Chapter 14
fourteen
BéBHINN
Snowdonia Way Mountain Route
Daily Journal
Day 8
Capel Curig to Bethesda
Distance: 13.3 miles (21.5 km)
Total Ascent: 1,522 m (4,993.4 ft)
5:12 am
Before you start, I’m monitoring the weather. Today is holding clear, thank God, because I’m about to scramble my way over 21km! I admit the weather might be a concern for the final stage.
Remember, we decided to break Day 9 into two days, and I still will unless weather moves in. If that happens, I’ll just have to push through. I really hope that doesn’t happen. My body might not be 100%, but it’s pretty damn close.
Talk to you tonight, B
“Damnit!” Bébhinn cursed. She’d slipped for the third time in an hour on one of the toughest scrambles of the day and had the bruises and abrasions to prove it.
Three more miles, if her map-reading skills were on point—and they were, considering she’d been doing a killer job of following the miles of unmarked trails for days—but damn if her legs and arms didn’t have a slight tremor of fatigue.
The second slip was the one that caused her first real injury of the trip. She could feel the bruising across her ribs and down to her hip with every breath.
No matter. Today had been epic. Bébhinn fist-pumped the air as she stood atop the last summit of the day, thoroughly enjoying the vista and standing straight versus bent over climbing with her feet and hands up the rocky side.
“I came, I saw, I conquered.” She couldn’t help the chuckle of relief that escaped as she turned in a complete circle, taking a 360? video to show her family and maybe even to send to the blogger couple she’d met.
For eight days, she’d pushed her body, and for eight days, she’d succeeded in completing the stages. Better yet, today she’d not seen any odd shadows or had anything taken or put into her pack. The kids, if it had been kids, must have grown tired of inflicting their shenanigans on her.
She’d thought more about the journal’s disappearance.
It could have been lifted by some little shit on the fourth night because Bébhinn had decided to restock her pack at a small grocery near the B&B before going to bed to save time the next morning.
Most likely, another hiker found it where the thief had dropped it.
Probably someone she’d met at dinner, and once their path crossed hers again, they returned it.
Everyone discussed their routes and destinations, so it was only a matter of time before they saw her name registered as a guest. The finder could even have been one of the B&B owners.
They heard her discussing her route and might have sent it to her.
Whatever way it happened, she was thankful to have it back.
Admittedly, the flowers had taken her aback the most. Thankfully, her pragmatic father taught her not to jump to conclusions. It had to be a sweet passerby on the trail.
As she made the day’s final descent that led to the village of Bethesda, she thought over all the messages she’d need to return before she went to bed.
Her phone had been flooded with texts from her family and friends as she’d finished breakfast that morning, but since she didn’t have a moment to spare before setting out, she didn’t answer them.
Thankfully, the bunkhouse was right where she’d marked it on her map. After a day like she’d had, it was unfortunate that there wasn’t a 5-star luxury hotel awaiting her pleasure… Massages, whiskey, and a down-filled bed topper held considerable appeal.
The bunkhouse she’d booked had Wi-Fi, hot showers, and a small communal kitchen. It was better than sleeping rough. She’d gotten extra supplies for the last stage the evening before, knowing there was nowhere near Bethesda to buy supplies.
She stomped her boots on the concrete pad in front of the bunkhouse to dislodge any debris from the tread of her boots, noticing that the owners had graciously provided a grill, firepit, and chairs for guests.
Ignoring the outdoor amenities for now, she trudged up the three steps—moaning only once—and went in search of a hot shower and her bunk for the evening.
Bébhinn had showered, heated up a soup packet, washed it down with tea, and had a protein bar for dessert in less than thirty minutes, even managing to call her mom between bites.
She was clean and her tummy was satisfied.
She was ready to answer her texts and write to her dad.
Then she would crash because tomorrow, the last two days of her journey began.
Taking her phone out, she dug into her messages.
Mags: Call me.
Mags: Why are you ignoring me?
Mags: Are you almost home? I’ve been back in school for days and days without you. The least you can do is return my damn texts.
Bébhinn: I’ll be home in 2.5 days. Stop being dramatic.
Mags: So, my friend does remember how phone etiquette works. I text. You reply. So simple and yet, you struggle.
Bébhinn: You should take your comedy to the stage. Mind telling me what the 999 is? I’ve got a bunch of texts to return before I get to meet my pillow, and if this isn’t an emergency, I’m moving on.
Mags: Yours truly is currently working on a piece for the president’s wife!
Bébhinn: What?! Was it commissioned? That’s huge.
Mags: Of course not. No one knows me or my talent. Yet. This will be a birthday gift for her. I imagine she’ll love it so much that it will eventually hang on a wall at Phoenix Park. THEN I’ll get plenty of commissions.
