Ngau Kwo Lo,Dragon Boat Reef 牛過路+龍船石

Hazy with sunshine　BF0-1　23^oC　photos 相簿
八時許往海下的小巴不單沒有滿座，而且大部份人都在北潭涌之前下了車。發現了一條新開的暗徑，一路上都綁有一截截的警 察封鎖膠帶，大概是上年夏天那次搜山時留下的。嘗試沿該徑上山，大抵上多障礙物，還差數十米到山頂時更路徑分叉了，向 上那條結果不通行，需退回一點，然後入向西的支徑。那是上次定向比賽時來往起終點與賽事中心之間的指定山徑，不似之前 那條一直穿越樹林，這條較為開陽。可憐的是在我們找路時，曾於越過藤蔓時沾上了一身黑蟻，牠們叮人是頗疼的，幸沒發炎 。走回正路當然步速快多了，不消多久便抵達山上的平地。風微，四周都濃罩在煙霾中，陽光怎樣努力也驅不散它。只能隱約 看得見赤洲，近處的銀洲才清晰些。隔著赤門海峽的鳳凰笏頂像巨無霸的長臂般橫伸著，像是要擋住內陸吹來的毒霧。憑著定 向地圖輕易穿林過山，穿過林中的廢田不久，便要改換地形圖。一路上有數種指路帶，但是其中一種綁的位置有誤導成份，還 是靠自己吧！終於望見鵝頸咀，知道離小塘營不遠。將抵營舍前的一大片山坡已成劣地，希望此情形不要惡化擴大！那劣地的 小沖溝如樹根般向四面八方伸展。繞過荔枝莊廢田往大白角看龍船石，那兒的石質跟馬屎洲的相似，近碼頭處的較多色彩，另 一邊則多黑燧石層。吃過乾糧後上攀只有稀疏灌木的白角仔，繼而越過雞麻峒下蛇石坳。雞麻峒的南坡又是大片的劣地，唉！
在蛇石坳路交處一樹上竟釘了一張褪色照片，上有一句罵人話及張炳X的簽名。照片中好像是柏麗大道之類的購物街，人來人往 ，看來沒一個是主角，真不明為何會被釘在樹上，是又一個九龍皇帝的傑作嗎？上石屋山時正值一時許，隨身的簡陋寒暑表在 樹蔭下測得26度，陽光下則超過32度！加上該段無風及大部份時候無遮蔭，悶熱難耐。雖說那表不大準確，但感覺上開陽處應 有26度以上。深涌草坪上一個鮮橙色的營幕很是奪目，三杯酒躺在寧靜的企嶺下海中，令巨靈般的馬鞍山更顯得高聳入雲。沿 山腰一路微微上行，最終接上坳門的草坪，以及熟識的小片白千層林。路經嶂上營地對出的一些垃圾箱，牛群正在翻弄一地的 垃圾，不知垃圾是給牛弄出來的，還是本來就給棄在地上。其中有大量的發泡膠碗，大概是殘羹的味道引來了牛隻，其中一隻 還正在用牙弄開一個綁了結的膠袋呢！為何牠們好好地有草不吃？本來打算下龍坑旁的小徑，但當看到烈日正照著那邊山坡時 ，便改變了主意，轉為向岩頭山的隔火路走去。那兒其實也並不大好走，只因草頭濕滑。下抵坳位再轉入林中石磴古道，不用 說那是更陰暗濕滑的了。近山腳時有廢村，不久便接上車路經高塘的一些別墅旁出北潭路。

Yin Ngam Stream 燕岩溪

17/7/05　　photos 相簿 [跟華嶽]
本來我們幾個去行燕 岩竹林隧道，但剛要入林時友人們在我拍照時跟錯了'華嶽'入澗，我叫住他們又因水聲太大而聽不到。追上他們時又已不願回 頭，於是便照跟了。後來11月我們才去返未去的燕岩竹林隧道。這天酷熱天氣警告，全靠林蔭保護，沿途才不覺難受。
自大埔墟火車站出發，進入元墩下村不久，即抵衛徑的一座涼亭。走右邊支路上行一點入竹林即見燕岩溪下游，其實入村後已 見其更下游的支流經村通往他處。沿澗上有不少巨石，甚少山路，幸那些石並沒有大城石澗的大。可是從另一方面看，被水淹 了的石卻更多，少了踏腳石。此澗潭瀑不多，我也只是在初段時，正式下了一次潭，亦即彩燕潭，其他的可算是大小水漥而已 。潭水頗冷，不知是否由於氣溫高相對覺得水冷的原故。瀑布不多，高的也只一兩條。過了瀑布不久，澗道開始不段收窄。遇 明顯分支時，大伙選了右支。抵一長有高大樹木的澗段時，攀上一崖壁後接不明顯小徑。沿石磴路再前行一會才接上位於台地 上草叢中的山徑，此徑則橫過剛才分支的左澗上源。過此位後又是草叢中的山徑，緩緩上升至四方山一坳位便接回麥徑九段。
跟大隊分手，沿暗徑下走明顯山徑，再下行，先經一條龍對上澗源，才過大城主澗有肥佬麥塗鴉處。現在除了該塗鴉，更多了 另兩個常見的無公德心者的塗鴉！自虎跡徑開始多為下山林徑，經過杜鵑潭的支徑口時，有衝動下去再浸一會水。此徑有兩三 個分叉位，由於地圖上沒有完整顯示，要靠經驗估計了。出車路後，下山轉右，前行一段見龍門郊遊徑牌樓。出菠蘿壩的折徑 正進行工程，要繞路走。

