I find that one must keep doing the hikes regularly or risk losing the ability to do it. I kept on hiking as much as possible during my battle with cancer. It became very difficult at one point but I still went out and tried. Some days I get very fatigued and feel like going home to my couch but will dig deep for a bit more energy.
I was most impressed by an angler named Ed, some of you may know him. He had his hip replaced a few years ago and I saw him 12 days later with his cane hiking into the Yarrow side of Peach rd. He was damn sure not gonna let that new hip stop him from Steelhead Fishing. He was not giving in to age or even a new body part. Its guys like Ed or Toothpick Tom that impress me most. They do what it takes to keep fishing.
I am still very pissed off they killed the access at Hope Dale rd, it was one of the few places a older, physically challenged or disabled person could get to the water easily. I would have personally cleaned up any garbage there to keep it open. In fact that access should be reopened to the public.
I dont care how many times old Joe low holes me, I still love watching him catch fish on his tiny tuft of wool, with his damn dog barking at his fish.