“The world practically becomes alien in the throes of deep night. Exhaustion and unfamiliarity make normal places seem like an entirely new, not-quite-real realm.” – Old Sean
Correcting A Route
After leaving London, I was due in York the following morning. However, a mix-up on the bus ended up putting me in Newcastle, where I spent a few hours wandering around.
I eventually caught another bus back to Leeds, where I was asked to wait from 3 AM to 6 AM for a bus which would finally take me to my intended destination.
Witching Hours Visiting Leeds
One of the strangest times to be awake in the world is from about 3 AM to 4 AM. It’s when even the night owls have tucked themselves away and the world takes on a shivering stillness, even under the bright lights of the modern world.
I was in Leeds from 3 AM to 6 AM. Mostly, I just chatted with a pair of competitively drunk folks who bought me some less-than-stellar beer. I ended up walking around town with them briefly, taking minor detours on the way to the Leeds Train Station.
Sleepwalking in Leeds
At this point in my journey, I was tired and not terribly engaged. A couple of beers didn’t sharpen me at all.
Leeds is a surprisingly large city, so I found myself somewhat lost quickly. I continually angled towards the River Aire as a reference point, but my phone was nearly out of power, so I only checked maps sporadically.
Luckily, my two guides escorted me (in a very wavy line) to the local train station.
We passed a few sites which were somewhat pretty at night, including Park Square, City Square and Tower Square, which ahs an old, hollowed-out ruin on a tiny patch of green grass.
Finally, I arrived at the Leeds Train Station, where I would find one last ride to York in a few hours. I thanked my drunk guides and settled down for the next hour.
I munched on some McDonalds, charged my phone and verified my reprinted ticket I obtained in Newcastle.
It’s been a strange night. I’ll be in York at the crack of dawn.
Until then,
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
Written June 26th, 2018
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There was an unfortunate time in life where I was in the cold and dark tundra of Mongolia trying to use a outhouse bathroom while wrangling a flashlight. Since then, I’ve only traveled with headlamps. The Black Diamond Headlamps batteries last for a year or so at a time while hardly weighing a thing. The headlamp was pretty handy while visiting Leeds at night, ensuring I could be seen by drivers on darkened roads.
