Blog 713 The Challenge.

Since booking the Coastal Scenic Hike a few days ago, I had been somewhat alarmed by the warnings in the brochure of steep, uneven and rocky terrain over which we would walk. Those with heart conditions, dizziness, vertigo etc., need not apply. I did!  On the day, one of the guides assured me there were no “mad hills.” I breathed a sigh of relief.  However, if I knew what this hike would actually be like, perhaps I would have chosen not to try it. 

However, there were sections of steep rocky and uneven pathways, as described in the brochure, and indeed, I did struggle. Whether others did, too, I’m not sure. The tour guides were brilliant.  The girl would group us together to explain what we were looking at.  To assist with balance in some of the difficult places, I was issued with a hiking pole, just like the one I never use at home!  It was a godsend.  To be able to spend a warm afternoon, still in January, admiring the Atlantic breakers, and looking across to neighbouring islands was a rare experience.  I am seriously giving thought to Cunard’s bargain basement offer on repeat voyage via New York.  But if I do decide to exile myself for another four weeks, I doubt I shall do this walk again, although I would be more used to the terrain.  For the real walkers, I doubt that this would be considered “difficult,” although the tour guides assured me they had encountered far worse participants than me on this particular hike.  The views were fabulous.

I did wonder whether I would make it back to the coach, but I did, and as we sail towards Tortola, and the sky turns fiery red,

I look back on a wonderfully “landmark” day.

Tortola is our final Caribbean island call tomorrow. Then, there are six days at sea as we head east towards a more familiar time zone. With luck, the warm weather will hold out to one day after our final port of call, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Then, it’s back to the familiar throws of winter.

I can only write in glowing terms about this afternoon’s shore excursion. The tour guides and driver were outstanding and very informative.

It is now dark outside, and still hot and sticky!

Many thanks for reading, David, at sea en route for Tortola. 18.53 hrs. GMT-4