Day 4/4 Cleveland Way (section of the Way) 54km - Osmotherley to Carlton - 2 Jun 2010
>> Thursday, 3 June 2010
11.5km, took 2.75 hours
After breakfast with all the cheerful coast-to-coast walkers, I left Osmotherley. The bright sunny weather was a total contrast from yesterday's. However, I got a bad start. When caught in a junction in South Wood, I had wanted to take the higher route which seemed to be the right one as shown on my map. Two male walkers came by and said that the lower one should be the right one (quite confidently). I took their advice which I blamed myself terribly later.
I need to learn to make my own decisions sometimes. I should be confident by now after all my experience from the past 2.5 years of rambling in the UK. Hiaz...
Anyway, I persisted on along the wrong path whose terrain grew from bad to worse to quite impassable! I did not turn back because I thought I had come that far and should be able to find an alternative route back to the official track later on. The ground was of soft mud at some places and my right leg sank straight into it. It remained dry inside, saved by my gaiters. It was not too long before both my legs went deep into another muddy section. Gone case lah! I looked and felt terrible then! I wondered why this had happened on my last hike...maybe because my very first hike was like that, so I had to end it the same way too! Argh!
I was totally demoralised when I felt the damp mud seeping into my right socks. The gaiters had not helped after all. I made a decision then: to detour to the nearest village and find my way home. Hence, I walked to Swainby, then took the A172 to Faceby and finally to Carlton. At Whorlton, I stopped by at Crossbank Riding Centre hoping to do some hacking but they said they no longer provide hacks. :( I hoped on the bus to Northallerton (met a very helpful and friendly driver whom brightened up my lousy day) and then got the train back to Newcastle.
What a weird way to end all my hiking in the UK. I threw away my muddy and 'partially worn-out' gaiters too. With this, I end my rambling hobby and I hereby conclude and close my blog. Happy reading folks, and I hope my entries have been helpful to walkers who appreciate the wilderness just like I do. Cheerio...
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