| Cheung Chau 長洲 Chi Ma Wan Peninsula 芝麻灣半島 分流 Fan Lau Fung Head + Sharp Peak 長咀蚺蛇尖 猴塘溪 Hau Tong Kai Lamma Island 南丫島 Lo Fu Wat 老虎笏 Pat Sin Leng 八仙嶺 Ping Ka & Nam Chung CT 屏嘉及南涌郊遊徑 屏南石澗 Ping Nam Stream Plover Cove CP 船灣郊野公園 Shek Uk Shan 石屋山 Lower 'Sheung Luk' 雙鹿下游 Sheung Tong 上塘 Fa Heung Lo+Tai Lang Stream 花香爐+大冷溪 Tsing Tai Stream & Tai Lang Stream 青大石澗及大冷溪 Tai Shing Stream 大城石澗 大刀屻 Tai To Yan 田尾坑 Tin Mei Hang Wang Chung 橫涌 West Kau Nga Leng 西狗牙嶺 Wong Nai Tung+Tai Lam 黃泥墩及大欖 |
| Sheung Tong 上塘 18/12/04 photos 相簿 自荃威花園登下花山，拿著石龍龔的定向地圖邊走邊做一點map reading。元荃古道初段的景緻開陽，袛是風弱，吹不散灰霾，使得汀九橋跟青馬橋也顯得朦朦矓矓的。路過稍乾的沼澤不久，便進入一片林地。自此改走通往上塘廢村的叉路。越過田地即見另一叉路，初時受彩帶影響選了右路，但走了不久即覺有點不對勁，於是查看指南針確認了方向偏東，所以立刻回頭改走左路。過田後，此路便是十分明顯的小石屎徑。不久便是急下山的路段，至一有著數條橋的小溪。這時又要作出選擇，該往西還是北呢？往西的小徑不明顯地經過一大塊田，往北的仍是石屎小徑，但是要急上山。結果還是選了直接登山接麥徑。走了一大段麥徑後，跟永吉橋還有一小段路時，曾下蓮花石澗一看。此時節水量已不多，幸永吉橋一帶仍見翠綠。今次吉慶橋的遠景因背光關係，只是白濛濛一片。大棠路那段景緻最好，大片綠林中，路旁夾雜著紅葉，山坡上的莎草輕輕搖曳著。失望的是，將抵漁護處時的一片樹林被燒了。之後會合下午一起有事辦的同伴們。 |
| Pat Sin Leng 八仙嶺 9/12/04 數天前山火剛燒了廿多小時，本來也不打算從馬騮崖登八仙嶺的了，當然最終也成行。心痛的是眼見近年來整遍山嶺的南坡已逐漸成林，但轉眼間便成焦土！聽聞是次山火是一些沒腦者放孔明燈所至。我們選的是96年山火意外的登山路線，前大半段現時是林中的陡峭泥徑，臨抵馬騮崖時有一小片平地。這遍平地外已滿目蒼荑，燒焦的樹木及泥土仍散發出頗濃的焦味。好奇的往焦土走，竟發現數枚煙蒂分佈灰燼中！此情此景，環顧四周，當年山火的慘烈不難想像得到，更痛恨如今還能有如此無恥煙民四處丟棄煙蒂。仙姑峰上的測量墩附近的煙包煙蒂最多。馬騮崖正正在仙姑峰以南，由多塊巨型的石塊疊成，本來也不太難攀登，只是若被山火圍困，誰也難免慌張。加上那次大部份師生的有難度遠足攀石經驗不夠，便更可能會慌不擇路。上攀時曾停在崖間回望現時腳下的一遍焦土，對比山腰以下的綠林及山下的海灣，像是看見生死一線間。寫這文章時正聽著電台訪問嘉利大廈大火中成功逃生者的回憶 ... ... 火災真的很可怕！吸煙己經不對，遠足時更不應做此有害健康的行為。不明何以仍有那麼多"無良煙民"四處丟煙蒂！如他們不能放棄吸煙，那就索性不要來行山了。先戒煙再說吧，不要連累街坊！ 不消數分鐘便抵仙姑峰頂，自那兒向西看，明顯地看到衛徑分隔了山火現場的南北坡。我們一個個山峰走，數著數著便走完八個山峰，到了純陽峰。那兒有兩條不明顯山徑，我們選了較東那條下山，因另一條的可見路段也有火燒痕跡，大家之前已給南坡的燒焦植物弄黑了衣服，現在還是可免則免。此路沿山咀稍偏西下山，沿途地上多藤蔓枯枝絆腳，或則是陟滑泥路，幸有樹蔭以供稍息。徑末連接近橫山腳下村的一段自然教育徑，自此跑了一段路至支徑下新娘潭路回遊客中心。 |
| West Kau Nga Leng 西狗牙嶺 14/11/04 哇！早上在巴士總站多條路線也人山人海，有乘客更形容這像旺角一樣。這次在石壁的大燒烤場沒有遇到黃黑色的大蜘蛛，換之而來的卻是煩人又吵耳的大烏鴉。初段一開始便是登上多級樓梯，加上陽光偏要在那時出現，使得人大汗淋漓。不多久便到上中狗牙的路口，而我們找的西狗牙路口要再上多些，走過了一條位於大尖窩中的明顯澗道，後一個山咀便是。原來那澗亦是那次大雨中下山至此遇水漲，要繞一點路，從大石渡澗之處。今天當然沒有問題了。老實說，遠看山勢又陡又多薄峰，很是懾人！但是若走在其上，渺少的人們，卻又令山嶺顯得仍有點寬裕了。但這並不代表它適合畏高，體力或經驗不夠者。然則，若你認為自己並不"渺少"，也就無謂冒險了！ 從一開始，便陸續有斜坡等著大家攀爬。幸好大部份時候都是天陰，否則微風下我就更加汗如雨下了。這天煙霞稍薄，能讓人隱約看到南面的索罟群島。回望石壁水塘，總覺它形影不離似的。由於路徑稍窄，要欣賞美景時，我都得先停下來。每次回望都發覺地勢比往上看的更有氣勢。很快便來到連接中西狗牙的坳位"一線生機"了。本來我們沒需要越過那地標的，但見它有點刺激，便來回的走了一趟。從那兒再跨越一個山頭，便到達名字頗嚇人的閰王壁。可是如果你到過蚺蛇尖，便會覺得此言過其實了，大概是文人給它起的名吧！此壁上接鳳凰徑，再上一點便是那香港第一峰了。 依依不捨的我們，在徑末的大石堆間玩樂了不少時間。經天梯下昂坪，往後下較寮/石散頭的路口有二，試著在蓮池寺一帶找了一會才放棄。另一路口卻是躲在吊車站地盤工作的驢仔所住的屋舍後。走了一段後，又遇地盤於本來打算取道的左方，惟有選右路。但因它初段看似只在窩位走，最終還是穿越地盤碰運氣。結果找到原來的山路，但此路的多條支路已不再明顯了。最後，我們下接彌石散石澗出較寮，由此輕鬆地出東涌。 |
| Ping Ka & Nam Chung CT 屏嘉石澗及南涌郊遊徑 7/11/04 今次根據搜集得的資料，在漁護處旁的公廁東北方找到掛在樹上的指路牌，終於得以下達嘉龍潭。第一個潭水最清澈，我下去浸了一小回。此季節水量已少，但好處是有更多壺穴暴露了出來。再往上的另一組水潭在一橋下，水看來不太濁，但它們都有著一點消毒藥水味，因此我已不敢下水。在中段一片啡石上有小壺穴在其下部，活像肚臍的樣子。上行一小段便可在左邊找到一企立的巨石，下方有貫通的大石孔。我跟朋友們興致勃勃地從孔的一邊穿到另一邊，又將巨石想像成水泡般"穿"在腰間拍照。另一石潭中的壺穴也很獨"突"，那穴中竟有圓錐型石荀豎立其中。此石荀後方的瀑壁上的壺穴及石隙構成一副正在流鼻水的面孔，也有相連的大小壺穴，形成保齡樽形狀，十分有趣。這孔旁有缺了一邊的巨石孔，看上去像一張大靠背椅。再前行有塊兩尖的巨石，中有平整的裂縫，就如一個被刀切開的芒果。臨離澗前有水務建設擋路，那石屎牆下一潭啡紅色泛著泡沫的水正散發出濃烈的消毒水氣味，令我想起剛下澗時曾下過水，該就是這池水的下游，唉！怪不得中途那個潭已帶著淡淡的同類氣味。 我們需攀上右方石崖接水道及石梯抵達一片有亭的空地，如再前行不久便會抵橋山橋。我們則沿車路下山，重經漁護處接遊南涌郊遊徑。上行一段接屏南石澗中游，那是片寬廣平坦的水潭。那時有大群人聚集在潭邊，其中一人拿著有長桿的網，另一在附近的人腰間則有一約半呎長的金屬鑿鎚，大家都心知肚明他的意圖，難道那不是郊野公園範圍嗎？這裡上一點有小徑連接屏南上遊，那層層的潭瀑間有一水潭位處於兩堵相距約兩米且橫亙於澗道的巨壁間，幽暗深遽的潭水即使看看也令人有點害怕。在老龍田的路交時曾考慮是否改走屏風山北面的小徑，但最終還是續登龜頭嶺下平頂坳。出新屋仔一段是微斜下山的，可眺望左方的丹山河谷。最後經丹竹坑出沙頭角道離開。 |
