The Thumb Stick.

I love my hiking stick or thumb stick as I call it. I am convinced the little bit of a push it gives me as I walk really does make a great difference in allowing me to walk further than I would without it. I take it everywhere that Mia the German Shepherd and I go for our walks. I wouldn't be without it.

Do you remember I told you I had stopped taking the statins because I thought they were making my muscles weaker? Well, things have continued to improve without them. It is an odd situation because it was the pain in my calves, caused, the consultant said by poor circulation, that persuaded me to try the statins in the first place. I am now of the opinion that they did indeed help me when I first started taking them. For a month or two the pain did go away but then it began to come back and it gradually got to the stage where I could not walk more than a couple of hundred yards before I had to stop and rest. I stopped taking them. A few weeks later I was walking easier again and later almost pain free.

The day before yesterday. Sunday it was. Mia the German Shepherd and I drove to the woods. Actually, I did the driving, she just navigates. As we arrived and parked, a couple were just finishing their walk. They had a big dog with them and as Mia the GS can be a bit unpredictable in her pre-walk excitement I held onto her tightly and waited until the couple and their dog had driven off.

It was a mild day weather-wise albeit a little soggy underfoot but we set off at a good pace with Mia the GS deviating occasionally to chase a squirrel. We must have walked a mile or so when it suddenly occurred to me. What a cracking pace I was walking. Pain free too. This sudden realisation pleased me so much that I began walking even faster. After a while I stopped to take a photo of Mia the GS playing in the leaves. After taking the photo I looked about for my thumb stick. I always drop it beside me when I am taking a photo. Where is it? Where did I put the thumb stick? Then it dawned on me.

I hadn't taken it with me! It was still in the van. Being distracted by the couple with their dog as we set off, I had completely forgotten about taking it.

So, I had walked a good couple of miles at a fair old pace and hadn't felt any discomfort whatsoever even without my trusty stick to take some of the burden.

Mia the German Shepherd.

I tell you. I felt good that day. Just to think, I had almost come to terms with the fact my walking days were over for good not so very long ago. Now here I am preparing my little camper van so Mia the GS and I can travel further afield and find lots of different walks. Doctors, consultants, what do they know?

I shall keep using my thumb stick (unless I forget) because it does also come in handy for balance when fording a stream or bashing down brambles and nettles.

It's a funny old world!