Carry on walking by Louise Groom
Canada Travel Diary: Day 5– 04/04/15
“WAIT!”
“STOP!”
“COME BACK!”
The dust kicks up as I sprint frantically through the light brown smog. I scream at the top of my lungs trying to get their attention, waving my arms like a crazed madman. My heart is pumping and my lungs clench under the cold midday air. My throat feels raspy; it hurts. My legs soon tire, and I stand alone, teary-eyed and exhausted. The sound of the engine soon dissipates as it rounds a bend, leaving a falling cloud of dust in its wake.
My last cry for help “Don’t leave me……”
My throat catches, and I feel the cool shiver of sorrow bubble inside.” Don’t cry you idiot, that’s not going to help things.”
But the truth is I’m scared.
Very scared.
I didn’t come on this trip to be a lone survivor in desolate plains of the Canadian wilderness. Clutching tightly onto my camera, a million terrible scenarios run through mind. I try to think clearly, of the next course of action when an emergency happens. It’s a difficult thing to do when you’re on the brink of letting your emotions take hold, and turn you into a small ball of a teary mess.
Great, my water’s in my bag…which is now hurtling away in the opposite direction. Talk about icing on the cake.
I start walking. I’ve just been stranded in a Canadian wood, populated by bears, wolves and mountain lions. Never mind what I said in my last post about bear attacks being rare, my mind is nowhere near at ease.
What happens if one attacks?
And eats me?
All the evidence is hidden…..apart from my camera, my shoes and probably some smelly socks!
It’s the middle of the day and the sun is still high in the sky. Luckily, the human eating mammals should be sleeping. SHOULD.
I glance around nervously as I walk; I am a lone female with no survival skills what’s so ever. I don’t even know how to light a fire, let alone make one.
Fact is, sometimes people lost in the wilderness never make it out.
What are you supposed to do? Stop and calm down. Your gut reaction is to panic and when fear or panic rules your mind, it only works against you. The thing is, if people know you’re out in the wilderness and missing, eventually someone will come looking. By moving around you make it harder for the rescue party.
So what did I do? Carry on walking.
I look down at my dirty boots as I scrape their thick rubber bottom against the dry sandy road. Suddenly the silence is broken, and no it is not me whaling like a lost infant. It’s them!
Two grinning faces appear behind the dashboard of the jeep. At this point I don’t even care if it was a joke; I’m just so relieved they’re here! I am welcomed with the sound of laughter as I clamber into the backseat. I am not impressed at this point, but the overwhelming joy of not having to spend the night in the woods allows me to join in with the laughter.
That was a close one…
