We had prepared for everything. Our route was planned, our bags were packed and our shoes were tied but unfortunately for us, the tide had beat us to the trail. We took the coastal path from the lighthouse down to the beach expecting to pick up a fairly substantial path along the shore but instead found a steep bank with some very wet rocks at its base. Being sensible, we decided the steep bank would be safer than the rocks so we took a semi-trodden path 40meters up. The path from here disappeared into thick, prickly bush up to our knees. Hot and already both reasonably dischevelled, we climbed back down and instead attempted to scramble over the rocks. For a time this route was largely successful but no more than 10 minutes in we were faced with the decision to backtrack to the start or plunge into a two meter pool of sea water. We took the 'sensible route' once again and raced back with the sea lapping at our feet. 'Better try the bank again' we thought.
Up, up, up we go through brambles and bush where thank god we found some other hikers. Another English girl, Eleri, and two Swiss guys, Nathan and Rolf. We let the Swiss trample the path infront in true ex-army style and followed them behind stumbling over tree roots and brambles as we went, and finally, 1 hour after starting, we made it onto the beach where we hoped to make up some time.
What we had expected to be a quick and easy day turned out to be a longer, more arduous day than we could have prepared for as we followed the orange markers over sand dunes and up steep steps to our camp for the night - something I will always remember while walking and planning my days on the TA is never to assume a day's difficulty before I've begun.
So having gotten lost within our first hour of walking the mighty TA, we pitched up, ate, and retired to bed all rather quickly.
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