Jeez

Hiking was an adventure.  I'll give the cliff notes.  

My friend confirmed 5 minutes before she left the house -- no problem.  Gets here and tells me she has to be home for her cleaning crew who are coming early -- let's take separate cars.  Okay.  Also, a pet peeve of mine.  If something has changed, don't arrive and tell me.  I told her this was a loop hike -- how do you change that?!?!?

I had a feeling she wasn't going to make the timeframe, but I didn't care because I was annoyed.  Two cancelations and now a "need to rush this" kind of thing.  

Anyway, we arrive at the trailhead and she's in street clothes with a big pocketbook and a half a bottle of water.  What?!?!  She was wearing her new hiking shoes though.  I offered to carry her wallet and keys so she could leave the purse -- but she declined.  

Keep in mind, I told her all about the HIKE (not just a walk).  There are a few big hills, it's about 3 1/2 miles (with new detours), you need hiking shoes, etc.  She was totally not prepared.  Seriously?!?

It took us over 2 hours because she needed to stop a lot.  I asked a few times if she was okay to continue and she said yes.  She said she's a runner (not much since the pandemic, but still thought she was okay), goes to a personal trainer 3 times a week and LOVES to walk fast.  At a certain point, it was a point of no return once we were over halfway so forward was the way.

I ended up having to put a pin where we were when we crossed a road and finish the hike myself and pick her up in the car.  She's okay (I had a few minutes where I was worried she was going to pass out.)  She was very annoyed with me during the hike -- saying she thought it was something else (like pavement).  Later, she apologized and said she was embarrassed and felt like she ruined my day (she didn't).  

It was actually entertaining -- the steady state of mumbled complaining that I didn't even think she realized half the time.  "Are you just looking at your watch and making it up or do you actually know how far we've gone?"  "I need to talk to my trainer."  "I actually don't think that's cool" (the water feature I love).  "How fast can you walk!" "You've killed me."  "I'm never going to recover."  "This is endless."  "I can't go one more step, not one more."  "I won't sit down because I don't want bugs on me" (promptly sits down).  "Why don't you have dirt in your shoes?  Are you wearing long socks?" (as she's looking at my low top hiking shoes with ankle socks).  "It's like sandpaper, it's rubbing me raw" (won't sit to empty out shoes)

Of course, I didn't want her to be sick and I absolutely took care of her.  I don't want to sound sadistic.  She was just tired, hungry and lightheaded -- no chest pains, no really issue, felt better resting.   

Lesson for me is to pack for others.  I'll bring snack option, extra water and aspirin.  I know this loop well -- it's really not a big deal.  I only take a water bottle and a fanny pack usually.

Later, she said she didn't realize how far her fitness dropped.  Apparently, the trainer is all lifting and she hasn't done any cardio in years.  

There's more, but that enough of a recap.  More involves park rangers, search for a man with a gun, finding out she normally carries a gun (what?!?).  Good lord.  It was a morning.

And, last moral of the story ... sticking to lunch dates, no more hiking.

Here's the water feature.  Little drizzle of water that's carved out mini waterfalls.  The drizzle is LOUD, like really loud.  It's so cool that a little stream of water can make that much noise.  The park put up a bench so you can sit and listen to it.

This is shaping up to be quite a week -- lots of adventures.  Still have fun Saturday and Sunday coming up.

Today is a rest day (my back and legs need it).  Trader Joe's run for Saturday's grill out and that's all on my list.

Hope you have a Good Friday -- later gators.