Bicycling good, but less touring at age 71.

For a few years, I've had some arthritis in just one ancle. It bothers me some while walking, but not while bicycling. Bicycling seems to be good for it.

Another aging situation is prostate cancer. I have a mild case of that which is treatable. It's serious enough so treatment is recommended, but still only in one area. I'm getting radiation treatment. A 28 weekday schedule of treatments from late July to the end of August. This schedule means no long overnight bike trips except for maybe weekends.

Typical smoke pattern with Western Washington sometimes under morning clouds while much of the rest of the country seems to be burning.

In the past, that was prime bike touring season, but climate change has created a new normal. Wildfires and smoke seems to box me in to the this strip of land west of the Cascade Mountains here in Washington State. Mid to late summer travel isn't that appealing. Climate change and the increasing amount of traffic on highways creates a new normal. Yes, bike paths are improving, but many rural areas don't have them. Cities, like Bellingham and Seattle area become more appealing by comparison.

In the last few years, my desire for long distance travel has diminished. It seems like there are so many fun and social things to do in Bellingham that being on the road is less appealing. I'd miss something for sure. We can't clone ourselves.

So far, in 2026, my only over night trip was to Anacortes for their gay pride events. That was a weekend, before my radiation treatment. It went well even though I was also on something called Lupron, a several month prep for the radiation treatment. I still had enough energy for that trip.

I live within one and a half miles of Peace Health Saint Joe's campus where I get my radiation treatments. I usually ride through Cornwall Park. Then I cross Squalicum at a flashing crosswalk and take the parkinglot road behind the hospital to the Cancer Center Clinic. It's better than the road to the front entrances which is more narrow and busy.

Along Squalicum to front entrances. If I take this route, I'm usually riding on the sidewalk (carefully).

Large new parking garage at Peace Health. Probably the largest indoor garage in Bellingham.

I've been biking to my treatments and park my bicycle near the clinic. Each day's treatment just takes a few minutes.

Part of a nice stainglass art piece at the clinic.