Running 2:51:15 [2] 18.53 km (9:14 / km) +504m 8:08 / km
ahr:148 max:183
A good oul night explore. Was hoping to get some company, but didn't work out in the end.
Went out to check a few spots, and then get on top of the mountain and head over towards the Three Lakes and Table Mountain, time-permitting.
I faffed a lot at the bottom, walking about checking bits and pieces, and then eventually started climbing the hills. This line was nice, hard to decide between the two.
The further I went the more spooked I got. Eyes everywhere stayed at me, in the forest on the mountain, they could see me a mile away, and me just their eyes.
I got up on top of oakwood and veered off the ridge to cur the corner a bit towards the three lakes. I was willing to consider going all the way to Lough Firrib if it made the nav much easier but didn’t tonight anyway. I ticked off a big crag happily, then slightly steep uphill, a river, feeling good. But then it just got awfully vague, I was going up, then down, then up, this threw me a lot. I hit the next river not too long before. But still I could make shapes of hills out that were completely throwing me. I went on a little, now all doubts had taken over. I had stuck to the compass religiously so knew I couldn't be too bad, but it didn't make any sense, where could I be?
The situation was not helped by a furry tailed little animal running at me once I fell over. After I got up and said something, I was waiting fearfully in defence, and I reckon he saw the size and heard me cos he turned direction a metre or two short. Phew. The shrieks of scared deer added to the spooky suspense.
giving up completely on my location I tried to decide when I should turn around, and just then 2m to my right I saw water. Oh lord, it was the lakes. Delightful.
The mist set in then as I turned back in gleeful confidence. This didn't make a big difference i could just no longer see the deer 5-10m away.
Lost confidence again and got doubtful coming into Firrib, but found it alright, and the confidently set off and on the road back.
Back to the car for 23:30, oh this was an adventurous evening in the empty mountains. Good for the confidence I think.