Hike Fest (Waitukubuli Section 14)

14/5/2016

Well for some reason I decided I would go on a guided hike with other people... for part of hike fest 2016. Now normally I hike alone, because I enjoy my own pace and I don't get lost. Guides here talk absolute bollocks most of the time so I really don't care to pay for their services and yeah this hike only steeled my determination to never do a large scale group hike again. 1 minute in I was already irritated after the woman behind repeatedly told me to be careful after I had 3 minor slips of approx 1cm. So I quickly sped up to get rid of her and when I did I found myself in between two groups. A bit more positioning and I managed to get to the point where I was not in sight or sound range of the group behind or in front of me, then I started enjoying myself! Section 14 of the Waitukubuli Trail was the trail for this hike of hike fest. The weakest of the sections so far, it was mostly road. But it does go via Toucari Bay which is very pretty! It also stops at Cabrits National Park the site of the old fort (see my December posts), I finished the "5 hour" hike in about 2 so decided I would walk around the old fort area to kill some time to let the slow group catch up. So I visited the western garrison and the old officers quarters before heading down to the bus. While waiting for the bus I did actually manage to socialize with a couple of fellow hikers. Rob a British Volcanologist and Avinash an Indian Born, American Peace Corp Volunteer, so somewhat of a mixed trio but we became friends on the return bus journey. But yeah, no large scale hiking for me again! I did get a nice t-shirt however!