The aftermath

After a long day yesterday, I'm struggling today with the aftereffects on my spine. Despite the lingering pain today, I loved the Mark Knopfler concert. Seeing and hearing such a guitar virtuoso is a treat. Moreover, I find it inspirational to observe someone who is so passionate about his calling. He obviously loves making music and was born to do it. I think that having passion like his is what life is all about.

This morning, I woke up feeling like my neck would never turn again because the long drive and the concert hurt it. It still dumbfounds me that I am capable of so many active pursuits but anything that involves staying still (sitting, standing, or even lying down) causes me pain. Normally, I just avoid things that require staying still but I broke that rule yesterday (for good reason!).

I rolled out onto the trails with K this morning, hoping that riding would have its usual magical effect. We had an easy and flowing mountain bike ride. Pedaling worked its magic and my muscles started releasing their spasms.

We stopped to enjoy a view that showed storms already brewing.
While we were stopped, I noticed a buzz of activity around the Pasqueflowers. They timed their blooming perfectly as flying pollinators have just appeared. One blossom had a bee gorging itself on the nectar.
And, a ladybug and a fly enjoyed the second blossom. If you magnify either photo, you can see the pollen sticking to the bugs' bodies preparing them to pollinate another bloom.
After we got moving again, K and I explored a deer/lion trail and found pine-needle cushioned bed where snowy tracks have shown that a mountain lion likes to lie in ambush. I've been debating whether to put a wildlife camera here because I don't want to give away the lion's ambush spot. However, I have a 'covert' cam (the infrared flash is almost invisible) that I'm getting very tempted to put on this trail. K didn't look too comfortable with sitting next to his scraped out bed!
After riding with K, I took the two pups for a hike and the horizon looked beautifully tumultuous.
As we hiked, we crossed a churned elk path where the entire herd had marched very recently. I took advantage of the opportunity to practice recalls with the Labraduo in the presence of very tempting and strong elk scent.

On one of his recalls, I thought that R had decided to veer away from me and head for someplace more exciting.
But, he resisted temptation and corrected his course.
We followed the elk path over hill and dale. They have a secret route up a north-facing slope that winds among the snowbanks! We climbed and climbed, never stepping in snow, all the way to the ridgetop. I think that our wildlife must have amazing spacial memories, with detailed topo maps inscribed in their brains.

Along the way, we found the remains of an elk kill from much earlier this winter. Fur covered the ground but the coyotes had dispersed the bones over a large area. The elk use this route so regularly that I'm guessing that lions lie and patiently await the elk when the herd is nearby.

We finished our hike by clambering through a boulder ridge. As I hiked below the line of boulders, R suddenly appeared above me, like a gloriously handsome jet black statue.
Now, it's time for yet another walk. My neck and low back muscles are screaming. My motto is, when in pain, get moving! I guess that my recovery isn't complete - a theme that my wise physical therapist keeps emphasizing.