| Cheung Chau 長洲 5/11/04 已想不起有多少年沒有到過長洲了，上次也只是夜裡到這兒乘街渡往望東灣。上岸後在繁盛的大街一小攤擋取了份簡只有英文版的簡單地圖。它不夠細，結果我還是用自己的地圖。一路西灣走往張保仔洞。洞內比從前乾淨，也沒那麼臭。攀下梯後，走若廿公尺後便要從另一更窄小的洞口爬出。難得今天是多日來沒有的少煙霞，使能得見遠方的島嶼。經鯆魚灣來到五行石。一如以往，大石滿佈塗鴉。有幸聽到有過路的學生公然對此自私行為作出批評，我最欣賞如此正義的人。面向白鰽灣[Italian Bay]的山坡上有石堆疊成狗狀。沿山頂道西經墳場及氣象站後，穿越一美輪美煥得被我誤為別墅的公共屋村後，沒上山改走平路，再經運動場往南乙水灣[Morning Beach]匆匆一瞥，便又上路。繞思高路[Don Bosco Rd]到"小長城"。其實那是白色石欄與石砌小徑，連接數個怪石景點。很多在那一帶海岸的巨石，都有著蜂窩狀的侵蝕痕跡，也有些有著彎曲的侵蝕面。花瓶石下的石廊便不單有此弧面，更有一較小的石塊塞在通天石廊的上方，不知何時會掉下。不論玉璽石，人頭石，花瓶石還是饅頭石，在我眼裡也看成另外的東西，大家的思路不同吧！最高興的要算終於到了觀音灣[Aftertoon Bay]及東灣海灘一帶。可是風少，租帆板也貴，惟有想像一上自己如何像珊珊一樣在海面飛翔罷！轉入國民路時，小學剛下課。市中心的建築與民居仍有著一股懷舊味道，有點時光倒流的感覺。到山上的長貴村走了一遭，繼而下山沿大鬼灣走，接長北路再次上山到北眺亭一看。其北便是雷達站，以東則有北角咀。時候不早了，沒下東灣仔[Coral Beach]，只從北角咀看了一會。看來應該水清，但灘緣有不少垃圾。總的來說長洲的大小海灘也比大嶼山的小垃圾〔東灣仔除外〕。沿山腰往北社新村時，突感頸後有點癢，以為是背囊的手抽做成，便伸手到後面弄開它。卻碰到一些毛茸茸的東西，也來不及細想便感中指劇痛。忘看過究竟，原來被蜜蜂蟞了，還有條刺連著毒囊。可憐因誤會至使牠沒命了。不巧的是，今天我剛特地取起了急救包，唉！沒有鑷子，又怕誤擠毒囊，惟有掐著手指快想解救方法，也同時擔心自己有否對該毒液過敏。最後沒法了，只有用指甲小心地盡量避過毒囊，並很快地拔出該刺。之後緊掐著手指一回，幸好它只腫起了一個小點，但那痺痛感則維持了很久。一時間忘了掐著它，讓它垂下來便最明顯。在市中心及海傍的大小街道逛著，不消多久太陽便在擠滿漁船的港灣後方沉下去了。手指的傷口在離開長洲前已消腫了，只餘一觸痛的小孔。 |
| Lamma Island 南丫島 - 軍機表演 20/10/04 大清早抵達索罟灣前，已留意到鹿洲[George Island]佈滿巨石的特徵；而南丫島上的大小山頭亦有著如斯特色。繞過大片泥灘後，從蘆鬚城學校前路過前往蘆鬚城海灘。那是一個小海灘，一個泳客也沒有。燒烤場全沒樹蔭，看來夏日裡不妨試用太陽能煮食罷。回頭走到天后廟旁登上石級往菱角山與山地塘[Mt Stenhouse]的山坳，此兩座山也都有著無數奇形怪狀的大石，有些像開心果，大熊，大角羊，也有像有著大鼻子的北歐古代巨人'troll'。今天在濃濃的煙霞下十分難以拍攝遠景，因我的小相機並沒有偏光鏡。可是我還是感覺到陽光的熾烈，每當沒風時，便有窒息的感覺。自一山咀往下面的深灣時，發現了其中一種有毒植物，只是想不起其名字。這段山路的末段有大片野草，走在其中根本看不到四週。從草叢中走出來後立刻回望，但已差不多找不到剛才的出口了。漁護處在那兒設有監察站， 還差數天此灘才解封。一條卵石通往東澳的石排灣，那村的治安大概不錯吧，沒遇過一隻守門狗。反而在家樂徑上山回山坳時，遇到一隻膽小的狗，一見到我便回頭逃，數次都如是。大概是我的樣子太可怕吧！上山途中有一巨石，其下略傾斜，可在那兒的遮蔭稍竭。只是有沒公德者在石上塗鴉，破壞景觀。另一方面，其實真的有需要在石上寫上石名嗎？這樣的巨石真的並不少見，不標名的話才可讓各人發揮自己的想像力。 在山腰的涼亭中吃過東西後，再下山坳然後上登菱角山。在離訊號站不遠的亭中等候時，一飛行服務隊的直升機抵達，並一直沒關掉引擎，因此亭中的所有人都撤到更遠的開壙地守候法國的飛行表演。待了一小時，終於看到表演了。可是煙霞實在太大，若飛機在淺水灣上空而又沒有噴彩煙時，便不易發現。甚至當它們上衝一段後，亦已不見了，不用待甚麼衝上雲宵，因為根本看不到蒼窮與雲朵。彩煙消散得也快，不明為何煙霞不是。雖然如此，每當機群飛近時，仍十分震撼！有時它們圍繞著南丫島飛，有時則在我們上空略過。看過表演後從另一面下山，經模達上方及索罟灣往鐵砂塱。從涼亭欣賞下尾灣的斜陽，一會後才下山到小灘匆匆一走。那兒有著大片我很喜愛的芒草。其後經洪聖爺灣從榕樹灣離開。 |
| Chi Ma Wan Peninsula 芝麻灣半島 12/10/04 Same as last week, HK was hovered by a shroud of smog. Nothing far was clearly visible, not even the sunrays could penetrate the atmosphere properly. We disembarked at around 11.28, and walked straight up to the Lantau Trail #12 soon afterwards. At a junction just before post #136, we left the main trail for a descend downhill. In a heavily vegetated wood, we went passed a badly-managed / deserted field and a shanty hut. Leaving this piece of land, we're then under open sky for most of the coming leg. Our paths ran along the coastline, with quite some beaches on our way. Unlike those I visited last week, these