Thursday, July 5, 2007

Iowa Abate Weekend, pt 2


After my critter-dodging ride home on Thursday, I got up early Friday for work to help one of the docs drive some hollow roofing nails into compressed/fractured vertebrae so he could fill'em up with sterile model glue (also know professionally as vertebroplasty). From the patient's perspective, it's a procedure that looks like something taken from an old-time side show where the geek has some one drive nails into his body. Medically, it's an impressively simple (although not without risk) procedure that usually results in a dramatic improvement in pain reduction. Still, it's always interesting to watch a first-timer's eyes when the doc pulls out the orthopedic mallet and starts tapping that 11 gauge needle into the middle of a vertebra on a conscious pt. That was pretty much the height of the work day. Bailed out in the afternoon and hopped on the bike to head to Algona again, this time with The Wife on her bike.

We arrived at the park in the late afternoon, coming in with a steady stream of other bikes looking for a decent camping spot. Made me happy I'd come over the night before to set up our site. Abate of Iowa has put a lot of labor into their camping area, and it's now at least as nice as a lot of state parks I've camped in.

Friday night was surprisingly quiet, with only isolated drunkenness and nudity (NSFW-in fact, none of the pics past this point are). Unlike Friday night the year before. Saturday, things returned to normal. Relatively speaking. And then, just plain way past normal.

Beyond that, there were some fine bands throughout the evening. The vendors row had some great food, including a Greek booth with damn fine gyros, and another serving breakfast biscuits and gravy (one of the few foods I learned to genuinely love in the army). Between swilling beer in large amounts, and too much good food, I came back home Sunday a lot fatter and happier.

2 comments:

BobG said...

Looks like a good time was had by all, LOL.

Anonymous said...

Indeed, i feel like I should get myself a motorcycle....