I kept working and gaining but I still felt pretty horrible most of the time. Of course I was still weening myself off pain meds. I had switched to a 10mg. Hydrocodone when I moved to Thompson Falls. These were much weaker than the Oxycontin I had been taking. I started with 5 a day and they barely helped.
  I kept cutting back, sometimes against my better judgement. I know it sounds like a broken record but it just felt like I would die of pain or exhaustion the whole time.

 But nothing on earth, including me, was going to stop me from getting healthy and back to boat. I was putting on the fight of my life and I had my mind made up.

 Spring came. I was still struggling but I was getting strong again. I decided what I needed was to start hiking. I got prepared and one Sat. I went hiking up a nearby forest service trail. I parked at the bottom.
 I took my time. The wood ticks were out in force and it was a strain but I made 3 miles before the phone rang.

  It was Barbara checking on me. I told her how far I had gone and she got concerned about me getting back. I thought about it. Decided she might be right. I know I have the ability to overdue it if not careful.. Good thing I headed back. I was in such bad shape over a mile from vehicle that if I sat down to rest I knew I would not make it. Made it. Felt so exhausted and hurt I wanted to puke. Had trouble getting in vehicle let alone drive the 2 miles back home. I took these pictures up around the 5500 ft. level. Thompson falls is about the 2400ft. level. It is down around the river but the digital image seems to wash out some in the bright sun