Sunset Cruise - Sunday the 23rd of January, 2011

I originally planned to wake up early on Sunday morning and head out on a good long trail run but getting home from a friend's dinner party at 3am pretty much quoshed that. I ended up waking at around 9.30am with the intention of running but just hanging around being useless until about 11am when it was already too late to head out, so I decided on a late afternoon run starting from Hang Hau.

I was also late to start on my afternoon run, but this was less of a problem as I'd probably be able to get home for dinner anyway.


As I set out around 4pm the sun was already getting low in the sky, casting golden light on everything it touched.

Despite always having a headlamp with for emergencies, I decided to run the trail section first and the road part on the way home as darkness descended.


Looking towards the mountains ahead




Looking back down from where I came. Hang Hau is to the very left of this shot


The dark side of the hill. Looking towards High Junk Peak, just to the right of centre


At the top of the hill prior to High Junk Peak I check the GPS... Lots of climbing so far!




High Junk Peak looms. I'd say only about as high as the hill before it, but the steepness of it's sides make it memorable!


The shadow of High Junk Peak


From standing on the datum point, the edge of the peak is a couple of feet away and below that, a looooong drop


The golden light makes this wind swept hill and grass really pop. Pity the haze obscures the beautiful view towards HK's many eastern islands


Golden grass with the the series of hills the route follows fading away into the background


Clear Water Bay Beach on the left and sublime trails on the right


Looking back to where I took the last panorama from. It's a pity trails like this don't go on for hours and hours


Clearwater Bay Beach




The sun finally dips below the horizon just about as I reach the end of the trail section


The fishing village of Po Toi O as I head back to Hang Hau along the road


The climb out of Clearwater Bay Beach is tough, but rewards with great vistas (even on a hazy day)




High Junk Peak is the very sharp peak that tops out at around 350m. Looks far less impressive in this elevation plot than it does in real life. Anywho... an absolutely awesome run all the same.

See you in the golden light,
~ Joe