were less scattered with litters washed ashore. I couldn't tell from the brand name this time of their origination, i.e., if they're from PRC or from the locals. Yet, a large part of the litters were still made up of plastic bottles, flip-flops, shoes, fishing nets ... etc. With Shui Tseng Wan behind us, we headed for Ngau Kwu Wan and had lunch at the farther end of the beach where we're almost 'surrounded' by all sorts of litters. Apart from those mentioned above, there're some foam cups and meal boxes from Fairwood and McDonald's. Only the beach by the waterfront was clear of rubbish. If one could act blind to the rubbish, then the scenery was picturesque. A large stream meandered across the flooded plain towards the beach. It was tranquil on a weekday, we didn't meet many people, except the dwellers in the small villages. Passing the many prison buildings, we reached a crossing with a map board. From there, we ascended for about 5 minutes to a small reservoir dam. The trail on the east of the reservoir took us to yet another crossing, where I had decided to shorten our course due to the lack of day light available. Without visiting Ha Keng, we headed straight for the crossing at Lung Mei, and went down another path some metres north-east of the 'dragon-tail' statue. Not long after passing a kiln were we 'greeted' by the ferocious barks of several dogs. We stood still with our hiking sticks in front guarding us from possible attacks. Soon they're hold back by their owners. Tai Long Beach hadn't got much litters, only a giant tyre and another large one lay there. The path was somewhat hidden among tall grasses shielding off the rest of the land from the sand. Looking back across Tai Long Beach, the hills of Ha Keng and the neighbouring ones were rock-strewn. I wonder if rock-climbers would love for a try there. We hadn't gone down to Yi Long as there's a private estate which made the beach less attractive to me. Instead, we joined the country trail once more for returning to Lung Mei by another leg. Back at the crossing, we struggled upstairs in the late afternoon sun. There's less heat, though I was 'steaming' as usual. No wonder I was the target of mosquitoes. It was breezy up on the Fire Lookout at Lo Yan Shan. The panoramic view with the setting sun was stunning. Leaving reluctantly, we climbed two more knolls before continuing our course downhill. The last knoll gave an excellent birds-eye view of Pui O. One may spend long hours sitting on the bare rocks around if time permits. A shattered trigonometrical pole stood on the exposed top, with stones and slippery slopes lying below. We reached the foothill just before dark, and passing Ham Tin village and Pui O, heading for the bus stop on South Lantau Rd. We enjoyed the nightview at Silvermine Beach before departing for home. |
