On the road

I spent last Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday taking a trip from Edmonton to Waterton National Park with a friend.

I met my friend Dave in 2024 when we were both on the same ward in the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. I was recovering from numerous horrible injuries and Dave lost a leg due to complications from diabetes. During one of our many conversations Dave mentioned that he was getting close to retirement age and had no idea what he was going to do as he had no hobbies. Well, he kind of had an activity or two that he could no longer pursue with a prosthetic leg. I kind of off handedly told him to get a motorcycle. He said he could not ride one. I countered that he could ride one if he bought one with three wheels, like a Can Am Spyder. Dave got intrigued by the idea and bought one last year and quickly got his motorcycle license.

Last year and this year we went out for a few day rides. This last weekend was the first multi-day trip. I learned a few things. There is no way I should have attempted anything like this last year. I wanted to last year but I did not. I was not good enough physically. I managed okay this year. I had some minor help here and there from Dave. There is a big difference in my physical condition this year and next summer I believe I will much better.

The trip was a success. There was about 1,400km in four days with lots of breaks, which we both needed. There was good food and good beer. Weather was fine, except for running into some rain on Sunday. There were plans to do the Highwood west of Longview, except we found out it was snowing at the summit. If you have plans be flexible, lots can happen. Stayed in Blairmore and fit in Waterton Park and around Cardston area  

I am a little stiff and sore in a few places and not hurting as much as I thought I would. Dave has not retired yet but he is planning on not working next summer. He thoroughly enjoyed the trip and is looking to do a lot more of this next summer. I will have the winter months to get even better so I can attack next riding season. I will close out this fall with some riding for a few hours around my home area.

Elevator Friday - Parkside, Saskatchewan

From Dale Redekopp.

Not much happening

Some plans got trashed. Some plans got changed.

Met with the lawyer and settled my lawsuit. I am not getting rich nor am I getting what I think I should be getting. Apparently my injuries are not worth as much as I thought in Alberta. The lawyer takes their cut and then their disbursements on top of that. Lawyers are a necessary evil but you just cannot help feeling screwed at times, even though they get you more than what you would have got on your own. I had the option of taking it to court to fight for a bigger amount however a court date is at least two years in the future. I believe they want to wait me out. I do not need the funds now but I am in my early sixties and I might as well take it and invest it for the future for when I do need it. Sometimes you need to move on.

In the meantime I did manage to get out for a bit. I have a weekend trip planned and I did manage to get to Waterton, Alberta. Always worth going. 

The good parking

I have a placard for handicapped parking and I have taken full advantage of it. Before the accident I never really paid much attention to how accessible places may or may not be. For those that do not have any issues with mobility I doubt many of you have given it a second thought as well. Most places are good. I have not yet run across anyone parked in a stall when I was looking for parking that did not have a handicapped tag. A few places of businesses I found to be a little dangerous trying to navigate uneven rickety stairs with nothing to hold onto. I have always been pleasantly surprised how people, anyone really, will lend a hand to help me navigate something. Washrooms are the biggest problem, you would be surprised how many I needed to use that do not have a simple thing like grab bars to make your life easier.

In Alberta my handicapped parking tag is good until 2030 and I do not have to pay anything for it. The big thing I needed it for was to open my car door as far as possible so I could get my legs out wity my limited range of motion. For that you need a wider parking space, regular spots are too narrow for me. That is getting betting though. Mobility is getting better and I can bend a bit more. Sometimes I do not take the good parking so I can prove to myself that one day I will not need those spots. My goal, one of my goals, in 2027 is to get to the point where I put the handicapped placard in the glove box and use regular parking spots. 

My Way

Photographed in Mendham, Saskatchewan.

Michael Truman

Past Presence Website