Recent travels and wobbly knees

 

Wife and I were fortunate enough to get to spend a week in New England last week. 

It all started when I told her over the summer I would like to take a fall trip, and I would like it to include a state I have not visited. She came up with one scenario that would have included South Dakota and North Dakota, both of which would have been new states; and a New England jaunt that would knock off only one new one, Rhode Island. 

We decided on New England and while I would have loved to mark off two states instead of one, the thought of New England in the fall was attractive. I think we made the right choice. 

We flew into Boston Friday night, October 11th. On Saturday we rented a car and drove to Lenox, Massachusetts, where we stayed until Monday the 14th. There in the heart of the Berkshires, the fall foliage was beautiful, and we enjoyed some scenic drives as well as visits to the Norman Rockwell Museum and "The Mount," which was once the home of author Edith Wharton. 

That was especially enjoyable since my book club read one of her books, "The House of Mirth," this year. I can't wait to share with the group members in December, when we do a recap of the year, that I visited The Mount. 

From the Berkshires it was on to Cape Cod, where we (ourselves and our car) boarded a ferry for Martha's Vineyard where we stayed until Wednesday. We loved exploring the island, walking along the coastline and visiting lighthouses (like the one pictured here). 

From Martha's Vineyard it was on to Newport, Rhode Island and a new state for me. The coastline there is beautiful, as are the old mansions with coastal views. 

It was a great trip and once I again, I am grateful to Wife for making the plans. 

The only negative involved my knees, which have been slowly deteriorating over the last year due to osteoarthritis. Injections have helped tremendously, as have the stationary bike riding and physical therapy I have been doing. 

But the fact is I cannot walk any significant distance anymore. On a trip like this one, ordinarily I would have hiked among the beautiful trees and certainly would have taken a long stroll on the Cliff Walk in Newport that goes along the coastline and in the shadow of the mansions there. I can only make it about a half mile before the discomfort (tightness in my knees) starts. 

To remedy this unfortunate situation, I will have knee replacement surgery early next year. I'll start with my right knee and, if all goes well, eventually have the left one done. 

Not how I would choose to spend my time, but I want to walk normally again. I will endure the short-term pain to accomplish this. I am told by my orthopedic surgeon that I am a good candidate for the surgery and will do even better if I continue the physical therapy exercises and bike riding before the surgery. I certainly plan to do so. 

Right now, I am enjoying the effects of the most recent injections. It does not enable me to walk distances as I would like to do, but it helps a lot and other than the inability to walk very far, I get around just fine. The other time I had it, in May, it lasted about four months. 

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As to the states I have left to visit, they are Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Iowa (be on the lookout, Ed), Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Delaware. I have been all around Delaware but have never step foot inside its borders. I should make it to Washington next year, to go to my last MLB park in Seattle, and maybe I'll make it to Oregon in the same trip. 

I hope to hit the 50th state within the next couple of years. We'll see. 😉