I woke up motivated today. Breakfast, exercises, and straight into the plan. Mornings are still my strongest window, and today it paid off. I managed to complete a full bike rotation. One clean, full spin. An amazing feeling. A real milestone. Cleyber said it would happen on Sunday, and it did. That moment alone carried the day for a while.
The knee was still swollen, but I am getting used to that baseline. Interestingly, it feels better after exercising. Quad activation and ankle pumping clearly help circulation, and when blood flow improves, swelling eases a bit. Movement, when done right, is medicine.
Later, we rented a bus and went sightseeing. Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen. Beautiful places, no doubt, but absolutely not designed for someone in my condition. Crowds, wind, cold, narrow streets, public buses, hills, ramps, constant walking. It was too much.
By the time we got back, I was stressed and irritated, mentally counting the minutes until I could lie down. No ice during the day made things worse. At one point, I stretched my leg out and my brother-in-law accidentally bumped into it. Painful. Not helpful for the mood.
That moment sealed the lesson. I really need to assess activities in advance and be honest about what I can and cannot do. Sometimes the smartest move is staying back and resting, even if the place is beautiful.
Back at the hotel, I went straight to ice, elevation, and room service. Relief, finally. Today stretched both my knee and my patience.
Key Takeaways
- Full bike rotation is a major recovery milestone
- Swelling remains present but responds to proper movement
- Morning energy is still the strongest part of the day
- Long sightseeing days with crowds and uneven terrain are too much
- Lack of ice during the day makes recovery harder
- Saying no to activities can be an important form of self-care