SOME SAD NEWS

 Here is a message sent today by Chris.

Today we bid farewell to Irv. He passed on peacefully and was surrounded by his family.

This photo was taken on his beloved St Croix at sunrise the morning of the day he fell and sustained a brain bleed. Complications from that event proved to be insurmountable in spite of his persistent attempts to recover. We will miss you dearly, Irv.

MORE ON IRV'S RECOVERY

 Here's another update from Chris concerning Irv's recovery.

Day 44 at Mayo St Mary’s Hospital. Irv moved out of the ICU and is on a regular medical unit! They will watch him for a day or two and then develop a “next steps” plan.

ANOTHER IRV UPDATE

As many of you know, Irv had a setback and had to return to ICU.  However, this update from Chris sounds encouraging.

 Finally! Irv is awake and alert. The breathing tube was removed yesterday. If all goes well he will move out of the ICU tomorrow to a regular unit so he can begin physical and speech therapy. The neurologist is optimistic about cognitive recovery close to how he was prior to the brain bleed. Since he’s been bedridden for 40 days, the physical recovery will take months.

These days have been an unsettling rollercoaster ride. And we’re hopeful now for a smoother ride going forward.

Thank you all for your ongoing support, concern and prayers.

KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING FOR IRV'S RECOVERY, AND GOD BLESS CHRIS FOR BEING WITH HIM THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES.

ANOTHER IRV UPDATE

 FROM CHRIS

Big day! After 3 weeks, Irv moved out of the ICU to a “step-down” unit. He will be there until they clear him for a physical therapy unit.

UPDATE ON IRV

Chris posted this update.  For those of you who do not use Faceboook, I thought being informed on the blog would let everyone know how Irv is doing.

Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

 The doctors were certainly correct when they said Irv’s recovery will be slow. Two weeks after his successful craniotomy he FINALLY had the breathing tube removed this morning. He immediately began breathing on his own! His respiration will be closely monitored for a few hours and if all goes well, he will be transferred from ICU to a transitional unit before going to rehab.

Thank you all for your concern and prayers.

REPORT FROM FLORIDA

 It's been cool here, too! For a few of the cooler days, the natives were dressed in parkas and fur hats.  However, since I know what you Iowa natives have been through temperature wise at times, I'm not going to dwell on the weather.  I'll inform you about some of the rides I have taken.  I have not played any golf yet.  The back seems a little "twingy" at times, so I plan to try that carefully since my daughter, Beth, and grand girls, June and Mabel, gave me a gift certificate to Top Golf for Christmas, I'll try that first.

We arrived in Panama City Beach on New Years Eve day, so I was able to join the Ft. Walton bikers for a 200 mile ride on New Years Day.  We traveled the backroads from Freeport, FL, to Enterprise, AL, where we feasted at Shane's Barbeque.  For you Ruptured Rooster fans, we actually traveled through Coffee County in Alabama, but we did not stop for any brews.  It's amazing how much more scenery one gets to see when not having to lead!

We have taken a number of rides on our own, so I thought I might try to highlight a few of those.  There are a couple of things that fascinate me down here.  One is their bridges, and they have some "big ass" ones.  The other is live oak trees with their mossy limbs and their uncanny ability to withstand the hurricanes.

Here's one of the bridges spanning a large bay.

Here's one of the roads we took that the Ft. Walton gang showed me.

Another Ft. Walton road.  Not every road down here is flat and straight.

Here's some of the incredible live oaks I saw.

Another "big ass" bridge

And another one

We also passed through Tyndall Air Force Base.  New construction after the hurricane.

Do the cranes look familiar?  They are expanding this huge bridge.

This is the bridge that connects Panama City with Panama City Beach.  The speed limit is 45, but you have to go 60 just to keep up.

And the sunsets are always beautiful over the Gulf of America!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST.....

CONGRATS TO MIKE & JOAN...A NEW GRANDSON!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A COUPLE OF SNIPPETS

For most of us, the riding season has come to an end.  Also coming to an end is the Black Hawk Bridge, which is scheduled to be imploded tomorrow (Friday).  I know there are a few Wednesday Night Riders who plan venture to Lansing to view the event. Don't get hit by the debris! I am going to opt for watching it on the DOT website.

Right now we plan to depart for Panama City Beach, FL, on the 29th and arrive and check in to the condo on the 31st. One of the groups down there usually has a ride on New Years day, so I would like to try to make that. Special thanks to Chuckles for helping me with the trailer and then helping me load the trike.

Looking ahead (I'm already anxious for spring to arrive), I'm going to plan the PMS get-together for April 22nd, so keep that date safe.  Obviously more details on that later.

This will be the last post for a while, but I will maybe try to send out a couple of them while we are still riding in Florida.

So, as promised, here are a couple of snippets from our leaf rides this fall.

And also, guess who turned 100 recently?  No, not me!

 And now to all of our Wednesday Night Riders, their families, and friends..

Have a blessed and safe holiday season.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!