#27 - Back in the USA- May 19, 2000

Except for the crags of Monserrat, Spain seemed to be either wine or olive country. Gibraltar has two sides - the one we stayed one with seagulls circling constantly and the town side with the more gradual slopes. The most exciting thing that happened in Gibraltar was watching 78 year old unflappable Elbert get incensed when his dessert portion was much smaller than everyone else's. He was quickly placated when two of us tasted coffee in the cake and gave him our pieces. Portugal was a non-event. The flight to DC was by far the closest we've come to leaving on-time. In fact, we got to DC a half-hour ahead of schedule.

Which brings this update to the important stuff. In the last update I mentioned seeing Dr Stephen A. Smith, a sports medicine doctor at Metro Orthopedic and Sports Therapy in Silver Springs, Maryland. The next day I went in for physical therapy. I thought it was just to get a series of exercises to do. It turned out to be more. After Colleen went thru the exercises and stretches, she turn to working on my shoulder. Don't let her young Jackie Kennedy looks fool you. Colleen practices the ultimate in tough love. While another therapist held my scapula in place, Colleen reefed on my arm. She lifted it to points beyond pain. She painfully popped it thru the scar tissue, then pushed it painfully higher. After all the pain she inflicted, my arm had a vastly improved range of motion. On Thursday, May 18, 2000, I rode 73.58 miles climbing 4260ft from Washington, DC to Freeland, Maryland. I'M BACK ON ODYSSEY!!

Happy Trails,
Bruce