靈渡山>臥龍潭 (杯靈雙渡)

於西鐵站出 發沿屏廈路走至田廈路廈村市，那裡是處還保留著舊日色彩的村落。新屋村與舊李屋村之間有條車路，前行不久左方有條更小 的車路，兩旁有著圍板或鐵網，也有惡狗守門。圍板那邊是貨櫃場，另一邊是村舍，然後西部通道的高架路下出現了指示，引 領路人往靈渡寺。那是一所翻新過的寺廟，寺旁有大片空地，到處都很潔淨。拜別該寺，轉而從鐵絲網旁的不明顯小徑登山至 一"箭頭柱"前。繼續前行的話即沿山坡抵圓頭山頂附近。雖較辛苦，但我們則從柱旁直上山脊的電塔下[如從同一條徑下山便太 陡滑了]。自電塔開始至良田坳，兩邊風景都目不暇給。西面有建築中的大橋通往內地，當中隔著泥黃的后海灣；東面則是元朗 及屯門的市鎮與及背景的大欖。由於浮沙碎石不絕，加上風勢強烈[BF4-5]，我曾數次被吹至站不穩。很多時都是吹東至東南風 ，吹向貼近山谷的那一面，令人更膽戰心驚，步步為營。將登圓頭山時，有一安裝了鐵鍊的泥徑，幸好我們是往上走，因它上 段最是直峭。有次以一塊看上去像泥石柱的東西借力，卻在我上引時，用力一扳之下粉碎， 自此事後更增我心裡的顧忌。
途中有處兩面都已塌下了的深溝，獨餘僅容一人通過的"土橋"，疾風下惟有耐心待風勢稍息時盡快過去。其實也可選從左下方 崖腳繞過去的，只是要多走一點了。過了扇岩[一塊有些像扇貝的岩石]不久便是乾山山頂，橫跨東西的車路及稔灣堆填區清晰 可見。自良田坳下走那條已毀爛不堪的舊車路，前往臥龍潭浸水。由於多天的大雨，不單那車路成了小溪，潭水也上升了不少 ，看那岸邊舊水位應曾再高一呎，稍為有點落差的地方水勢更急。臨走前有兩架越野電單車經過...岸邊的生銹車架不知是否這 類車的。離開臥龍潭時遇見兩孩子在訴說找不到蝌蚪云云...唉！都給大家捉去了，那來青蛙吃掉蚊子呢？一整天也沒怎麼見過 陽光，可是太陽油仍保護不了我，晒了個紅鼻子！大抵是只在起步時搽過一次罷，我怕下水前才塗會污染澗水，更會被下游煮 食的人唾罵嘛。

Castle Peak Firing Range [Four Successive Pools] 青山腹地〔四疊潭〕

photos 相簿
因有人大遲到至使損失了寶貴的大半小時。雖然先到，卻也沒心情再細找傍澗走的路了，大概是在村屋後吧！曾沿村前空地走了一趟，不見便算。改為登龍門徑經皇帝岩，差不多到測量墩便轉東下山。上次過了那兒才下山的。無論上山或下山都是粗砂的土壤，植柀比早前還少。谷底不是小澗便是長了草的濕泥，常會給濕泥濺污。天明前才下了場雷雨，不料途中除了初時有點陰晴不定外，大多數時候都是像走在正午的沙漠中。炙熱的砂反射著熾熱的陽光，即使太陽鏡加寬圓邊帽也掃不去那像是走在烤爐中的感覺。
先下大冷溪，到附近看一塊像切片"麵包"石。那石的裂紋垂直的居多，裂開後沒有倒下，被旁邊較小的石托著，好端端地留在澗中。可惜我今天一直沒胃口，可能太熱吧！否則又怎會不'吃掉它？'另外，奇怪的是汗也不太大，一點都不像平時。自登山後發覺極目都是鬆散的黃砂，與及燒焦枯萎的植物，十分心痛！甚至連五渡水一帶也面目全非，簡直無法辨認。從前植物是有人般高的，也有三兩支清雅的蘭花一類。現在甚麼都沒有了，一經雨季的土壤流失後，更難覆本來面目！到底是人為還是天然災害做成？當然，山火後燒不掉的鋁罐，及新被遺棄的垃圾也更明顯。
下四疊潭浸了一會，可能昨夜的大雨還未滋潤到這區，水量不多。加上一些焦黑的灰燼被沖到澗中，當人移動時便被帶起。坐了不久更遇上可恥的煙民，污染空氣，迫他人食二手煙，導致敏感症發作...更可能隨處丟煙蒂。最不幸是令人聯到剛見過的四野焦土，那滿目蒼痍的景像！要吸煙便不應到郊外，妨礙他人享受大自然。浸完潭之後走原路到路交，轉而登山接非法開墾的梯田下良景路。那段登山路是第三次走了，這次要走了一段才能說服自己眼前的焦土光景是從前的翠綠山窩。登了一小段乾山便放棄，走回頭下良景。因沒胃口，一直沒正式吃多少東西，也因一開始的延誤至使時候有點不早，不想太急走山脊出天水圍，待遲些再算吧！

