Date: 2013-06-12
From: Spy Rock Road

To: Tye River/VA 56
Miles today: 9.6

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug.       Back to Spy Rock Road today, this time to walk north to Ried's Gap. We saw Dave, the maintainer we'd met yesterday at the parking lot. He kindly offered us a ride in his 4x4 to the trail. He and a buddy had more work to do there today. These guys are amazing!   I hiked up a pretty section of trail and crossed a road after a couple of miles. I stopped to sit and messed with my boot, retying it twice. It didn't seem right. Actually, I realized that I didn't seem right.   A little off, tummy not too happy. Got up and headed another couple miles up to the Priest shelter, where Redspecs was waiting for me. I'd put my music on to help me go, as walking became more of a struggle. We were getting close to the 4063 foot summit of the Priest.    I sat with RS and he immediately noticed that I was off. I did the usual, which was to throw food at the problem. Still had an increasingly unhappy tummy and some lightheadedness. The short rest and food didn't help. I knew I wasn't up for our planned hike today, which would have taken us 20 miles.    We headed for the Priest, me hoping that cell service would materialize at the high elevation. I use Verizon, which is pretty good sometimes, but not here. Ick and double ick.   I asked Specs to try his phone as he has AT&T. Bingo. Got hold of Alex and asked to change the plan. We had a 4 mile hike straight down to the Tye River (970 ft. elevation) and Route 56. He kindly agreed to meet us there. Now all I had to do was get there.       I was having trouble picking up my feet and kept tripping. I fell twice, once bouncing off a rock step onto my back, another time tripping forward and grazing my knee against the rocky trail. Up until today, I'd fallen a grand total of three times. I was a bit worried that my body would become a human sacrifice for the Priest. Specs decided to walk right behind me and I was grateful for that. I set a slow pace (all downhill at this point, no pun intended!) and carefully trekked on. The trail passed by a lovely view spot, through forest and down the steep mountain. It was a blur for me.    At the Tye River, Alex was waiting. I lay down in the back seat and didn't move until we were back to Wintergreen. I showered and hit the bed to rest my battered body and nurse my sour stomach. No food since the morning stop on the mountain. I couldn't imagine eating anything.       Much later, I joined the guys at table. Feeling a lot better, but food was again a worry. I cannot hike if I've not eaten.   At this point my calorie burn per day is at least 650-700 cals/hr when hiking. My metabolism is stoked and I'm always hungry within two hours of my last meal or snack. I burn my food very quickly and have lost fat stores from my body. I managed to eat a little scrambled eggs, but had to force down a slice of toast. My stomach was on the mend but I felt depleted. I believe that the mussels from Tuesday night's meal had hit me poorly. I should have ordered more carefully, but live and learn. It is what it is.    Back to bed for some dreamtime and to see what the morrow will bring. It's all good, especially when you can count on your friends. Tie DyePS. The only pix I have for today is the one w/this post.   It's from the viewpoint on the Priest descent. I made a cropped version with a lot less finger, but can't seem to upload it. Oye.