Wednesday, December 01, 2010

The White Cliffs Experience

The white cliffs of Dover is also an amazing sight to behold. It was the peak of summer last year and we spent the afternoon walking around the white cliffs.

At some point in the late afternoon, we walked back to catch our return coach. We took a different route than when we arrived, thinking that it will lead us back to the city center. After some time, the way turned narrow and became a footpath. Progressing further, it was a dead end.
Turning back would mean missing the coach. The alternative way through, however, was a main road located 5 metres right above us.

Standing in between us and the main road was a rocky cliff. Below us there were more cliffs. Somehow through the mix of recklessness and sense of adventure, we decided to climb to the main road. Marc had climbing experience, but we did not have the proper gear then. Halfway through, I felt regret as climbing was not as easy as I thought. Marc, however stayed calm behind me. His position was more difficult because he had to arch his body more to cover me. If I were to fall, both of us would fall.

Midway we reached a position where it wasn't easy to go either up nor down. We were stuck there for what seemed to be a very long time. We just had to go through upwards. Finally, we managed to get to the main road. A sense of relief came. This is one of the things that I wouldn't think of doing again. Looking back, I think I owed a life to a friend.