I drive a 2002 Ford Escape XLT 4×4. I love that truck. I love it so much that I put a new motor in it after I killed the first one (200,000 miles on a 4-cylinder in a big vehicle is pretty good). It has everything that I need and can get me back into the gnarliest brush to hunt in happy solitude. It gets almost 30 miles per gallon and it runs like a top.
Unfortunately, it’s also got a manual transmission – a stick shift. Now everyone knows that only real drivers truly know how to drive (and enjoy) a manual (snicker 😉 )… I loved the better, more responsive power in my truck – until yesterday. Even though I drank more than the recommended amount of water/Gatorade for a century (240 oz recommended, 280 consumed), I was still a little dehydrated when I pulled in. Not horribly, but noticeably.
I didn’t realize how bad off I was until I tried to get into my truck. First my hips locked up in a cramp, then my calf muscles – and therein lies a very big problem when driving a vehicle with a manual transmission.
Now, if you’re one of those people who despise fast food, please look away – the rest of this post will upset your sensibilities.
You’ve been fairly warned.
I knew my problem wasn’t fluid – I drank another 60 fluid ounces of water after getting to the car. The problem was a lack of salt and electrolytes… What’s a huge source of salt after you’ve burned almost 2 pounds worth of calories? A Double Quarter Pounder, medium fries and a Coke. I hate McDonald’s burgers nowadays but I needed some food, and fast, so I bit the bullet.
Halfway through the cramping subsided. It wasn’t a pretty solution, but it was easy and it worked. Unlike some, whose bodies don’t do well on fast food, I am not so afflicted. I can stomach a little junk and still feel fine…and it was sure nice to get rid of the cramps. I had a sensible, if huge, dinner four hours later.
This morning I’m still feeling it a little bit, but I’ll head out for a slow recovery ride to work out the cobwebs before my youngest daughter’s and nephew’s birthday celebrations begin.
I am a little surprised at feeling this one at all – there was a lot more climbing yesterday, but I recovered from my first 90 mile ride within 12 hours and I wasn’t near as tight the next day.
That will be something to contemplate over the next couple of days.
Sticks rule. ‘Nuff said.
(and yeah, hard to drive after complete ACL replacement, luckily that was my right knee. It wasn’t as easy when i had to replace two ligaments in my left ankle . . .)
Ouch, thank goodness they put you back together right, eh?
Here’s hopin’?! 🙂