Tsang Pang Kok Tsui ... Po Pin Chau 罾棚角咀...破邊洲

sunny　photos 相簿

This time, we had a tough small group　which gave a good reason to cover both the vehicle roads of Sai Wan and Man Yee. Drizzles were with us now and then. Yet, the hottest and toughest part of the trek was the scorching sun. Not having been to Sai Wan Shan for quite some time, it's a surprise to find two newly built pavilions. Nonetheless, the bigger surprise was to come across 3 pale bikini ladies who were of fashion models' figures. Soon after the first pavilion, we left the main trail for Cheung Ngam Teng [長岩頂]. The day was too hot to go up Tai Yue Ngam Teng [睇魚岩頂], I'd rather spend more time enjoying the sea breeze at the tip of the Tsang Pang Kok promontory. A large clump of soaked and decaying sheets and mattresses were found near the Tsang Pang Kok Teng [罾棚角頂], not far from the trigo. pole. Everyone of us wondered if those were left behind by IIs ... but then why would they choose to bring those bulk items to such an unsheltered place? A large surface of weathered bare rock lied in a valley facing the solitary Conic Island [飯甑洲]. Several anglers whiled their time away on the northern part of it, as yachts and boats sped passed the strait and the ocean. A greyish band of mist at the horizon blended the sky with the sea. Columns of hexagonal rock pillars formed the coastal cliffs, somewhat like those at Po Pin Chau [破邊洲] .
Leaving the promontory after lunch, we descended to Long Ke Tsai [浪茄仔]. It looked picturesque from afar. At a closer look, disappointment filled my heart to see lots of rubbish with PRC brand names being washed ashore. Why is 'she' sending us rubbish and IIs? Even the cigarette packets found at different places of this trek were of PRC brand names. Long Ke Campsite was crowded with campers. A few offenders even built make-shift BBQ stoves on the white sandy beach with large pebbles, urgh! Detouring off the road on East Dam, we went down to the coffer dam, with a quick look at some rhyolite pillars beside the road at the pond. They're twisted into wavy patterns. Reaching the end of the dam, we slithered around the high fence to join the hillpath of Fa Shan [花山 ]. Clambering up to the knoll off Po Pin stack, we finally came to the edge of the precipice above the strait. The fabulous scene of sheer cliffs of Po Pin stack was unforgettable. Retracing the path to the junction, we ascended a spur of Fa Shan for a level path which brought us to a pebble laden beach, it was named Seven Layers of Rock Beach [七重石灘] because of the different types of pebbles, each forming a separate layer. Within the same bay, there're two small beaches, the sandy one is called Pak Lap Tsai [白腊仔]. On the other side of the shrubbery pass was Pak Lap Village. After having the papaya sweet soup at its store, we went uphill taking the long and boring Man Yee Road in the dark. Unhired taxis passed by in both directions, hoping that we'd take them.

