I've been plagued by a bum right knee since last Friday. It bothered me then on a hike from the ski hill to Pipeline Road. I started on Kwage Mesa Saturday but couldn't continue more than one half mile because it felt like my knee cap stiffened and became extremely painful. I slowly walked back, doing my best imitation of Tim Conway 's "slow old man"! The problem was triggered by any downhill. A friend said she had the same problem year's back while hiking down Wheeler Peak. She called it downhill knee.
Sunday night, I couldn't walk more than a mile pain-free but could walk 2 miles pain-free on Monday night - just on the flat, back and forth to the airport. Today, because I badly want to go on the Valle Canyon hike tomorrow, I went to FR181/American Springs Road. Amazingly, I was able to walk four miles without pain, even downhill. I used two poles to strategically off load my weight onto the poles on the downhill, I didn't walk fast and, on the advice of my friend, carried a big ACE bandage, just in case. I didn't need it.
Tomorrow, it's supposed to rain. I want to carry my big golf umbrella as well as use both ski poles. On FR181, I found a bungee cord which I've now used to strap my umbrella to the walking stick. I will be prepared!
FR181 tidbits: The NM locust and wild rose lend such a spicy aroma to the road. Some of the rose bushes are so loaded with flowers that I just stopped in my tracks and drank in their beauty. I see that there will be plenty of raspberries along the road this summer. I hope I can devour some. I stopped to look at a party spot - lots of trash strewn around and, oddly, a box full of unopened, formerly frozen, Sysco Fruits of the Forest pies. Must have been some party! Was passed by an open jeep with 3 men/boys and a toddler, fast asleep in his car seat. Saw them having fun splashing through puddles. Luckily, I wasn't near enough to get a mud bath! Picked a plant that might be the Veronica which my friend says grows near American Springs. It got so wilted, it may be impossible to revive and identify it. Also picked a small myrtle spurge plant to throw away - it's an invasive.
Was wonderful to be able to walk without pain. I resolved to walk that road into my 100's! ; D