I had hoped I might at least acquire some superpowers, or a glow in the dark party trick as a consequence of being irradiated at a dodgy-looking backstreet x-ray clinic, one situated somewhat ominously next to a funeral parlour…. I looked at the label on the machine as the radiographer tried to get me into just the right position for a chest x-ray. “Korea – 2011” it said so no such luck. Probably just as well.
Yesterday I enjoyed the excellent company of a German chap passing through on his bike enroute to Patagonia. Conversations and time over coffee lifted my spirits immensely but this morning as I write I feel quite different. I try not to write introspectively and make this blog one long self-absorbed ramble, but it is also a good place for putting some of the thoughts that are troubling me outside of myself and in that respect can be quite therapeutic.
A few days ago I found a very good health clinic and saw a super doc very quickly for just 50 soles (£11). He sent me off for x-rays and also a sputum test. Happily I have no deep seated infection lingering but I do have bronchitis, likely from the flight from the UK, with the additional complication that, probably as a consequence of what happened last year, I have a narrowing of my bronchial tubes that is causing the shortness of breath and excess mucus. It’s to do with being asthmatic, the spasm happened and hasn’t ever really resolved. I have a steroidal drug (eye-wateringly expensive without health service subsidies to manufacturer pricing) to take for a month that hopefully will help. As I write there is one seat left on the BA flight from Lima to the UK next Wednesday and I have a feeling I’m going to book it. The longer I stay here not knowing what to do, while still feeling a bit rubbish, the lower my morale sinks and the more tired and depressed I become. I rested 3 weeks last year and that didn’t work out. I have no reason to think this year would be any different. Being asthmatic does make chest infections more problematic and riding at altitude makes any ailment 20x worse, I need to be 100% fit to ride here and I’m scared of doing some long-lasting damage. I’ve learned that when I feel like this the best thing to do is take positive action and move on. Buying that flight feels like the most sensible option. I will return home, get fit, and move some of my plans for Spain and/or Greece for next year to this autumn and hope to be able to return and close this chapter of the Andes some time in the future. A possibility that feels more remote should I push on prematurely. I have way more work to do than I wanted this summer, a consequence of difficult to contain scope growth on projects this past few months, so I can clear my desk and make the autumn a proper holiday. I feel quite upset but deep inside I feel it is the best way forward. Summer in Cornwall will be OK… friends, bikes, kayaks etc.
In the meantime, as usual… pictures!
Summer in SW Scotland for you.
i need to do something. i feel quite choked up and depressed but i think i did the right thing.
Sensible in the circumstances. Honey launch next Monday!!
awesome. lets go sailing.
Bad luck, Mike, but keeping fit is mandatory in your line of sport. Hope that you clear the passages and get the wind asytem back to top form. nothing a couple of good paties on’t cure. Do you remember French the baker? His were the best I have ever tasted…drool, drool.
Take care of yourself, there are very few of us left!
Ed
cheers Ed! yep, just a glitch really… already making (re) plans. A pasty when I’m back in Cornwall is mandatory I think. I have a vague memory of French but very very vague. Long time ago….
Mike … you poor bugger! And given that things didnt work out for the flight over- especially as it’s made you sick- PM your return flight details when theyre booked and I’ll see if I can smooth the travel arranegments for you! Making a positive decision to manage the situation is always better than pressing on! Stay safe chief!
I’ll email :-)
Nobody is going to say it? Chicken!!!
Actually, it is probably the opposite… I would have stubbornly remained in Peru, not having the guts to take that smart and brave decision you took.
Now, Summer in Cornwall… isn’t that a bit of an oxymoron? 😀
Cheers, see you next year somewhere in America
ha, i lay awake all night last night worrying about whether I had made the right decision. being stubborn last year didn’t really work out so yeh, rather than miss “summer in Cornwall” i decided to pack. my chest is getting much better but it’s not right and there’s a big difference between sitting in a cafe at 8000ft and riding a bike at 15,000ft. i could end up with that bastard chronic cough again.
actually it would be ace to catch up in s america. i guess it’ll be a while before you know when you’re likely to arrive here.
You have made the best decision all things considered Mike..retuning home to recuperate with new ideas is the best thing you could do. See you soon Mike.
Go home, Mike. Good health keeps you alive, bad health does not.
David B. will soon be on his way to Canada – in Ontario we are currently in a heatwave situation, much like it has been in England. Three cheers for air conditioning.
Alma
my friends in Montreal have been complaining about the heat. I understand it has been rather warm!
You have so many choices Mike without the need to go into the rarified air. Meanwhile, for me, it’s Canada here I come. When I get back we have a date booked for sailing in Honey – just like old times.
See you when I do.
David
ah excellent, look forward to it. in the meantime safe travels!