I used to ride. I have a suzuki Z400 ATV and I had a yamaha XT225 enduro. I havent been able to ride in a few years. It hurts too much. My friends and family go to Glamis to ride many times throughout the winter and I dont go anymore. It's too crummy to sit at camp, watching them take off for rides, so I just stay home and feel sorry for myself. If you can do it, even for short rides with lots of breaks, go for it! I hear South Dakota's beautiful and staying in a cabin sounds like a blast!

I am excited for you and yea sure maybe the bike ride will hurt but look at it as a good hurt and well worth it, would be better then home cleaning and hurting from that and be on a harley is so much better.

Take this nine days to just relax and try not to think about the pain and take walks and eat out or over the fire and do things that will be easier for you.

Have fun

i agree with manny i always deside if the pain is worth it i hope you have wonderful time . hugs minnie

I hate vacation. Family just does not understand. They push and push and push regardless that it makes me hurt worse to run from here to there and back again.'

vacation is a horrible plan to make the ill feel even worse about themselves invented by some evil genius doctor in the dark ages!!!

Only kidding!

I hope that you enjoy your time away, just make yourself a "spiney traveling kit". Ice packs on collapsable cooler so they available on the road, a lumbar and cervical pillows, I got mine at Big Lots really cheap. You can also try to find a foldable "relax the back chair" (Big Lots), it is the best chair for someone with spinal issues, since it craddles your back.

Of course plenty of meds! Have a wonderful time!

i can identify wholeheartedly with the subject line of this post.

i leave monday, early on a plane with my 3.5 year old. it's never easy just going through that part. the luggage alone puts me down for a couple of days. the four hour drive to the cabin at above 8000 feet is also torture. but, we do it each summer. we have my whole life, it's just that last year i started a rapid decline into pain that doesn't remit.

we're doing it, goddammit, and were going to have fun if it kills me. problem is- i know it's going to kill me. i've been nervous about the entire endeavor for months. i can't do even the limited things i could do last year and my stamina has been decreasing. i just want to be a good mom, a fun mom and show my daughter what our legacy and heritage based inheritance is really about. the way it was shown to me. i'm just afraid that next year, in a wheel chair, i will have to forgo the whole endeavor so the pressure to make this mom and daughter and parent vacation full and amazing is really on. like donkey kong. i've got to be functional. i've got to.

i identify with your fear and sorrow.

with care,
jen

sunnybun, i hate to admit that i can relate to your words, sarcastic or not. my mother is in denial of my spinal problems because she has spent 51 years of her life dealing with my father's many surgeries, long recoveries and chronic pain.

it's almost a point of anger for her. how dare i become my dad? how dare i inherit these genes. to put is short and keep it sweet.. she drinks a lot.

that's when the hate for her life as a constant caretaker comes in.
i ask very little from them and even though my husband and i are on our own and almost above water, i still do yard work, maintain peace and take care of their complicated instructions while i am in the state of mind and body that i can. it isn't fair.

for any of us. ans she's been on a month long tear to make us all aware of it. if there could be a worse time to go to the middle of nowhere and shack up with my daughter and my parents, i'm not sure i could imagine it. i think i'm in deep doo doo.

but, if i don't go... that would be almost a terrorist assault to family peace.

so off we all go. f summer in the a.

-jen

I drove the car over to my son's a couple of Sundays ago,My George got a newer motorcycle,and my son of course rides a Harley,He so hates to see me unhappy and in pain,so we took a very nice ride around the lake never his home,It didn't hurt this time,I was tired when we got back,George Drove me home in the car and I then took a muscle relaxer and changed my Fentanyl patch 12,5 mg.and I did fine for a change and I made my son Happy.So maybe if you time a ride out right you'll do fine.Smooth roads help lots.Gentle Hugs enjoy your self.

The vibration of riding a Harley can be like a butt massage. I rode recently and did ok. And my worst area is my butt. So give it a try and let me know how the new pillow works I might get me one.

Have fun hope for the best take care of yourself. Pace yourself and you'll have a blast.

Healing hugs

Hi Honor we haven't talked in a while and it's good to see you!

Hey go enjoy your vacation for me! I haven't been any where forever! LOL! Just know your limitations when you go. Tell hubby you can't handle long rides on the bike, but go for short ones. He can go for a long one and you can rest while he's gone.

It'll all work out. I have a friend who went to S. D. and showed me slides of her trip and it was gorgeous! I really think you'll enjoy it. Just do what Tipper said and load up on ice packs, heating pads, etc... and you'll be set up for a great time.

Happy trails to you,
Toni

I hope you have fun.
David.

All I know is I am going to big lots today to get that chair as I am sure it would be great for all outdoor stuff and the spine kit is a good idea.

Make it a good one, if you go with the idea stuck in your head it is going to suck and hurt it just as well be that but just try to go with enthusiasm in your mind and it might not be so bad, sure it may still hurt but think of getting to that hurt as fun in a way.

I am dying to go on some kind of vacation, just do not know if I can afford it this year and if hubby can get some time off.

I got my 170$ butt pad for the harley! I took a short ride, it did help some, cause I have a bony butt!but hard to tell if it will help me be able to go on a longer ride. thanks for everyones encouragment.

Looks like I got out of it for the time being, YEAH!

I swear by an ice bag and a hot water bottle. Sure saved me when we went on the cruise. The room steward filled my ice bag morning and evening. My hubby went up top to lido to get hot water from the coffee machine. The relax a back chairs at big lots if they are still there are just great we have two.

Honor I hope you will have a good time.

Jen sending big positive thoughts your way. Also laughing at the thought of you with all the toddler stuff and then the spiney kit.

Hugs