Great to be back on my Sterling...

[rafiki]

After a harrowing time recently I took a ride out on my Sterling this morning, the first for a couple of months. In April I was diagnosed  with a malignant melanoma on my right leg just under the back of my knee. They shaved off the melanoma for biopsy and after confirming its malignancy they took away another centimetre of muscle beneath it just in case and, for good measure, whipped out a couple of lymph nodes from the groin above to check for any spread. Fortunately the excised centimetre and  the lymphs all tested negative for any spread. The stitches have taken ages to heal and the groin has been very sore. Fortunately both are now getting better so I ventured out only on tarmac today for just under half an hour and 7.08 km. The groin felt OK but I could feel there is a bit of muscle missing in the leg BUT IT WAS GREAT TO BE RIDING AGAIN!!! I'll keep on with that short route for a week and then start extending if all feels OK. Wish me luck

[expr]

Good to see you are back on the mend, I bet you enjoyed the ride on the bike. It allways seems different after a long stint off.

My wife has just gone through breast cancer over the last year, and its been a difficult time. The treatment and care has all been excellent from Macclesfield hospital.

Best wishes to you.

Dave.

[rafiki]

Thanks Dave, yes, I had excellent and very prompt care from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge before we finally left last week to live permanently in Spain. The real hero is my GP who spotted this insignificant mark and recognised it for what it was whilst I was there for an unconnected matter.

Yes it was great, and very exhilarating to be back in the saddle again.

Hope your wife is on the road to full recovery too. One looks at life very differently when this sort of thing arises as I'm sure you know too.

Cheers,

Brian.

[expr]

That's very true, we have both changed many of our outlooks and the way in which we judge things.

Wow moving to Spain ! no more pac a mac journeys I guess, but plenty of t-shirts, I wish you the best of luck for the future, let us all know what the cycling is like over there with may be a pic or two.

Regards

Dave.

[julk]

rafiki,
Great news that you are back in action.
Best wishes for a full recovery and a peaceful residence in Spain, I hope you enjoy it dry and sunny!

The NHS is pretty good when you need to call on it. I had skin cancer 10 years ago, all clear now. I recently had a prostate op and was also off the bike for a while, you do miss it when you cannot get on a bike.
Julian.

[rafiki]

Dave,

I will. We have lived in Spain on and off for the past 5 years whilst I was semi-retired but now I am fully retired we've made the move permanent. The Sterling has been here since I bought it in May 2009. It's no great change for us really, my wife is Dutch and we lived in East Africa for 13 years so we are used to being ex-pats. The sun is nice though

[rafiki]

rafiki,
Great news that you are back in action.
Best wishes for a full recovery and a peaceful residence in Spain, I hope you enjoy it dry and sunny!

The NHS is pretty good when you need to call on it. I had skin cancer 10 years ago, all clear now. I recently had a prostate op and was also off the bike for a while, you do miss it when you cannot get on a bike.
Julian.

Thanks Julian. Yes, the NHS are very good in emergencies. They even slotted me in at 7.30am for my op because I was on a schedule to move.

I missed my bike so much when it was impossible to ride.

Cheers,

Brian.

[Relayer]

Good luck rafiki, you deserve the best retirement after that.  That must have been horrible, more than I can imagine.

[Fred A-M]

Good luck with the move.  Where abouts in Spain?  Very envious whereever because I guess you're never going to be far from some decent cycling ventures.

[rafiki]

Good luck rafiki, you deserve the best retirement after that.  That must have been horrible, more than I can imagine.

Thanks. It certainly introduces a new outlook on life.

[rafiki]

Good luck with the move.  Where abouts in Spain?  Very envious whereever because I guess you're never going to be far from some decent cycling ventures.

Thanks Fred. Move completed, even got our first visitors already!

We are in a small village on the top edge of the Doņana national park about 45km south west of Seville. Great for cycling, superb for bird watching. There is a huge network of dirt roads through the rice fields and around the park where I cycle most days. Nice to stop and listen to the silence!

[Fred A-M]

As I said very envious - did my first Thorn RST tour in Andalucia - starting in Seville, Sierra Morena, Cordoba, Granada, Sierra Nevada, back to Granada - lots of stunning scenery.  Would definitely recommend a few trips around the Sierra Morena to the north of Seville.  Would be interested to see pics of the Donana national park!

[rafiki]

Thanks for the pointers Fred. Will post pictures when I can sort a few out.