| 分流 Fan Lau 6/10/04 可能始終是穿了長袖衫的關係，即使天氣已稍涼，陽光下我仍是很快已覺熱。出發不久便在觀音山的亭附近見到一所新置的臨時廁所。一銀色的圓盤在它後方轉動著，大家都在猜那是何物。再上數十米便見左方的分叉，走這條羌山郊遊徑大部份都是平等高線的路，亦可一覽石壁一帶的景色，中西狗牙也在視線內。下大浪續走引水道至分流東灣，在廢炮台稍休吃東西後，才過西灣，在樹蔭下享受微涼的海風，簡直不想離開。今次兩灘的海水看來都差不多，只是東灘較多沖上岸的垃圾，繼有各色的樽及鞋，例如，玻璃樽，膠樽，鬆糕鞋，拖鞋，球鞋等等。據膠樽上的牌子來看，便知是祖國送給我們的"禮物"！另有多個白色大膠袋，內裡的不知是甚麼，說不定是誰送的"福袋"呢？不要以為這場面已經最"感人"，還有更"美"的在等著呢！ 因沒有事先查看潮汐資料，所以沒冒險過雞翼角，只在沙灘上察看各類石塊的侵蝕。當然沒錯過可跟東灣的垃圾爭輝的更多類形垃圾。樽及鞋已不算新鮮了，最有趣的是一塑膠面罩及一航海用的訊號器。前者像燒焊時用的那種，但不是金屬的。後者還未過期，上部是燈，中有黃色海綿環，下部為圖畫及英文說明。我沒細看，因那東西拿在手上頗重。它大概是浮在水面發射訊號，讓船隻知道它的位置，可能是求救用的吧。隱約記得有類似signal flare的字眼，所以據此推測它的用途。難道這是之前有船遇難時用的？ 離開煎魚灣後，趕往二澳，那時已西斜。滿以為可看到大澳美麗的日落，晴天霹靂的是，鹽田對出已有興建遊艇區的大型工程在展開，那些醜陋的支架及吊臂破壞了整個日落的氣氛！真可恨從前只有大機，怕它重而很少帶，結果沒有拍過任何大澳落日的照片。香港的自然景觀經常處於高危狀態，大家應多珍惜！ |
| 大刀屻 Tai To Yan 1/10/04 photos 相簿 跟數年前一樣，都是從粉嶺出發。雖則上山較相反走的話更多，但因為了方便之後探訪小灣鱷，也沒所謂了。三十度的天氣下，雖走在林蔭中也十分難受。初段沿著蝴蝶山徑走，那時途人最多，北大刀屻以後也少不了很多。老實說，那是沒料到的。事實上，在最險要的大山屻附近，還遇上年紀最小的途人，大概只有四五歲。上次來時有不少蝴蝶，今次只有一兩隻，希望只是由於季節不合，而不是人為因素吧！中途還遇上數名穿迷彩衣的人在巡邏，並派發印有就近警局電話的單張。 四周的煙霞一直都很濃，差不多像霧那樣濃。大帽山，觀音山，桂角山，大羅天及石崗跑道等等，全都若隱若現，極之迷濛，即使正午時份亦如是，林村谷當然也在其列。不知是現在見多了世面，還是植物多了，從前覺得大刀屻圍了鐵鍊的石堆一帶頗刺激，現在已無甚感覺了。我還在上次認為最驚險處彎腰檢拾剛才不小心掉在石上的東西。話雖如此，大家還是要加倍留神的好。的確，那兩面直峭的山勢，令整座山看起來像極一把刀峰向天的豬肉刀。 當離開大刀屻主峰，雨便開始落下來，幸不久又稍停了。前晚才走通宵，今天實在仍有點倦。但卻阻不了我參觀嘉道理農場的意志，上次參觀已是不知多少年前了。可惜我們若四時才到，兼且再碰上大雨，誤了起步時間。當時未知道原來遲些才可參觀小灣鱷，惟有從大電視中看貝貝的情形，而牠那時正躲在一角休息。雨停後便開始上山看，最先看到的是那可愛的大肥豬，但只有一面之緣，轉頭牠回屋內吃東西，用牠的肥臀向著我了。而最有趣的要算那些懂得吹口哨及打招呼的鳥兒。牠們是主動說話的，我引牠們說反而不被理采。那隻黑色身有點黃毛加紅咀的鳥兒，見我走過來便說morning，離開時牠們也會主動說bye-bye來道別，很是聰明。有只African Grey Parrot 最特別，每當我在牠面前出現，牠便會像撩女子般吹口哨，對其他人卻沒反應。兩次都是這樣，我猜那是因為我穿的衣服色彩很是奪目罷了。而白色的cockatoo只會說bye-bye，也說得不太合時 ... ... 還是牠們不想多見我一眼呢！較早前在空調室內也花了不少時間去尋找那些具有很好保護色的蛙類。最後參觀的是猛禽籠，內有不同的鷹，如貓頭鷹，麻鷹，還有那更罕有的白腹海鵰。雖大都曾受傷且正身處籠中，牠們的氣勢仍很攝人。其實正常來說我是沒多大興趣參觀動物園的，但今次看的是所動物療養所之類的地方，性質不同。心痛的是，一些遊人見到那些可憐的動物時，還說不知那些好吃否？而他們的領隊則老實不客氣地告訴大家要多幫襯商店，讓他可多拿點回佣。真不希望生態旅遊袛是掛名的商業活動，為了賺錢而不顧一切！ |
| Lo Fu Wat 老虎笏 28-29/9/04 photos 相簿 It seemed to me that whenever I joined a tour hosted by others to visit this area, luck wouldn't be on our side, and that we'd come across an accident and needed to have the trip cancelled. Some years ago, we started from the main dam and one of us had a losing bowel, then came the rain. We decided to turn back somewhere near Lo Fu Wat. This time, it had nothing to do with the weather, though there's a kind of mist hiding almost every star in the sky, making it vain to bring the star map. Not even the moon could be seen all the time. When we're almost at the top of Cheung Pai Tun, I became weak and dizzy in an instant, but had no sign of strong pulse. So I stopped and tried to regain normal. Yet my pals were eager to go on .... Fortunately, after throwing up, I became somewhat better. At the peak, we had a longer break while I ate a pear to speed up recovery. Judging from what I'd thrown up, it's probably the beer I drank after dinner that did the trick. I'd only limited experience of having beer after hiking but never beforehand. That proved it's not alright to have it even hours in advance and with a full stomach. Afterwards, I was almost back to normal. That