UPDATE

February 25, 2013

This is a brief update as it has been a long time since I have entered anything on the Blog. The reason for my neglect has been mainly because there has not been much to report. At least not until recently. I saw my oncologist last Friday. She reported all appeared well. My blood work is stable and there is nothing to be concern there. You will recall that I was having trouble with maintaining a high platelet count, but that seems to be okay now. However, I am going to have to undergo further tests, specifically a mammogram, for  a lump that has developed in my left breast. This has been scheduled for this coming Thursday. New challenges ahead?? 

Despite this recent development, I still feel great. I am handling the side effects of my medication well. I am upbeat and enjoying life. 

In the meantime I have undertaken to walk and walk and walk on almost a daily basis. I have always liked hiking and recently the urge to challenge myself more in this endeavour has been growing. As a result I have taken to training 2 to 3 hours a day by pounding the  slushy streets of Ottawa. I am looking forward to doing some hikes in Arizona next month once I get the usual tests out of the way. I hope to hike parts of the Bruce Trail this summer with Peggy and my daughter Kristine. I have even started thinking about adding the trail around Juan de Fuca Straits on the West Coast to my list. Of course the ultimate would be to stroll (?) the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It is still in the back of my mind. We'll see. To encourage me to maintain the momentum I have joined the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the Rideau Valley Trail Association. Now all I need to see is Spring to come early.

Oh! I should mention that I want to throw in some biking in between hikes? There are quite a few biking tours in Europe that are enticing, and of course there is a week’s ride that we are planning with cousins in Pennsylvania in June. 

Looking back at what I have written, I’d better go take my daily nap. I’m tired!