"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." - Bilbo Baggins
I had heard rumors of a cave that lay deep in my backyard, filled with riches beyond my wildest imaginations. This was something I had to see for myself. The weather was nice today and I had some time so I decided to head out my door and down into my backyard. The following is a recollection of what happened on my journey. I hope you find it inspiring enough to seek out a little adventure of your own.
The weather has been either dismal or stormy here for so long, but now that spring has arrived it is starting to improve. This was my chance, my opportunity to find the rumored cave and perhaps even become the richest person alive.
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Setting off is half the battle, just deciding to take the first step really is the hardest part. After you start stepping, it becomes easier. Your brain has a goal and it does what it can to achieve it.
There were no beaten paths to guide me and show me the way. The paths I made as I journeyed onwards were mine, and mine alone.
Hopefully the photo on the right gives you an idea of how steep this area was. One foot wrong here and I could be falling to my certain death.
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The further down I journeyed, the thicker and more green the forest got.
The ground beneath me was getting softer and I was beginning to slip in some parts.
There were points along here that I had to get down on my hands just to make sure I didn't fall.
No sign of the cave yet.
I kept going.
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I started to find sheer cliff faces that jutted out from the ground menacingly. it was getting dangerous now. Perhaps the cave was close. At this point I was starting to feel like I could come across it at any moment. That feeling propelled me forward, and down further into the unknown territory.
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Fungi and moss was everywhere down here, the air had become heavy and damp.
Thoughts of home began to cross my mind.
Why did I come all this way? What was I doing here?
Then I remembered why I was here.
I was here for the Adventure.
Finally, I had reached the bottom, and there was a mighty river that roared before me. I couldn't go any further. The only hope was to find a way across
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After searching up and down the banks of the river, I could find no way across.
I did come across a waterfall hidden between some enourmous boulders that would have to rival the Niagara falls.
There was no choice left now I had to turn back.
I was caveless and treasureless.
Coming down had been tough enough, climbing my way back up was set to be a gargantuan task. One step after the other is all there was for it. Some more slips, some near misses, and lots of dead ends were before me but I kept pressing onwards and upwards.
I didn't come across any wildlife on this quest but I did come across some orange mushrooms that reminded me of the sun and I thought they looked nice amongst all the green. At this point I was tired, sweating up a storm, and hoping that home would appear out of the trees in front of me soon.
At last I had made it back.
Even though there was no sighting of a cave or any treasure, there was still a sense of victory to be had.
I went as far as was possible, had a great workout, and saw some interesting things.
I had gone there and back again.
I would like to apologise to all the moss I stepped on and all the spiders webs that I stepped through along the way. This was worth doing and I'd like to do more of this sort of thing. Hopefully you enjoyed reading about it and maybe you are even thinking about going on your own adventure.
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