[Sundae]

SO.
The Chevin has a lovely sculpture trail. Can't fault it on that.
But when it comes to forks in the path/ major intersections on the bridleways (courses for horses) it is peculiarly mute.
They may issue maps, but I didn't see any. And the wooden signposts do not helpfully point out the Quarry Walk or the Jubilee Way or whatever they call their suggested walks on the few information boards I saw.

I didn't get lost. I got where I wanted to go, although not via the route I thought I was following at each turn. But all I wanted was a vaguely circular walk anyway.

When I decided to make my way home I didn't want to walk back down the main road. I'd seen that already and there was more to see in a Chevin kinda way.
The dotted black line denoted a path. The path went past a tearoom and WCs and even though I couldn't afford one and didn't need the other I figured it would give me a marker I could ask other walkers about. I was right.

Except.
Ex
Ept

The last lady I asked directions of (late lady, as I went back and hit her with my copy of A Feast for Crows) said amiably, "If I was you, I'd take the steps. They'll take you right into Otley."
She was right in one way. They took me into Otley.
Via a steep dizzying hell.
If I were you. Huh. That's like me trusting a stranger who says, "If I were you I'd relax with a bottle of wine tonight", not knowing (or caring to know) that it could be a horrible problem for me.

So if she was me she would know how absolutely terrified the steps made me. Descending about a mile in about 1/2 mile (I may be wrong but it's not intentional exaggeration) they are stone, tilted forwards, uneven and with an uneven tread.

I have previously documented my horror of heights, my inability to descend even normal staircases and my general fear that one day terror will render me insensate. All came into play here. I could not look beyond my feet because the further stairs just kept appearing, turn after turn. I could not look ahead because Otley was still laid out before me, like a place I could fall into.

I just had to take one step at a time, try to stop shaking and do it.
I didn't stop shaking (by the bottom that was just fatigue in my legs) but the closer I got to ground level the better I felt.

Would I do it again?
I bet you're thinking I'll say something like - would I buggery!
But yes, I will. same way I would climb St Peter's Dome in Venice, or bungee jump again. Because if things scare you this much, even if you hate them, you have to be open to beating them. And this challenge comes for free.

Photos from when I thought I was dealing with it and was able to turn around to document my [progress. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
This was just an aperitif. Note, they are earth here, not stone. And I can still see the top aka escape route.

It is locally known as Jacob's ladder.