night, I had my manual camera with me. While I was taking a photo with the 'B' button in front of the team, my pals urged me to come back, for one of them had slipped and sprained her ankle. [I guessed that's probably because she was shocked to see the guy behind her turned into a werewolf under the full moon]. We were somewhere near Sam Mun Shan by then, so there was no choice but to retreat. This time, I didn't turn on my Ap Liu St LED headlamp anymore, for the weak light didn't work any better than the misty full moon. The walk back to the start was a much slower one. It's all the more tough for that girl to go down the ~100m of eroded slope of Cheung Pai Tung, ie, the slope where I had had a light head. At daybreak, the moon began to set while I was in the valley down the foot of that long slippery slope. Then the sun rose under a shroud of mist, without our being able to see it. The girl and those accompanying her were having a pause midway on the slope. I was taking pictures on the knoll ahead, with Lo Fu Wat down below me. The sun only showed up minutes afterwards at a higher angle. The still air became annoying when the heat built up later in the day under the scorching sun, that was only about 9 am. It became all the more frustrating to walk on the main dam with heat steaming from the paved road. Lots of rubbish were found along the dam, they were left over by those inconsiderate people the night before while celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Candles, lanterns, flourescent sticks ... lying all over the place. Plastic bags floating in the sea along with foam blocks. Some foam blocks were as large as mattresses. Water in the reservoir along the dam was stinking, though not sure of its cause. |
| 猴塘溪 Hau Tong Kai 18/8/04 photos 相簿 Soon after we started from Tai Tan, a huge "toasted thick sandwich" was found lying on our left. Clink! To my disappointment, it turned into a "triangular" boulder beside the stream. Pools were small downstream, most of them were full of mosses. Not long after passing beneath the bridge at Hoi Ha Rd, the high dam of a service reservoir blocked our way. We had to climb up a slope before reaching the path besides the Fan Pool [not sure of its name]. Some people called the one near the Beacon Rock this name; however, I think this one was more of the shape of a folding fan. A set of cascades flowed into this largest pool I had ever seen in HK. A bit further upstream, we had to make use of a ladder installed on a vertical boulder cliff. Just before another large pool, a huge red sandstone lied a bit away from the bank. It was the famous Beacon Rock. Well, it looked like a "ventilator" to me, with rows of horizontal fissures, and a few vertical ones. The rock face was very coarse, so be careful. When we came to the junction on the left, with a path joining the Cheung Sheung CT, we turned for it and went back to Hoi Ha Rd. This was the day when I tried stream trekking with my canvas shoes on [not "pak fan yu"], and it turned out to have a much better grip than the running shoes I used to wear. As at Tai Shing, I only jumped among rocks, no need to wade. Generally speaking, this stream was more difficult than expected. Yet, quite some rocks were good "stepping stones" with flat surfaces. |
