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Death by Any Other Name
Five day before my birthday, the year of 2020, I decided I needed to challenge myself. I wanted to have a good relaxing birthday, and to feel good about this, I came to the conclusion that I needed to exert myself. So I went to Crater Lake seeking the longest hike I could find. 30 miles from start to finish, two or three days max. I began the first day full of vim and vigor. Happy and full of love for the day. It proceeded well, over hill and under hill till it turned dark. 20 miles and many lovely photos later, I set up camp and slept; tired, but fulfilled. The next morning began as any other, happy to be in nature and on the wild lands. I set off at a good clip, and with high spirits. A few hours later, I came to a fork in the road. The signage slightly confusing, but I remained confident that I was on the Right path. Further hours slipped by. I knew I should have found water by now and grew nervous. The water was quite important, as I had been counting on finding it for a resupply. I reached the next fork in the road and sat down to think, knowing that I should have found water by now I must be on the wrong path. Now, a new dilemma rises. To try and forage onward, or turn back? After an internal battle of pride and logic, I decided on the Devil I knew. Backwards. As I started on the journey behind, I grew disenchanted. I knew that I had already gone six to eight miles in the wrong direction. With the headstrong idea that I wasted to make true progress that day, I picked up my pace. Hours pass, out of water and slowing down, I plodded on. Around 2:00 it gets to the point where I start having trouble breathing due to the thick coating of foam in my mouth and throat. The only answer I can think of is extreme, but doable. So I took out my empty water bottle and filled it with the only thing I had left. After drinking what little urine I could produce, my mouth and throat cleared up. All I was left with was the taste of shame, shame that I had only myself to blame for this predicament I had landed myself in. It is only fair to tell you how desperate I had become, yelling out for help since my last "drink". Hours later, I met a traveler. The moment I started talking to the man, I felt reassured. He gave me what water he could spare, and continued on, I asked for nothing more, and was more than grateful. It saved my life. I spent the rest of the day in a determined trudge. By the time five or six rolled by, I was back to a foamed mouth. Continuing on until it's so dark I could barely see my hands in front of my face. Storm clouds were blowing in, and I found myself camped on the top of a peak as the last light left. Knowing how badly I needed water, I left the top off my tent. Dreaming of the water brewing in the clouds. I woke up to droplets hitting my face about an hour later, it was salvation. I licked the water off the mesh top of the roof and waited for more to develop. And did it ever. I kept awake licking until I was able to try and fall asleep, but when it rains, it pours. I was soon woken up, in a pool of water. I slurped it off the floor thankfully, but I knew it wouldn't end. The cold sunk in, along with a wet chill. I was hydrated, but at the cost of body temperature and perhaps light hypothermia. One hurdle passed.. I spent the rest of the night sitting upright, doing my best not to become sodden. slurping up water and yelling to keep away the cold winds touch. It was truly the longest night of my life. I was scared that if I fell asleep I wouldn't wake back up. So I sat, and thought and shivered and yelled until first light. Then, with no other option, I packed up my now soaked pack, and ambled on. I was weary now, water was gained by brushing up against evergreens and sucking it out of my sweater. A hard truth kept me moving: the cold had a hold on me, if I stopped, starting again would only get harder. So I kept on, a pace faster than the previous day, trotting down hills for as long as I could. I knew it had to be under ten miles at this point. Then my final test presented itself. A beast had crossed my path. A beautiful bull elk stood in the path, sun beams filtering all about him though the trees. I first saw him about 50 yards off, but I couldn't make myself stop moving. So I walked towards him arms wide, talking on intention and brotherhood of the wilds. Fully expecting him to charge. Then, he made his call, High and Wonderous. That bugling call that I now associate with hope itself. He sauntered off, and I watched as he and two females walked up the mount to my right. It sobered me. from Hypothermia, or pure tiredness I know not. With a few of my senses regained, I speculated thinking on druids and our dwindling bonds with nature. I digress. After a few more hours, I made it to the road. I was able to flag down an car, who called the rangers, and finally with their patient help. I made it back to my car. Shaking and attempting not to breaking down in the aftermath of my misguided adventure. I drove away, fresh clothes and a welling heart, I speed away from the place that might have been my demise. I think. And I scream. And I call those who would have missed me most. Those who would have wept hardest of all. The fear settles in fully and the pain in my feet reminds me of my neglect, And at long last, I pray to a long forgotten God that I am thankful.
