Long have I been tempted to make this journey. Long have I put it off. I would wait no longer. With the sun high in the sky and the wind blowing a fearsome noise I delved into the bush to find my prize. Having a gps but no detailed maps I decided on coming at the prize from the south. Why oh why did I chose the south??
The fact that I am writing this journal is proof of my survival. But survival at what cost?
As I entered the bush I heard an eerie sound. 'Surely it is only the wind' I thought. If I only knew better. The going was easy in the beginning. The brush was thick be passable. A goodly number of dead fall created a path going nearly the right direction. I came upon a game trail. A very well traveled and clear game trail. I found no tracks in the dirt and was left to assume that the path was the creation of deer or elk. How I wish there was a track to turn me back.
With the wind blowing the sounds of branches clicking and leaves rustling drowned out all other sounds. It was in this noise I came upon a clearing. Long grass and stinging nettle grown almost to my chest. It was here that the sensation of being watched first hit me. No animal sounds could I hear. Just the sound of the wind in the trees and now the grass. I saw no sign of any animals and so I continued on. All I could think was 'don't go into the long grass' but there was no other way.
Half way through the grass I hear it, the sound of an animal in the grass. I can not tell which direction it is coming from. I abandon caution and rush to get out of the grass. Once through I pick up a goodly sized stick and turn to face my pursuer. Nothing. All is as it should be. But I feel it there. I feel its eyes on me.
Realizing that I am only 24 meters from my prize I can not turn back. I carry the stick and continue on my journey. I am climbing a gentle hill. The sounds of my stalker have gone. 'Only my imagination' I say out loud. As if speaking it would banish what ever creature stalked me.
I arrive at the location of the cache. My search begins in earnest. The ground here is mostly clear but the trees are small and plentiful. It is difficult to see very far away. The sound of the wind in these trees is violent and deafening. But the noise cuts through it all CRACK. It's here. It's to the north.
I see no movement but I know it is there. I ready my make shift club and scan the trees for movement. I see it, no not the creature, the prize. I move to it quickly as it is made of metal and will make a better weapon than this measly stick. CRACK, its to the east now.
I cannot take the cache with me so I sign my name and stash it back where it was. I take up my stick again and call out 'YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME' and start plowing through the bush to the north. It is lighter there and there is another clearing. I will face this evil creature there, where I can see it. The sounds of my stalker follow me and are getting closer. But the clearing is only a few meters away. I vault a fallen tree and run to the center of the clearing. Turning round with my stick ready I wait. Nothing. It will not show itself. I wait and try to lure it out with taunts but to no avail.
After some time, how long it is hard to say, I call out one last time 'YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME' and walk out of the bush staying in the clearing. Returning to my vehicle I scan the trees one last time. Were those eyes I saw behind some fallen trees? I cannot say for certain.
Warning fellow cachers, in these woods you are not alone!
