I have been asked about the knee, so let's get that out of the way first.
I have been doing local walks of 5 to 6 miles. It is not painful whilst walking, but that distance is enough - swelling and stiffening are the signs. If I move the leg in a sort of sideways direction, for example when getting over stiles, there is specific intense pain in a particular area about the size of a 50p piece - perhaps where a tendon attaches. There are other minor niggly internal pains and clicking and clunking sensations. The muscle on top of the thigh still feels weak. Despite ongoing exercises I can't get the leg to go completely straight. I am using the exercise bike once or twice a day for 20 min sessions. For the first few turns of the pedals the pain is intense causing me to break into a forehead sweat, but then it settles down and I pedal away.
I have had several sessions with a local masseuse which have been particularly beneficial, and for anybody else with similar problems this is something I highly recommend.
On the 4th September it will be four months since the op, and I hoped for a better outcome than this after that amount of time. I cannot see me doing any full day walks this year. Yes, I am frustrated, and I guess perhaps too impatient. The thought of possibly having to go through all this again with the other knee doesn't bear thinking about. For the moment I am thankful that I can do decent little walks in uplifting environments which is more than I could do before the op, but that is nothing like the day to day unfolding of a multi-day backpacking trip with all its happenings, surprises and problem solving combined with the overall sensations and enjoyment of merging through one region into another.
Two recent local walks
Kentmere: from Kentmere village up the eastern side of The Kent to Kentmere Reservoir and back down the western side.
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| Looking north up the Kent valley |
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Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick - the western side of the Kentmere Horseshoe which is a celebrated fell
race |
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| Kentmere reservoir - Lingmell End is the pointy one - Thornthwaite Crag and Beacon in background |
Gurnal Dubs and Potter Tarn: From Garnett Bridge via paths and track to Gurnal Dubs and Potter Tarn. Return via Burneside to Garnett Bridge road.
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| Distant Kendal |
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| Gurnal Dubs... |
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| ...trout were rising in abundance, and swallows were skimming the water |
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| Arrow points to a rare moment - a swallow resting - I was trying to snap them but was hampered by no viewfinder on the camera - this pic is a 12 x zoom shot... |
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| ...and this is a crop from the pic above - goodness knows how many times it is magnified. |
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| Potter Tarn |
Hi Conrad,
ReplyDeletePatience is a virtue so they say, probably by people who do not have to have patience!
If you lived in West Wales, today would be a good day to have a wonky knee. It has poured down all day. Yesterday we had a family gathering sitting on the beach at Llansteffan. Forecast looks OK on Tuesday and another gathering, this time on the Mon & Brec canal. This will hopefully be my grandson's first trip in a canoe.
Welshpaddler - Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteThere is a splendid castle at Llansteffan which I visited on a cloudless sunny day on my walk. I suppose you have visited before.
How old is the grandson?
You have my sympathy Conrad; I know only too well how frustrating dealing with physical limitations resulting from surgery can be. Here's to a speedy recovery forthwith. In the meantime, the Kentmere and Potter Fell walks are classics of their kind. Previous experience suggests that not too many people know the Potter Fell one either.
ReplyDeleteBeating the bounds - Thanks for your message.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure exactly what you are saying about Potter Fell. On the OS map that name appears, but also seems to incorporate, or be the same as Ulgraves (332m), a minor hill which may be worth a visit. I have been on the walk in my post several times before. I had intended to go north from Potter Tarn up to Brunt Knott Farm taking in Brunt Knott trig then east to Bridge End and back to Garnett Bridge, but for the moment that is a bit too far.
Beating the bounds - On looking more carefully I see that Potter Fell is actually a hill in its own right separate from Ulgraves.
ReplyDeleteI sympathise with you Conrad - patience is not one of my strong points. I'm sure it will come right in the end though and, meantime, the walks you are able to do look delightful.
ReplyDeleteYoke, Ill Bell and Froswick: goodness those names really take me back to my youth.
Smashing post and pictures. Thanks for this, it's part of the lakes i usually drive past going places higher, but it's really nice. I will give it a go or try and work it in with a longer walk.
ReplyDeleteHi Conrad,
ReplyDeleteSorry, I see what you mean, I wasn't exactly clear. I tend to think of that whole area of low fells at the southern end of that ridge as 'Potter Fell' and hence 'The Potter walk'. I've often walked to the two tarns and rarely seen anybody else. When the heather is flowering it's lovely. I've not been to have a proper explore now that it's all access land.
Mark