Hard to believe that our summer is coming to a close, but it is. Biggest news for us here is the canoe trip Lesley and I took in July along the US/Canadian border. We allowed 8 days to paddle about 30 miles and do 9 portages which is the land between lakes you must carry all of your gear between. A few of them were most challenging, hilly, rocky, long, one was called Monument portage because it had three official monuments showing the US/Canadian border. We really don't need to see that one again, it was very steep, rocky and about 700 yards long. I am proud to say Lesley carried the food barrel (a hard plastic barrel to keep bears and other critters out of your food). It was the heavyest of the packs, I carried the canoe and one pack. We took two trips to carry all the gear. Lesley only fell once, I fell twice. No harm done, just another challenge to overcome. We made the trip in five days, not the eight we expected. Saw a bear, ate fish, got rained on, saw a double rainbow afterwords, and had a great time. Already planning next years trip. We did learn that in the future we will do what we call "base camping". The moving every few days was tedious and a bit more than we want to do now. Since we had not done this type of trip since my stroke and I am now 67 and Lesley 62, the real purpose of the trip was to see if we could still do it. The answer is positive.

I tried to create a new photo album to show the trip for this blog and finally gave up in frustration, if anyone can help show me how I will post the pic's here. All I could get is that I am not authorized. I did it before, what am I missing?

Lesley is now in New Zealand preparing a 90th birthday party for her mum. Mum will be 90 Sept 3rd. Amazing lady, still drives, albeit not at night and not out of the local area, and lives alone in her own house. I am here with the dogs, and doing "honey do" projects around the house and getting in some late summer fishing, which has been very good this year.

Longtime readers will remember my posting a picture of me lifting my canoe the first time I could after having my stroke. This trip we just took was the culmination of all the effort put into recovery. It has taken over five years, but the results are worth it. I have noticed that I am still getting stronger. I built up significant muscle on the left side (stroke side) during the trip. Shoulder pain is a thing of the past. I am now feverishly working to keep and improve on it. My Bowflex exercise machine and I are good friends again. I know the sands of time are working against me, but I am determined to forestall the effects of aging as long as I can! Sue, I hope this gives some answer to what you mused about a few blogs ago about how we should live life and is it worth climbing the the mountains. I can now say that the triumphs overcome the valleys.

My main concern now is that not all of those who read this will see similar recoveries. I know some who worked harder than I and have little to show for it. This gives me concern about whether I have anymore to contribute to this forum. My recovery is not 100%, but it is to the point where I can do most of what I want to. The last thing I want is for some who have had less recovery than I for whatever reason to feel envy or resentment towards me and wonder "why him and not me" and for my blogs to contribute to any frustration or discouragement they are feeling. I remember the dark days of being in a wheelchair and fighting to suppress such feelings in rehab. It is an issue that really concerns me.