Debkakes in the UK 2022

Twas a cold, blustery, and rather rainy day. So I kinda took my time before getting out and about. One of the blessings of 20 hours of daylight!

I decided to tackle the Ness of Hillswick. It looked pretty do-able, and I wanted to see the Drongs.

It was looking like a dreich and disappointing week ahead. I had already learned not to read too much into the forecast, as it may say rain for the whole day but it’s really just for an hour or two here or there. But still, the odds were not looking in my favor. My usual philosophy is to just go on out in it, with the proper gear, and see what happens.

So I did, and in fact, it was not bad at all. Rather grey, rather windy, but definitely okay for a 5 or 6 mile walk. Good intentions and all that!

Some time after this, after I’d gone over a few stiles and tromped through a couple of fields, I felt maybe something wasn’t right. I checked my Ordinance Survey app and sure enough — I was not on the Ness of Hillswick, and in fact went entirely in the wrong direction. It didn’t appear that there was a path on from where I stopped, at least not easily accessed. So back I went!

And this, friends, was as close as I got. Why? Further on, the path was hugging a cliff and the wind was really picking up, although the rain had stopped. This was as close to the Drongs as I would get this trip. I was a little disappointed, but safety first, my mama and my orthopedic surgeon always told me.

I had decide, instead of going home, to continue the walk to the other side of the Ness, as far as I felt like going. I didn’t really think I’d make the entire loop, which was fine as I had burned my first two hours going on the wrong walk. And at this point of my trip, I was not up to 10 mile walks anymore. Or infrequently, anyway. As I’m fond of saying, I got nuttin’ to prove.

Well, if I continued on and up, I’d get my view of the Drongs. But really, I was feeling bushed and hungry at this point, and it looked like a long walk. So ’round I turned and back home I went!

The sky had finally decided to clear a bit, and it had been a very, very lovely day. A perfect example of always being flexible with your expectations, and not being married to any particular outcome. I had had a perfectly lovely walk, and could not have been happier!

14 June, 2022