Hike Notes
Today will probably go down as one of my favorite days of the walk. We were going from Inglby Cross, where we ended the last leg, to Clay Bank Top, a random parking lot in the middle of nowhere. There was a big climb initially to the top of a mountainous range, which we walked across all day. It had quite a few peaks to traverse so we were either ascending or descending most the day.
The first big ascent out of Inglby cross was through some beautiful forests. With the sun out and the weather being so warm, it might have been one of the most pleasant experiences of my life. Especially when there was a break in the trees and I got to see where I had come from.
It was a bit more barren at the top but the views from up there were phenomenal. I won't subject you to all the pictures I took of the land (and the Irish Sea in the distance!) as there are about a million of them, so here are a few representative ones:
Inbetween two of the peaks we started hearing a bunch of cheering and horns in the direction we were heading. Eventually we came across the outside festival area of a dirt bike competition. Craig popped into the nearby restroom. I popped into the event to grab a brat and a drink. It was delicious.
We had a few more peaks to climb after that which went really well. I enjoy climbing way more than walking downhill or across flat land. It's easier on my feet and the pain in my legs and being out of breath is much more manageable. Plus I feel so accomplished when I get to the top and am rewarded with great views. I love it.
We ended the day in a random car park after the second to last peak of the range. We got there early enough to spend time laying under a tree before the bus picked us all up. Such tranquil.
Foot Status: 9 Bratwursts out of 10
On My Own
Craig (the salt and pepper haired, Harrison Ford look-a-like in all my pictures) and I separated from the rest of the group pretty much immediately and didn't see them for the rest of the day. There were also a bunch of times where he was a lot further ahead. So I spent a good part of the day by myself. Going my own speed. Deciding when to break and when to push forward. Really basking in the evironment. I can't begin to tell you how good that all felt.
Don't get me wrong. I feel so lucky and grateful to have been a part of this group and to have met such wonderful people. But one of the main reasons I wanted to do a trip like this was to have some peaceful time, just me and nature. I got that in spades today and it felt amazing.
Hikers Exposed: Sam Is Missing
As fast as Craig and I went, Sam went faster. Part of the reason I was going so fast initially was to try and keep up with her, or at least keep her in sight. I failed on both accounts.
I lost sight of her after the second or third peak. She began to descend and when I finally got over the peak and looked down, she was nowhere to be found. I wasn't too worried at first, she has those neat maps after all... But then I got to the car park at the end of the hike and didn't see her there. Craig and I looked around for another possible place she could have mistook for the stopping point, consulted our guide books and maps... Couldn't find a thing, today's path was more straight forward than most.
We didn't know what to do. We waited and waited. Rockin' Roy and the others eventually came and Sam wasn't with them either. We must have all waited in the bus 30 or 45 minutes before Roy told the driver to take us back to Whitby while he delt with the situation. Hopefully he comes through. Who knows what kind of dangerous situations Sam can get in in the wilderness in her state.