New Quay to Aberporth, July 30, 2017

Today's walk was reputed and reported to be the most difficult of this section, so I girded my loins —no, that is not true—I mustered my energy and set off with resolve at my usual time, 6:30 a.m., when all sane people are still abed.  

I loved this walk!  It was the first section that made me have moments when I wished it would not end.  That it did not rain until noon helped.  That made me think about what makes a stage difficult, and there may be more reasons than I am listing, but here are some:  

One's physical state.  If you are tired or something hurts, walking is not fun.  

One's mental state: if you are anxious or otherwise in a tizzy because, say, you smashed your phone, and, in addition, are feeling guilty and worried, and scared because you NEED a proper phone even if there is "no service," this robs your walk of pleasure.  So does leaving your poles on some still-not-forgotten beach with a view of the Britannia Bridge!

The weather is a huge factor.  Unrelenting heavy rain and wind, especially when there are navigational issues (a category in itself), is demanding and exhausting.  Too hot is also exhausting. Rain and then no rain and then rain again....exhausting and annoying.

Terrain: lots and lots of extremely steep ups and downs, especially in "weather" are hard.

Sub category of terrain: ground underfoot:  thick wet grass, thick wet mud, uneven stones, soft sand, pavement....all hard to walk on and slow you down.  Short packed grass, hard mud, almost buried stones, hard sand, lovely to walk on.

Navigation: Not being able to figure out where to go is a total time waster. Add that to mental state and "weather," and you have a perfect storm! (Very bad pun.)

Some rocks off shore from high up:

Can you see the bridge that will have to be crossed?

Love the rockage:

Moss or grass covering the rocks making them look soft as a pillow:

You know, I bet there are people who would contemplate diving into that inlet.

The rain came at noon and then it stopped and started again and so it went for the rest of the day.  You put on your rain pants and poncho and get the pack cover on the pack, then you are hot and you roll up the rain pants, maybe a fashion statement on the right person, and throw back the poncho, not a fashion statement on anyone, and one and a half miles before the end of the route, you buy an ice cream (white chocolate raspberry ripple; not bad, not the best).  This is a mistake because for some reason it disorients you and you do not go towards the steps you are to mount to continue on your way, no, you and the rolled up pants and the thrown back poncho and the not bad ice cream cone march up the wrong set of steps, only to have to descend to turn and direct yourself towards Aberporth where the people walk, but the cars do not go. You are relieved that no one knows you.  At last, you arrive only to discover that your luggage has not.  Eventually, it arrives, too.