| 西貢田尾坑 Tin Mei Hang, Sai Kung 15/8/04 本打算跟隊去馬大，但擔心前幾天天雨關係，決定還是跟上之那隊去田尾坑。在西灣路途中時，驟見天文異像日暈的出現：一圈彩虹般的光環圍繞著太陽，襯托著晴朗的藍空。年前在一次往蒲苔的獨木舟旅程中，首次有幸目睹同一天象，可是那時沒攜相機。 先下水塘邊的坑口，那兒有大片雜物飄浮，跟塘中的碧藍相比，更形可怖，姑勿論那是食水水塘！沿途垃圾不算多，該是少遊人罷，可是水看來仍不大清，或許袛是苔蘚植物多的關係吧。澗身比較窄，由是石崖或通行困難的植柀，基本上沒退路。除了重經西灣路時例外。澗旁的山路很少，主要靠涉水攀石。於上游時則需在又窄又濕滑的澗道前行，兩旁更多是有鋒利邊沿，甚或鋸齒的高草。幸好上游林蔭也多，遮擋了烈日。近澗頂則有些頗有難度的崖壁。抵大枕蓋以西後，續往北接鹿湖離開。 |
| Wang Chung 橫涌 1/8/04 Started upstream from Bride's Pool Rd. Indistinct paths appeared intermittently. Most of the times, we were wading along the stony stream bed. Recent rainfalls had left us little dry land. Water was ample which gushed like wild horses. Not only did it nourish the land, it also benefited both flora and fauna, thus bringing lush green to the vale. It's rather awkward to proceed on the slippery rock faces. Some inconsiderate hikers were seen littering the stream and its banks. One of them even picked some plants for re-planting at home. She had no sense of not stealing public properties at all. The littered peels and seeds were in fact exotic items to the indigenous plants. No need to say, the dispose of waste water in the stream also caused pollution and spoilt the scenery. We moved on from one pool to another, and from one cascade to another. They seemed numerous and possessed impressive beauties. It's a pity that there wasn't enough time to spend at the Frosty Jade Pool 霜碧潭, which was excellent for cooling down under the scorching heat radiating from the clear blue sky. At a middle-stream branch where most people head north for the Nature Trail, we joined the same trail by going up the Bamboo Brook 竹坑 in the south. The hideous parts were found there at the Brook, where we had to climb up the cascade itself. It's not high but while there's running water, the rock face was slippery. Dashing all the way towards Tai Mei Tuk, I found it the easiest leg of the trek. |
| Tsing Tai Stream & Tai Lang Stream 青大石澗及大冷溪 25/7/04 photos 相簿 隨定向友人們從下白泥穿過果園及漁塘，於堆填區閘口旁經廢村入澗，那一帶充滿荔枝椿臭味。這次水位比去冬高了不少，植物也茂盛多了。因酷熱關係，我多涉水降溫。臥龍潭大休地獨欠樹蔭，水則不太深，面積又寬廣，大伙人也不會擠。下午與其中數人沿大冷溪上溯。此段出奇地多姿采，計有全程最清幽碧綠的小潭，也有因前幾天下了不少雨而造成的流瀑和氣勢。上次在花香爐山腳見到的棕色水也沒有了，換成一泓清水。至花香爐山下，轉東上山脊走去冬走過的路，途經大量溝壑及一片焦林下五渡水，繼而沿澗左上山。抵坳後，我與其餘友人分手，跟一友人上青山頂。經訊號站，從亭旁石切小徑下山。今天不單止萬里無雲，灰霾也沒有。青山腹地一帶視野廣闊，站在山脊甚至可清楚看見大陸的城市，可惜城市景不會迷人。抵539米時夕陽剛天際小島落下。步下屯門市時而可看到屯門一帶的夜景。接馬路前一段為石級，馬路旁房屋多狗。途中遇警車巡邏。 |
| Tai Shing Stream 大城石澗 10/7/04 photos 相簿 隨友人從城門水塘的灰橋下上澗。沿途比預料中少山路，總是在大石堆中跳來跳去，烈日下實在難受。幸澗身不算窄，兩旁樹林婆娑，卻是很少樹蔭覆蓋澗其上。近杜鵑潭時作大休，在一列淺潭間嬉水玩樂。停留期間留意到水位下降了一些。最殺風景的要算那頻密的飛機聲。因我那兒陽光普照，沒想到那些"貨柜車聲"，其實是山後遠方的雷聲。杜鵑潭那裡樹蔭更少，有大小數層瀑布。我們從左面的出口接走虎蹤徑下車路，然後沿塘畔回菠蘿壩。友人說從前虎蹤徑有老虎，我心裡卻想"山賊猛於虎"。大貓其實很懶，不太出動。衷心希望日香港的山徑不要都變了賊蹤徑。 |
