Never Smooth Sailing.....

21st May 2022

I have to say I am enjoying the packing process. Always at my happiest when I am sorting out a box of junk, our camping gear has been sorted, filed, serviced, tested and packed in big plastic boxes AND to complete my joy… labeled! Sigh, it was great. I spent Thursday doing this and making a list of the little things that need to be purchased like mantles for the lantern and wine. (Sorry, wine should not be on that list. Wine is a big and important thing.)
 Mike spent Thursday playing cricket after a long gap away from the sport. Some old teammates heard he was retired and invited him to play at an annual game in Chemainus. He left home at the crack of dawn with a truck full of smelly sports gear, a large mug of tea, a couple of guys from the team and a big smile on is face. As much as I love him, I was excited to indulge myself alone in the garage with a growing mess of gear turning it into neatly organized luggage. The day held as much promise for me as it did for him. In the late afternoon I had one of those text messages that makes time stop for a moment and ones heart miss a beat. Mike had injured his leg whilst bowling his last over. He tends to understate things so when he told me he heard a pop as he went down, I was really worried. Fortunately, there was at least one retired doctor on the team who pulled strapping bandages out of his cricket bag and both he and Mike agreed he had torn a calf muscle. He arrived home much later that night and it was obvious he could not walk unaided. He still can not but after a full day resting in bed, he can at least get to the bathroom in less than 10 minutes using a walking stick.
The injury could have been so much worse, it could have been his heart that mutinied after too long away from the sport, he could have torn an ACL or broken a finger like he has in the past. This is unfortunate and inconvenient, but I still have Mike and we are still heading out on the trip on schedule. Never a docile patient, I was concerned that he stayed in bed without protest and slept most of the day, but he is back to his usual self today. I think the most healing thing was spending the late afternoon with our little granddaughter. Nothing makes you feel better quicker than baby cuddles and she is such a sweet natured child you can feel your heart grow two sizes when you are with her.
So, guess who will be packing the truck, driving, walking the dog, setting up camp, cooking the meals fetching the water, striking the camp and moving on whist himself supervises from his camp chair? He will owe me after this. Let me think…. I don’t think I have any rubies. What? I can dream can’t I! At least Toby-the-dog will help with the washing up, he is a master of the prewash.
I do enjoy a challenge and it seems the fates enjoy a good laugh. I now need to go and get some hiking poles for Mike so he can navigate long walks to campsite bathrooms. I got out his grandfather’s beautiful 100 year old wooden walking stick right away, but I think it makes him feel a bit old. Ah well, at lease the sun is shining…. For now.