We said goodbye to our hosts at Cape Chin after an awesome and yummy cooked breakfast. I highly recommend this place for staying. Peaceful, beautiful and 10/10 hosts! Just a short saunter back a 1/2 km to pick up the track and over the stile, say good morning to the black cows who saw us as objects de curiosity and then followed us through to the next stile and we were on our way through the forest.
The notes said about 24kms but defo closer to 27/8kms but who cares. The weather held off until we arrived in Lions Head and the scenery was to die for! Sure we still had some rocky bits because we were on the escarpment but it wasn't the relentlessness not the harshness of the first two days. Also learning to walk rocks much better! And of course a bit of mud skating to keep the day interesting including finding the most awesome bit of white clay to land in. Fun!
Much of the time we are sooooo close to the cliff and we don't have to suffer the visual pollution of being reminded of the fact like we're idiots! The track runs right on the edge often and one step the wrong way or a trip could be a looonnnnggggg drop down but it is awesome to enjoy the edges and the beautiful scenery with signage!
We walked stone beaches again too, but the path seemed to be flatter. Also just learning to move along wibbly wobbly rocks at pace is an art I'm learning. Even threw in a couple of small hills for fun today.
Crossed paths with Ken and Margaret again, two locals from Thornbury doing an end to end. They are using two cars and walking between them each day. Expect we may see a lot of them during our time here.
The forest is so beautiful, moving from conifers to maples and oaks. Saw a maple today in various colours as autumn starts to take shape. It is hard to choose pics today. Abundance of gorgeous fungi and of course the squirrels and chipmunks. Looking at the conifers we can see why the raptors circle above all the time. The squirrels are at the very tops of the trees dropping down cones and then hulling them on the ground. I took a picture a couple of days ago and in the blog of the squirrel middens. But the raptors have an easy pick of squirrels at the tops of the trees.
Saw another garter snake today and managed to get pics and video. He was basking in the sun in the trail and we disturbed him. Lots of woodpecker evidence and we did hear one but couldn't see him through the trees. And we saw a red cardinal as we walked the final bit into town.
Had lunch at Rachel's Bakery and Cafe. The bakery is not your usual fare but home made yummos! But like most North Americans they have no idea what a decent coffee tastes like! But the food was divine! Made by the bald headed dude in the kitchen who could easily be cheffing somewhere grand. 50's style complete with retro clothes for sale and music from the era. Quirky, funny little joint!
Dinner was some family style restaurant in town. Again food was good but we should have shared a plate! But no alcohol so we headed to the pub to get a bottle of wine to take back to our digs. Bahahahaha you can't buy a bottle of wine. Until two years ago this town was dry and no liquor sales allowed. WT? It's the 2000's people! Still reeling from that one.
Apparently available at one outlet in town but that's closed. Can sit in the bar and have a drink but no takeaways. Step back in time.
Digs for tonight and tomorrow night is the Lionheart Guest House. Washing!!!!!!! Not done since we left home so time for doing me thinks. We walked into here this arvo, and tomorrow the owner will take us out south of here and we will walk back in from the other direction. Makes sense because we're not trying to make a rendezvous time. Oh and found a hairdresser for a vanity stop this arvo.
And for some some stupid reason it keeps chucking in a map of Iceland!