Hung Shek Mun 紅石門

　Sunny w/smog　BF1　 18 ^oC　photos 相簿
The bus was detained at the roadblock for more than a quarter of an hour at Tai Mei Tuk due to a marathorn race. Hence, a train of vehicles were held up with engines on, polluting the air all the more. We hurried on from Bride's Pool to an indistinct path [GPS GR reading: KK189911] branching off from Miu Sam Ancient Path [苗三古道 ]. From that junction onwards, we scurried through a bewildering mix of paths in the forest of Ma Niu Shui [馬 尿水] area. The end of the path led to a cliff, a nameless creek lied below. The creek had already dried up, making it easier for us to clamber among the boulders. Its estuary situated near the dead end of Pak Hoi Tuk [ 北海篤]. The secluded shore was covered with remarkably pink sandstone, with weird weathering features. It was ebb tide when we moved along the coast to the next cove - Tai Shui Wu [大水湖]. Taking the path again from its east end, we reached Hung Shek Mun village not long after descending a path from the junction at KK215909. A weir blocked much of the water from the sea. Further inland lied another pond. The kind of rock at this part of coastline was not as pink as those at Pak Hoi Tuk, yet it was much easier to reach this ruined village from the main path. On the other side of the strait was Double Island where the OBA was located. A small reservoir was found en route halfway uphill. Perhaps the eastern wind and the sunshine had worked the wonder, the haze was not as thick as expected. Visitors could enjoy a splendid panoramic vista of the rolling hills and numerous islets in the vicinity of Double Haven.
Ascending towards Hung Shek Mun Au, we joined the main path from then on. It was shocking to find that the haze was almost as thick as a shroud of mist over the Plover Cove Reservoir. Without proceeding on to Chek Ma Tau [ 赤馬頭], we descended Tai Tung [大峒] for Ha Miu Tin [下苗田].