High Island 糧船灣洲

Overcast w/sunny patches
Starting at the estuary of Lung Hang [龍坑], my mind was filled with the first fascinating scene - clear water running over pebble-laden bed, reflecting a variety of green leaves. A jetty was just outside the museum, with the Po Leung Kuk campsite on the other side of the bank. After a pause at the jetty at Hei Tsz Wan [起子灣], we retraced a few metres to take the indistinct path uphill into densely vegetated areas. Crossing a dried up stream, we came across a junction from which we took the left branch to join the country trail. The Po Ku Wan [曝罟灣] Campsite came into sight within minutes. The country trail was open and good for running. Just before Chong Hing Water Sports Centre came into view, we passed by another junction branching off to Nam Fung Wan [南風灣] Campsite. Some steps leading downslope to join the west dam, where runners and crowds of day-tour visitors were found. Going down the road south of the pond, we took the indistinct path on the left. Besides being narrow and having dried up streams, the path was covered with loose and slippery stones. It became much easier than before when we're on the other side of Shum Tuk Wan [深篤灣]. Facing the south tip of Urn Island [ 大頭洲], a finger-like boulder [企人石] stood out remarkably from the rocky shore. One of the streams above Tam Shui Wan [淡水灣 Fresh Water Bay] had a small pool below a falls, I believed this was one of those 2 streams we saw when kayaking in rainy days.
Coming out of the forest behind Tai She Wan [Big Snake Bay/大蛇灣], a ruined mansion with funitures and many other daily utensils stood before us. Paints on the walls didn't give us a feeling that its inhabitants had departed long ago. If not for the broken windows and wide opened doors, one might still think that it's occupied. A make-shift BBQ stove was left behind the benches bewteen a jetty and tall palm trees. In case you visited the place at night and saw the photo album lying opened on the tree pot, you'd probably think that the house was haunted. Pak A [北丫] was noisy with holiday-makers enjoying their seafood feasts. Newly-paved paths led us round Leung Shuen Wan, passing the primary school [still in use] and Tin Hau Temple. We left Tung A [東 丫] by an uphill path through a burnt land. Pak Lap Beach [白腊灣] was somewhat like Tai Wan [大灣], with a row of tall trees behind the beach, sheltering the village from the damage of sand and wind. Taking the path behind the village, we joined Maclehose Trail #1 for a short while before ascending Fa Shan [Flower Hill/花山] for a panoramic view from its peak. Since most of the day was cloudy, we're not that interested to go down to the promotnory off Po Pin Chau [stack/破邊洲]. Hence, we descended an indistinct dried up stream. Retracing Maclehose Trail #1 to Tsak Yue Wu for the bus back home.

Mid-Kau-Nga-Leng 中狗牙嶺

Had been worrying if the weather would allow us to go .... Everything seemed not so favourable. Rain, cold wind and fog were common for days before this day. The 'leader' told me that we could keep going as long as there's nothing heavier than drizzles. Unlike last time when we ventured the West-Kau-Nga, it was overcast the whole day long. Lantau Peak was kept hidden under a layer of rolling fog. I'd been wondering if we could see anything once up there.
We took the Shek Pik Country Trail till we met the junction. This junction branched off much earlier than the one to the west ridge. Unlike the west one, the first part of the middle ridge was gentle and had much more vegetation and shades. We didn't have to do any climbing until we're almost up to the Narrow Escape [一線生機] - a large gap between two crags. Only one of the crags was jagged, the one on the west was not as steep. By then, was a rarely seen clear day, the view of those Mainland islands [ 萬山群島] at the horizon was the best proofs. Right in front of us was the Shui Hau Peninsula [水口半島], Tong Fuk Miu Wan [塘褔廟灣] was on its east shore. It has a large mudflat of which I'd love to visit one day. On both sides of the middle ridge, the bottom of ravines were covered with thick vegetation. The east ridge can only be reached from the catchwater by a stream, thus making it the most unfrequented one among the three ridges of the Kau Nga Leng.
The wind got higher and higher as time went by. Before long, it was as if the strong wind signal was hoisted. In such a condition, it was rather awkward to move uphill against the forceful wind. Even though the wind came from the side, I found it hard to walk with a straight back, nor to steady my stance. Still, the wind helped keeping me cool. The temperature up there should be below 5^oC, nevertheless, I found it alright to have only a T-shirt over a long-sleeve one for most of the time. No hat was needed at all. It was only when the wind got too chilly, then I had to put on a thin windbreaker for a short while. A mask also helped my allergic nose from becoming runny. Yet, the breathing vapour soon blurred my glasses. So you see, summer would be as hot as hell to me. It didn't take us long to reach the Lantau Trail near the summit. No more than two hours were spent for this uphill leg, much less than expected. If not for the strong wind that had made me clung close to the King of Hades Cliff [閰王壁], I could move up even faster. By then, the fog looked as if it was running away from me. It seemed that the fog only enjoyed sticking to Lantau Peak. Soon, we're descending the Jacob's Ladder, its upper part was slippery with traces of dampness on the steps.
Without having a long break, we headed for the donkey shed. The donkeys were having a good time listening to the radio. This time, it was not the western music. Instead, they had been localised and got the interest in horse-racing programs. I tried to greet Oscar who's on the nearest left, he ignored me by retreating into his shed. But when I turned to Larry who's on his opposite, Larry retreated while Oscar stuck his head out. Had they swapped places or were they thinking that I was calling them to work? We moved on downhill via a new path, it was muddy and slippery due to days of pouring rain. Before us lay the magnificient panoramic view of the airport and Tung Chung Bay, we enjoyed it for some time before descending for downtown.