Exercise

After seeing the new doctor last week, I felt like a freeze had been melted on my exercise (or lack of it). I think it just put me in the right frame of mind to get back to what I needed to improve my health. Anyway, I have started back to riding my bicycle again since that’s what I most enjoy for exercise. In recent months the only other significant exercise had been swimming some of the time I took my client (as a carer) to the pool.

I had to prepare a bit before riding as my bike’s been sitting unused on our patio for a long time. The tires were flat and it was very dusty. It’s also been rusting more and more after being outdoors for so long. I want to get a new bike some time and give this one away. I’m sure someone more able to could fix it up just fine and it would be great for someone.

A local highway has been extended near us and some parts have already opened. There’s a lovely bike/pedestrian path that runs alongside it and it goes halfway to another suburb that is kind of out in the country. But not really in the country any more. Just not quite city either. Anyway, I wanted to try out the new path and it seemed I could get there without too much trouble from home. So I tried it out and it’s lovely. Mostly flat and straight so there was little strain on my knee. That’s been what has put me off riding a lot because I just hadn’t had strength for riding up and down hills like I had been doing. I was able to keep a steady pace without getting too sore. At one point the path loops around and goes under the highway. This part runs alongside a road which I can’t identify yet. I think it might be one that goes to a local Aboriginal community but there’s no signage in that area to be sure. Anyway, the path continues on the other side and then it ends abruptly near the remaining construction on the road. It will be good when it’s finished because there will be an easy way to get to the next regular suburb in that direction.

On the way back I realised there’s an overpass for cyclists and pedestrians being created. It’s mostly done but the paving isn’t completed. Also from this direction there will soon be open good paths to reach Whiteman Park near us. I have gone there by bike in the past but it was scary to ride alongside the sometimes heavy traffic. Now there’s a pathway going straight to the park and into the park. Much safer now. The highway is supposed to be opening the section closer to us this weekend so I hope to make a journey to Whiteman Park soon, unless the pathway is still blocked.

I’ve done two bike rides and have done swimming this week, which is far better exercise than I’ve done for a while. It’s one of those things where it’s easier to continue once I get going on a regular basis. I’m hoping that I can keep it up. I’ll be seeing my new gp for follow up on Monday and hopefully that will help keep the momentum going.