Getting down from the watercourse was actually fairly easy as the track zigzagged down to the river The river crystal clear fast moving, shallow, purling and quite beautiful.
We stopped in a shady spot where we pondered what footwear to put on. Margaret and I had swim shoes, Clare sandals and Chris opted for keeping her boots on to wade in the waters. It looked like the stones in the water were covered with silt but actually in many places they were starting to calcify so it was firm and grippy.
We started the journey down river. This is not a walk to do if there has been heavy rains as the channel become a deep rushing torrent, but on a hot day it was pleasant wading through the pools and waterfalls.
We saw some animals, notably an 18 inch snake with diamond markings, in the water being rolled over by the current as it tried to escape us I think. We saw tadpoles, a frog, an enormous toad and a couple of greeny lizards.
We met a young Spanish couple walking up river and I asked how far the electricity station was (where we turned of up the side of the ravine) and the girl said it was about another two and a half hours. I was worrying about it getting dark and I couldn’t be sure if their hours matched our hours in terms of walking. It was going to be tight either way.
We picked our way slowly not wanting to slip or turn our ankles. Each of us taking turns to find a good route and help each other over and around obsticals. It seemed endless and we were getting tired.
Later we met another young couple (English this time) looking wistfully at the water. They were camping somewhere nearby. They told us we had another hour to go.
Margaret’s feet were starting to hurt her, as the soles on her swim shoes were not substantial. Then disaster! Clare turned both ankles went down on her knees scraping them too! After trying to walk on it for a bit we had to strap one of them up, painkillers, cold water, sheer grit and the occasional swearing kept her moving.
Then it became like the whacky races, while strapping up Clare. Margaret took some of the items from Clare’s pack (I did too) to make it lighter and with her own sore feet she and Chris (with her heavy water filled boots), they made their way ahead. Clare and I caught up at some point and overtook. I then hung back to wait for Margaret who’s feet must have been unbearable as she started to tail behind. Mine were hurting too now. None of us talking, just concentrating on walking.
I became seriously worried about the light going and not being able to negotiate the remainder of the river. We made it to the narrow gorges, these almost obliterate the sky they are so high and shear. This was a good sign as I had read that the trail ended not too far after these relatively speaking.
Doggedly we went on and finally made it to the dry track. While we sat drying out feet and changing footwear (except for Chris), a bat began flying above us and the dark descended.
We had made it through in time and that was all that mattered. A bit battered and bruised but the remaining track was shining in the starlight. Being predominantly limestone it was white and easy to follow. Margaret took my bag and I ran and walked ahead to get the car.
After Thoughts
I had a sleepless night after that walk. I read all the reviews about the walking book. It had four out of five stars but, the negative ones were very damning. Mine will be too!
The walk was around 13km just over 8 miles. At average walking pace of two and a half miles per hour on the flat it would take just over three hours, the author was completely wrong even for a fit young person. I will treat the book with extra caution in future.
Chris mused if we hadn’t made it out before dark we could have camped with the young couple, noting that we would probably cramp their style. There is nothing so romantic as four older women sleeping near running water and having to get up every hour for a wee! Hahaha
And finally although that was a long walk, it was very beautiful and we all enjoyed it looking back. We were reasonably well equipped, maybe not entirely on the water shoe front (one review said people in flipflops do it) but, we had plenty of water and food with us. My water filter which would have been fine with the clear water all around us. We had first aid kits and extra clothing. But perhaps most importantly we all have phenomenal stamina!
The Travelling Bee 