Should have gone camping!

I am not suppose to use my left hand which is in a sling until I see the orthopedist on Tuesday. So who knows how long it's going to take me to type this.

My Dad is visiting from southern Ohio. The plan was to go camping along the north shore, which (for you non-Minnesotans is the shore along Lake Superior between Duluth and the Canadian border.


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We didn't. Even though the weather started getting nice here, it was expected to continue getting wet in Northern Minnesota. So Thursday we went to the Mn zoo (which is much improved if you haven't been there in years) and our plans were open on Friday. I decided to get up at 5 and get a long ride in.

I was out of the house by 5:30. A little bit of a slow start due to small bike problems plus my first 17 is stop and go anyway until I get out to the country. Miles 20 - 30 was nice and steady with a 18.1 mph avg. Stopped for about 5 at the park at the end of the Gateway trail, the most northern part of my ride, and started my return home (after deciding not to ride into Stillwater).



My Garmin shows an abrupt stop at just greater than mile 35 and that I was somewhere faster than 21 miles. Now for years the pundits will argue back and forth ;-) but the main discussion will be "why did jumper get off the paved trail?" Was he not paying attention? Did the wind grab a hold of him? Is he an idiot? or just not coordinated?

I really don't know myself. This all happened so fast, no slow motion, no nothing, just fast.

Suddenly I was off the new blacktop and I had to get back on, after all, there was a tree in front of me. Unfortunately, the blacktop had a high lip at this spot. I remember the front tire returning but the rear bounced. And I mean bounced from the side, as in the rear tire was essentially "grabbed" from underneath me and pulled perpendicular to the surface.

There is very little road rash, because I didn't skid. I was slammed onto the pavement. I felt the shoulder and head hit hard. My helmet is cracked and my head is bruised. I was stunned! I am sure that it was a minute before I even sat up. An older man helped me by setting my bike against the tree I was avoiding as well as collecting my scattered water bottles. I sat up, told him that I just needed to sit for awhile and he biked off saying that he'll be back in a little while. I think I thanked him, I hope so!

Eventually I was back on my bike. The handle bar is not aligned with the wheel and there are a few scrapes on it but my bike is otherwise ok. It was about 2.5 miles to the Fleet Farm gas station. I walked across the light across 36 as by then I was shivering. Called home and waited.

My doctor appointment wasn't until 1:20. I couldn't ice right away due to it took about an hour to stop shivering. I suppose I was experiencing minor shock. I told Angela some symptoms that if shown to call an ambulance. Only because she didn't like what was happening, not because of any melodrama on my part. At the same time it felt good to tell her what to watch for. You never know.

I had convinced myself that nothing was broken. After all, no pain if I didn't move. I was not able to lift my left arm very high but i was able to do some r.o.m. with the help of my right.

The doctor examined me, performed r.o.m. and prodded lightly on my shoulder area. I told him when it hurt but it all looked good. X rays were indeed called for. But I was confidant. Well, until the tech pops her head in and asks if I have ever injured my shoulder before?, then returns for one more picture.

"You have a high tolerance for pain I guess?"

"I've been told that", I responded "but how do you compare your pain to others"

"You have a high tolerance" he affirmed.

"You have a broken clavicle, which isn't too much of a problem. I'll give you a sling and some pain meds. However, you will need to see an orthopedist about the broken scapula"



I am of the type to pray. But I do not discriminate. And while I realize how good I have it compared to much of the world. I need prayer, mojo, whatever you can dish out regarding, hopefully not needing surgery for the scapula, a quick recovery - for my job more than anything else, and that my boss will use me for paperwork etc. so that i do not have a loss of income.

Thank you!