Tales of a Dumbass

Early in this blog “The Golden Years” described a thigh stinging hike to celebrate my 74th Bday.

Repeated that hike today. Invited a recent acquaintance who’s maybe 10 years younger than me.

Nice hike to the lower lake. Sitting in my favorite spot

I mentioned there was an old cabin and fresh water springs at the other end of this lake. My friend goes “I’m game, shall we do it?” In my memory it was a walk on fairly flat ground of about a mile. (Stupid memory! I so rely on you and you do this!?)

One and a half miles later after going over dozens of twenty-feet-up, twenty-back-down outcroppings we arrive

Don’t even ask me if it was worth it. I’m realizing I’m tired. And now I simultaneously realize I have to not only retrace the last 1.5 miles back to the lower lake, but I also have to go 4 more miles to the car.

We hike back to the lower lake. I’m tired. 4 miles to go. I’ve done this hike probably 50 times in the last 30 years. Gets harder every year.

My back hurts. My left hip joint is bothersome. I’m just struggling. Fuck! Hiking is fucking hard today!

Did finally make it back to the car - 2 hours on a descent I would normally do in 90 minutes.

Tired. 74 year old tired.

Arrived home exhausted. My lovely wife pours me a martini and after listening to my recounting of my day, asks. “Was it worth it?”

And I’m so “Fucking A! It was

Awesome!”

How does one make sense of that?