| 屏南石澗 Ping Nam Stream 20/6/04 photos 相簿 隨定向會前往，沿南涌路盡頭壩右山坡入澗，在草裙瀑對上的老龍潭大休數小時，該潭瀑上更有一小潭，一些同伴自上跳下。自潭右登棧道至一片大岩面地，沛水時節或許是澗面。不一會發現右方有大壺穴，有街上蓋著鐵蓋的渠口般大，可容數人。更上有大淺潭，南涌郊遊徑有小橋橫跨。至此大伙沿水泥徑下山。 |
| Starling Inlet, Crooked Harbour + Double Haven, Plover Cove CP 船灣郊野公園 沙頭角海，吉澳海+印塘 9/5/04 It was a light wind day, sunray struggled helplessly through the smog. We walked on levelled paths bordering the Starling Inlet coast, from Luk Keng, via Fung Hang and Kuk Po. From then on, the path heading NE towards Yung Shue Au was not as easy, we went over hills reaching So Lo Pun breathlessly in such a windless day. It was exhausting to hike inland on a hot and sunny day, hence, we took more breaks and stopped at a few clean streams to cool down a bit. Holiday tours arrived by boats and crowded at Lai Chi Wo. Villagers there hang up banners protesting against the large development plan of the area proposed by the government. Passing the boardwalks by the seaside woodland, we reached Sam A via Siu Tan. I remembered the first time I was there at its pier, it was a quiet day in the CNY. The scenery was more fascinating with drizzles and cool breeze. Red rocks were common in the Sam A Chung area. The heat became more tolerable when we were hurrying west for the endpoint at Wu Kau Tan. |
| Wong Nai Tun + Tai Lam Reservoirs 黃泥墩及大欖水塘 12/3/04 photos 相簿 We're shown the way to the uphill stairs at Yeung Ka Tsuen by a villager. Not long after the climb, a small placid reservoir lie before us. At the other end of it, we found a short and straight water tunnel. My pals insisted to venture into it, so I decided to follow. There was only a weak flow, but the most interesting things were the little bats hanging upside down from the ceiling. They packed closely to each other, sleeping peacefully. We tried to be very quiet so as not to wake those cutie creatures up from their slumbers. Getting out of the tunnel again, we were greeted by the sunshine once more. the Water level of Tai Lam was rather low, large areas of earth banks were exposed, giving a feel of being in a stony desert. Walking along its south-western coast, we headed towards the downhill road on the right of the main dam. |
| Lower Sheung Luk Stream 雙鹿下游 04 Going downhill, we soon reached the estuary of Sheung Luk at Sai Wan. More than a decade ago, visiting Sai Wan and Shum Chung on a Saturday, both villages gave an unruffled and pleasant feel. This time, there was a bustle of life at Sai Wan with visitors and restaurants. The Four Successive Pools [四疊潭] were not far from the estuary. We bathed in one of them with another family. It was my first time after so many years to visit this stream again. To be frank, I was a bit nervous while moving along the slippery rockface of the stream. Further upstream, the gradient lessened and became the gently flowing body of water of Kap Man Hang. Some way up a sharp bend was the Silky Falls [千絲瀑], we took a long break there and then departed for the Luk Wu CT. |
