To kick things off on Day 10 – check out the above photo. That’s no post card readers – I not only got there, but I also took that picture myself, Details follow forthwith.
Last night was exercise for the mind – a little light music at the Hong Kong Cultural Center. Today, was the 10th day of my Travels to Hong Kong. Today was exercise for the body. I rode the MTR from Sheung Wan to Shau Kei Wan. There I was going to get a form of local transportation most accurately described as a mini-bus. My destination – a hiking trail called Dragon’s Back.
The minibus drops you and others at the trail head which is already decently up in the hills. We are north-east of Stanley – which is one of Hong Kong’s most southerly points. The trail is mostly up hill and has many steps, and some places where you will use rocks as stepping-stones.
It doesn’t requite any kind of mountaineering equipment. Axes, pitons, and ropes are not necessary. It isn’t seriously steep, and yet, for folks who have long since passed their twenties and thirties – it is not quite a breeze. And yes it is literally a walk in the park – but that is speaking in factual terms rather than as a figure of speech.
Steve
You do need some good shoes, and you should be carrying some water. Back in 2011, I did a similar hike up Moon Hill in Yangshuo, Guangxi Province, China. This was quite similar only not as far but a tad more difficult. I wish I had a set of Trekking Poles, or as they are commonly called a Hiking Staffs.
Still going….up with a small break for a photo op
Though not a ‘must have’ for this trail, a Trekking Pole can:
Provide better balance and footing
On the uphill routes, they transfer some of the weight from your legs to your shoulders, arms, and back which can reduce leg fatigue, as well as adding some thrust to your ascent.
On downhill hikes, especially, they decrease the amounts of stress on your legs and joints.
Here’s a place were we not only stopped for the view,but also a place to take a few minutes rest. There’s no sense to rush on up. Taking my time seems to work best for me.
Any way, I ultimately got to the crest of the ridge – the so called lookout point where you can get an opportunity for a spectacular view, and you can decide whether or not you want to hump across another lengthy ridge – which is relatively flat, before going up and over the next mountain.
That’s Shek-O below from a slightly different spot.
Shek-O is below
The next one shows me sitting in the general vicinity of where these photos were taken.
The town below is called Shek-O. We would reverse our steps and head back to the trail head where we would jump on the #9 Bus which would take us right into Shek-O. Or you could take a different route and head for Big Wave Bay.
Now having done two of the trail hikes – the one in Yangshuo, China, and now this one in Hong Kong – it is definitely a fact that I now know and have experienced personally – the downhill part is easily more difficult and takes more care than going up. This is where I definitely missed not having a trekking pole.
Finally – we get to Shek-O beach. This is me on the same beach that we were far above up in the hills.
What followed was a nice lunch at a swell Thai Restaurant called Happy Garden. It’s right there – mere steps from the beach. The food is tasty, spicy, and was especially good after expending a lot of energy on the hills above Shek-O
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