By drew raymond5 years ago in Journal
Journey to a new place
Analise used to dream about going to the states. She used to dream of what she would become, the friends she would make and the home she would live in. It had always been a dream of hers to start over with opportunities to grow. Analise was from the virgin islands. Warm weather and sandy beaches surrounded her, but she always wondered what it would be like to live somewhere else. To not live the same routine repeatedly.
By MICHELLE SMITH5 years ago in Journal
Transhipping Take 2: & my last days on the Sapphire!
With a week to go on the Sapphire I was deeply depressed that I was going to be stuck in Alaska again working under someone with less experience than me. I didn't get a promotion after my 2nd contract (where I'll grudingly admit my senior was right) but I had worked hard on the Sapphire and our sales of around 13 or 14 DVD's had improved to around a 7 day Mexico record (at the time) of 60+ DVD's sold. We did break a few rules at the time to pad out our sales but at the end of the day the companies main reason for existing was money.
By Neil Gregory5 years ago in Journal
Decisions
Deciding on a business idea from scratch i find, is no easy feat, especially when it’s a work from home idea..... I’ve been interested in working radio. Been dabbling in community radio over the years and internet radio as well. Both have provided me with a lot of joy in learning a passion I have followed, alongside a bit of tertiary education (not much) just a bit.....but, then I thought, is this where I really want to go or am I still to remain passionate about these forms of broadcasting or should I look at podcasting?
By Allan Gray5 years ago in Journal
A new senior, The HD nightmare & lab parties gone wrong
My senior Rich only had one cruise left and his replacement (yet another Canadian videog) Jason was on a cruise early for a handover as he'd been off work for a while to get married and we were in the midst of beginning the transition to HD onboard. Looking back it showed the company had no idea what HD was or how to implement it, but at the time there was a still an emerging format war between HD DVD & Blu-ray with neither established yet. Although we were eager to get to grips with the new technology we couldn't actually produce HD-DVD or Bluray content beecause we didn't have HD replication burners or even the software to master HD DVD's onboard.
By Neil Gregory5 years ago in Journal
Perks of Choosing Luxury Hotel for Corporate Outing
Regardless of whether you are setting out toward a work excursion or basically on a get-away, finding lavish lodging accompany a lot of advantages. All things considered, it can take your inn experience to an all-new level. There will never be a shortage of Luxury Resort in Gurgaon, yet discovering one that obliges your own prerequisites proficiently and offers you the rich extravagance you merit can be an assignment.
By Best Western Resort Country Club5 years ago in Journal
Burrito challenge, Chileno Bay snorkelling & more tequila!
It had only been one spectacularly busy week but I was loving life on the Sapphire despite the terrible sales and lack of sleep, but like the cliche says you work hard, you play hard and most of the crew just found another gear on the Sapphire with its busy 7 day run.
By Neil Gregory5 years ago in Journal
2020, Chapter Two
As I’m writing this now, it is early December. Almost Christmas. One of my favorite movies to watch at this time of year is “A Christmas Story.” I’ve watched it every year at Christmas since 1991. Those of you who have watched it; you know how the story goes, so I’m not going to write out a detailed review. But towards the end of the movie, after the gifts have all been unwrapped and Ralphie narrowly avoids shooting his eye out with his newly acquired BB gun… they’re all getting ready to eat a home-cooked Christmas dinner when the narrator who tells Ralphie’s story delivers this line.
By Michael Kinnaly5 years ago in Journal
No Sleep Till LA:My first cruise on the Sapphire - Part 2:Days off at Joes Oyster bar, Eastern European exploitation and selling 9 DVD's!
As I mentioned in the last chapter we crammed an absolute ton of tours and events into a week cruise on the Sapphire and around the midway point I had my first tour in Cabo which was a glass blowing factory and tour of the coast, looking back the camera work isn't too bad but I wish I'd had time to get some commentary on how the process worked. For the 2nd part of the tour we visited a church and some beaches to get some scenic shots and there was a lot cactuses! I'm fairly happy with the above video and it holds up fairly well for being 11 years old, I've got some good close ups of the local fauna but I hate the music!
By Neil Gregory5 years ago in Journal
No sleep till LA:My first cruise on the Sapphire: Part 1
Our 7 day cruise would start from LA, but a fairly shit part of LA where there was not really many places you could get in the time you had ashore bar the now standard shuttlebus to the nearest mall. Therefore my inital excitement at being in LA once a week quickly diminished purely because we didn't have enough time to get anywhere of inportance before we had to go back to the ship. Also we were told don't go further than this block north and this block east (I think) as they were sketchy neighbourhoods, it seemed crazy to me that you could walk a few metres and be in a dangerous place.
By Neil Gregory5 years ago in Journal
