A Walk with Perspective

Another GFF "Walk There Again"

In another life (but it was only a year or two ago), when I was attempting to publish a blog nearly every day while doing everything else, I enjoyed writing about the hikes Tammy and I would take in some of the world’s beautiful places. I called that series “Walk There Again” because these were often trails or places we had visited before but had not documented with pictures and words.

Actually, the inspiration for the writing series came from our efforts to help Tammy rehabilitate after she had an Achilles tendon re-attached in 2022. We went on progressively more difficult walks as she challenged herself (within reason) to learn how to walk once again. And if you haven’t had your Achilles worked on, you can’t hope to fully understand the process. I watched and helped as I was able and I still can’t quite fathom how difficult the process was.

It probably goes without saying, but I had plenty of time to stop and capture images on those walks because Tammy couldn’t move all that quickly. Of course, I had to be ready to help anytime assistance was required. But, I still had plenty of time to look around and see what was asking for a picture to be taken.

We took another “walk there” this past weekend. And it was refreshingly different! For one thing, I found that Tammy had to wait for ME when I wanted to take a picture or two. I am not sure I can express how happy - and how alarmed - that made me.

Does this mean I can’t photograph our “walk theres” any more? The short answer - no.

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Perhaps I should set the stage a bit to help everyone understand better what I am writing about. After Tammy’s Achilles surgery in 2022, it became apparent that her hip (on the other side) had come out much worse for wear from the process. A combination of genetic predisposition, walking in a boot to see if the Achilles would clear up its own, and the extra strain of favoring the other side of the body took its toll.

It had become clear over the past year (and maybe sooner if we were willing to admit it) that the progress in improved mobility had stopped and was, in fact, going the wrong way. She was doing what she could to fight back - exercise and stretching, physical therapy, and over the counter pain medications. But sleep was becoming an issue. I noticed that she seemed to always be walking with a pronounced limp. Everyone else was noticing she was favoring that side. And she was progressively opting out of more activities that would require moving around the farm.

And hence, somehow sandwiched a hip replacement surgery into the backend of summer and the front end of her fall semester of teaching.

As is often the case when life is in upheaval, many things got put on hold. And then we tried to catch up as best we could while also doing all of the other things that were in front of us. All of this while doing what was needed to recover from another surgery.

As part of the rehabilitation process, we are again attempting to do some “Walk There Agains,” but it has been different this time around. The perspective on this side of hip surgery is very different - in both good and bad ways.

After the initial two to three weeks, where there was certainly surgical pain and care to be taken for the incision sites, it rapidly became very apparent that recovery was going to be much quicker than the Achilles surgery. To make a long story less long, it seemed like Tammy was already exceeding some of the things she could do before surgery at the six-week mark. There was still a definite need to improve strength and endurance, but she was no longer avoiding walking around the farm and participating in farm tasks.

Isn’t it funny how walking without pain can encouage a person to do more of it?

We made a choice to visit Backbone State Park near Strawberry Point and walk the East Lake Trail. This is a trail I know well, but I just realized that Tammy only knew a portion of it. I’ve actually walked it a couple of times when she opted to kayak the Maquoketa River. Kayaking is easier on the hip and she could still get out and enjoying nature. And since I’m not a big fan of being on the water, I opted for the walk.

This time, we made the radical decision to park at the South entrance with the intent of walking all the way up the trail…

And then back down again.

For perspective, our first walk on this trail after the Achilles surgery was to start at the top and go less than a quarter of the way down before coming back up. It’s possible that it took us as much time in 2022 to do that as it did for us to do this entire hike in 2024.

Our biggest decision this time was whether it was the best choice for us to take the time to make this trip and take this hike. We had (and still have) plenty that needs doing at the farm. We could have done something shorter and less challenging with less travel time. But, Tammy wanted a challenge and discarded a couple of other options as not being quite enough. And we really do like Backbone. So, off we went.

The weather was cool (mid 40’s) with occasional breeze. Conditions were primarily cloudy, though we had a moment where the sun visited (just one moment). Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees and the colors were predominantly browns and grays. There weren’t many people at the park or on the trail.

It was about as close to perfect as you could get.

Because Tammy walked the whole thing.

She didn’t limp. She didn’t need an extra hand to deal with some of the ups and downs on the trail. And she had to wait for me while I took a picture or three.

Early November in Iowa and the rest of late Fall into early Winter is often criticized for its lack of color. And I guess it makes sense because it is often preceded by the riot of reds, oranges and yellows of the changing leaves with a beautiful blue sky backdrop. If you walk from a day that has that wide range of vibrant hues into a grey, sunless land with a more limited pallette you’re bound to feel a little disappointed.

Until you start recognizing all of the textures.

The water of the river was grey and black, almost looking like a tar pit in some places if you let your imagination wander that direction. But this only seemed to emphasize the ripples and shadows on the water. The different styles of bark on the trees suddenly became much more interesting than they are when the trees wore their glorious leaf cover. Even dead and dying trees added a beautiful complexity to the textures that surrounded us.

One dead tree had shed some of its bark to reveal that it had succumbed to the Emerald Ash Borer (yes, it was an Ash tree). Another fallen tree was covered with fungi that had a complex pattern with a range of subtle colors.

And the lack of leaves made it easier for Tammy to see her “birthday present” that I order up for her every year during her birthday month. A Pileated Woodpecker.

Now before you all ask, I will not reveal my connection for ordering up Pileated Woodpecker sightings. I do not wish to overwhelm my “source” with these special requests. In this I will be selfish - even while I promote understanding and cooperation. Besides, if we all just find ways to increase the wild spaces around us - including forests - there will be more Pileated Woodpecker sightings because there will be more Pileated Woodpeckers.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Tammy and I made it up to the top of the trail and to the parking lot by the Backbone Trail entrance without too much trouble. Because we haven’t been taking this strenous of a walk/hike recently, we did feel some of the upward climb. We knew our legs would tell us about our choices later too.

But that’s another different perspective. WE both knew that EACH of us were going to really feel this hike. But it wasn’t going to be because I had to twist and turn and pivot to offer a hand every so many steps. And it wasn’t going to be due to the extraordinary effort that was required of Tammy as she rehabbed the Achilles or fought the pain of her hip.

It was going to be because we took a good honest walk in the woods together.

And Tammy had to wait for me to take a picture of an old dead stump. And the ripples in the black water. And the painted rocks with positive messages we found along the trail.

And I am fairly certain we will walk there again.