Well, the title is more or less the trip report 
I've been recovering from surgery to remove my gall bladder, and it has all been going well, and I haven't needed to take a painkiller for 6 days, so it was time to test out the recovery. The plan was for me and Jax (the dog) to park at one of the National Trust car parks and then see how far up the hill I could get before lack or fitness or pain caused me to turn back.
Halfway there (horizontally), but with the steep bit to come.
[/url]On the way up by Michael Kilner, on Flickr[/IMG]
The thing about a peak like the Sugar Loaf is that you can always see the top, so it drags you onwards, and it isn't steep until the end, when you feel it is too close for you to turn back. So, since I was feeling good, we made it all the way to the top. I have to say I felt enormously pleased and proud of myself having achieved this (summit at 596m), though the strong wind at the summit means I don't look like it.
[/url]The Horror at Fang Rock by Michael Kilner, on Flickr[/IMG]
The view to the north to the rest of the Black Mountains. They will wait for future trips, now that future trips seem to be a possibility once again.
[/url]The Black Mountains from Sugar Loaf by Michael Kilner, on Flickr[/IMG]
Jax takes in the view on the start of the descent. He has to be kept on a lead at all times because he considers sheep as things to chase and other dogs as things to start a fight with, regardless of the likely outcome of the fight.
[/url]Jax on the Sugar Loaf by Michael Kilner, on Flickr[/IMG]
I made it home safely, and so far the only bit that hurts is my shoulder from continuously hauling Jax back when he sets off after another sheep. If I don't react badly over the next few days to this unprecedented exercise, then I will consider myself fully recovered.
It was great to be outside again
I've been recovering from surgery to remove my gall bladder, and it has all been going well, and I haven't needed to take a painkiller for 6 days, so it was time to test out the recovery. The plan was for me and Jax (the dog) to park at one of the National Trust car parks and then see how far up the hill I could get before lack or fitness or pain caused me to turn back.
Halfway there (horizontally), but with the steep bit to come.
The thing about a peak like the Sugar Loaf is that you can always see the top, so it drags you onwards, and it isn't steep until the end, when you feel it is too close for you to turn back. So, since I was feeling good, we made it all the way to the top. I have to say I felt enormously pleased and proud of myself having achieved this (summit at 596m), though the strong wind at the summit means I don't look like it.
The view to the north to the rest of the Black Mountains. They will wait for future trips, now that future trips seem to be a possibility once again.
Jax takes in the view on the start of the descent. He has to be kept on a lead at all times because he considers sheep as things to chase and other dogs as things to start a fight with, regardless of the likely outcome of the fight.
I made it home safely, and so far the only bit that hurts is my shoulder from continuously hauling Jax back when he sets off after another sheep. If I don't react badly over the next few days to this unprecedented exercise, then I will consider myself fully recovered.
It was great to be outside again