| Fung Head + Sharp Peak 長咀蚺蛇尖 22/1/04 CNY Day The temperature was around 10oC, with a mild sun and east to north-easterly gusts. I was all the more enchanted by the "charm" of the landscape in such a pleasant weather. En route to Sharp Peak from Pak Tam Au, quite some time was spent in taking photos. The gusts there were the strongest. At the summit, one could "enjoy" gusts blowing onto you from ALL directions. Of course, one might take time in admiring the unique and spectacular panorama. Going downhill was the toughest part, but when we came to somewhere flat, we would rush on and on as if we were having a race. Just before the tip of the promontory of Fung Head, the land became undulating and was scattered with boulders. Having reached the narrow jutted land overlooking an escarpment on one side and a stack on the other, we turned back and went down to a seaside terrace. It was filled with litters both rushed ashore and left behind by campers. Those high waves breaking against the eastern shores were so stunning that I couldn't help exclaiming over and over again. Surfs were only a bit milder in the bays. Fine white sand reflecting rays from the sun in the western sky told the time of the day. After taking a short break at the Tai Long Village, we hurried on back to Pak Tam Au trying to get there before dark. At the bus stop, we met a group of westerners who had just finished their walk on Mac #2. They were much impressed by the scenery. I began to wonder if I'd be seeing better ones at New Zealand soon .... P.S. After my NZ trip in the north island, I have to admit that there are places in our countryside is almost as good, or even better. As long as we keep on doing our best to safeguard them, there's a chance that they will be as pleasing as they have ever been. |
| Fa Heung Lo+Tai Lang Stream 花香爐+大冷溪 1/1/04 photos 相簿 This time, we start from Lung Kwu Tan, going uphill passing by the "Emperor's Rock", then we headed towards the 310m peak of Fa Heung Lo before going down to the stream of Tai Lang Shui. The water of this stream looked brown in color which didn't seem to be the color of the earth / base rock. Meadows were found near the stream covered with dense vegetation. They gave a "green" and refreshing feel. There were several huge gullies dotted with pine trees. Farther away from the path, part of a ridge had caved in, forming a chasm gaping up at heaven. The sun was so strong and scorching that it didn't seem to be of a winter one. Even the water-proof sunblock lotion couldn't do much in protecting me. |
| Trips with dates unknown 不知日期的旅程 |
| Shek Uk Shan 石屋山 自高塘下車往海下路進發，先登老虎騎石，沿路見到一些白辦黃蕊的茶花。山頂新建了座石屋作為山火瞭望站，並有二人駐守。該處三面環海，視野廣闊，景緻一流。那份工作的環境看來不錯呢。跟著下的山坳中樹木茂密，有些悶焗。出坳後向石屋山巔的發射站前進，接著下山經坳門到嶂上。於嶂上休息過後，沿嶂上郊遊徑出海下路。郊遊徑旁山谷中便是難度不高的猴塘溪，自海下路再出高塘才乘車回去。 |
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