Bébhinn: I love your ambition and positivity, Mags. See you in two days. X
Mags was an incredible artist. Her medium was as unique as she was—hand embroidery. Mags was mad for stranded cotton.
Round 2.
Bran: Raven would like you to come home early. We can go out to your favorite pub and celebrate. Early.
Seeing through her brother’s nonsense, she sent off a reply.
Bébhinn: See you in two days. Love you.
Round 3.
Gray: Tell Ciar, Daniel, and Jonathan to stop texting me, Mags, and Blair. Please. I beg you.
Bébhinn: Since when am I the chat president?
Gray: Since Blair is keeping her phone off more often than not, and Mags is still only speaking to the boys with middle finger emojis and knives. They are YOUR family.
Bébhinn: Two. Only two of them.
Gray: I win. Zero are mine. Plus, they’re only still being annoying because everyone hates hurting Blair (and you if we’re being honest).
Bébhinn still winced when she thought of that moment at the party where she’d threatened to tell her dad on them. Damn. Damn. Damn.
Bébhinn: Fine, you whiner. I’ll try to straighten it out when I get home (even though I thought this shit was quashed days ago), but only when I get home.
Gray: I’m sighing and rolling my eyes, but fine. See you soon. x
Round 4.
Daniel: Jon is keeping shit from me. Jesus, Bébhinn, would you come home already? I need you to find out what’s going on with him.
She could only roll her eyes. Jonathan had said the same thing about his cousin not five days ago. “Needy bastards.”
Bébhinn: I’ll be home in two days! Have you and Jonathan considered that it’s healthy to keep a few things from one another?
Daniel: No.
Daniel: Fine. Call me from the ferry on the way home.
Bébhinn: Fine. I won’t have service after tonight until I come out of the last stage. I’ll call you then.
Round 5.
Raven: Your mom isn’t back to being the sister I remember…but she’s getting closer. Packing a few of your dad’s things up has done wonders. I hope your adventure is having a similar effect on you. See you soon, sweetheart. Bran wanted me to remind you about the weather coming your way.
River: Do you have a rash on your butt yet?
Jesus, River. One last text blinked into existence before she could set her phone aside.
Mom: I forgot to tell you to sleep well. Love you.
She had the best mom. Smiling to herself, she took out her journal. It was time to write the one who couldn’t call or text her anymore. Dad.
8:52 pm
I’ll start by saying that I should have been asleep an hour ago. I blame your family, Dad. Needy, messy, messy people.
I don’t mind too much.
Today was another epic one. God, Dad, 80% of my day was scrambling up one mountain after another. My hands might be permanently flexed into claws. I’m thankful the bunkhouse is empty right now, because when the hot water hit my lower back, I know I must have sounded like a bawling calf.
I can’t believe I’ll be heading home in two days. Can you believe it? There were a few tough days where I wondered what in the hell I was doing, but all in all, this time by myself allowed me to truly reflect on my new life. A life where you aren’t there…one where I know I’ll be okay.
My brothers will be relieved.
Tomorrow isn’t going to be easy. Hell, this whole damn trail hasn’t been easy, which is probably why I feel so smugly satisfied that I’ve done it. Almost done it, anyway, and by myself.
My body feels good. Great actually. I think it’s adapted to the all-day grind. I thought of the different hikes Mom and I can start taking together. I can’t wait.
I know you’ll enjoy it if I write to you about those adventures. Especially if Mom talks her sisters into joining us. Can you imagine???
You O’Faolain men spoiled your ladies. Hey, you spoiled me, too, so no complaints. It’s only that you taught me how to enjoy all the luxurious things while also teaching me how to rough it. I’m a fire-building machine thanks to you.
Mom and her sisters have forgotten what it was like growing up in Oklahoma and running wild at Nan’s.
I’m determined to get them in tents. Hell, maybe I can persuade the whole family to an annual camping trip.
I bet if they did something that you loved, it would make them feel closer to you, like it makes me feel closer.
Oh, I almost forgot. The weather is iffy, but I’ve been watching it. I won’t have service once I leave. I promise to study the weather before heading out in the morning, but it looks like the cold front is holding south of the range.
I’ve got to go. A few backpackers just walked in, and I’d like to say hello before I sleep and ask them what they’re thinking about the weather.
The bunks have drapes that I can pull as soon as I shut my bunk light off. Not 5-star but not too bad either.
I’m reading your letter tomorrow night. It’s time, and I promised myself I would.
I think believe know I’ve forgiven you for leaving us. Leaving me.
Love your daughter,
Bébhinn