft before he threw down one big smack and disappeared. On the way back we saw a bald eagle. He made two swoops down to the water but didn’t see anything he wanted. I wonder if he was from the nest I saw on the Mt Vernon trail.
After the canoe ride we ate at Pizzeria Paradiso. A known favorite of mine. Good food and beers were had. It was the bike ride back from dinner that caused the problem. Coming off a 4” or 5” curb I landed at the slightest angle. Growing up on a mt bike I didn’t even register this as an issue. On my road bike my tire rolled over on my rim and I went straight to the pavement. I hit very hard. I wasn’t in pain but I was a bit stunned and could tell something was wrong right away. I don’t know if I tried to get up and nothing happened or if I knew my shoulder was the issue when I felt my right shoulder with my left hand and verified a break to the collar bone. After many thrills and spills I finally broke my first bone.
Pain didn’t set in right away and I pulled myself up out of the street half on the sidewalk. Thankfully Kirby was there and I could just zone out for a minute. A few people stopped in the cars; the first guy got out and made sure our bikes were locked up and we were on our way to the hospital. My guess is we got to the hospital around 11:30. The pain started setting in. I’d be OK for a bit while I didn’t move and then I’d get a lot of pain for a few minutes. Sitting in one place for hours didn’t help at all either. I don’t know how much longer than an hour we waited but it wasn’t more than two hours. Getting in a soft(er) bed and in a different position was nice. Kirby was lacking sleep and passing out in the chair next to me after taking care of me the previous few hours. I got sent off to X-ray after a decent wait with the pain coming and going. With all the flexibility of the x-ray machine and the x-ray table I still was asked to shimmy around on my back which was not at all fun. The doc came in shortly after and did the routine lungs, ears, eyes, and throat thing. I knew they couldn’t do much for it but I expected more than a sling. He said the sling was it and to follow up with the surgeon within a week. I got prescriptions for ibuprofen and vicodin. I walked out of there around 3am.
Going to sleep the first night was painful but things were much better in the morning. I slept with a pack of frozen vegetables on it. I guess I’ll be sleeping on my back in one position for awhile. Learning to brush my teeth, wash my face, eat, and do everything else with my left hand is a new experience. No biking for awhile.
I guess we’ll see how long it takes to heal.
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