Hey everyone. The author asked me to type this up since she obviously doesn't have the responsibility required to run a book. I ought to teach her a lesson. Not now, though. Time for an update on me!

I mean, her! Yeah, her.

So author-san went on a practice hike for some organization in her school. Around two other schools did it at the same time, so there were around 10 groups of 5-8 altogether. The experience was.. enlightening. That's what she said, anyway. From long walks on dirt ground surrounded by garbage with no civilization around, walking through a creek, light showers of rain, carrying heavy tents and backpacks, setting up and maintaining fires to cook noodle soup (^~^'), singing Spongebob songs and some other stuff she can't remember, she and her team persevered.

https://youtu.be/am9C80ItWMQ

We-by that I mean they, had their ups and downs. Especially me-I obviously mean her, who sprained, strained or broke something in her knee. That has yet to be determined.

The hike lasted over 2 days. They started from around 6 am on Saturday to about 12:30 pm, and set up camp at maybe 2 pm. I'm unsure of the exact times because author-san and her team had no watch, and weren't allowed to carry phones. You aren't really cut off from civilization if you have a cell phone, are you?

So while I'd love to share the specific and minute to minute details that author-san regaled me with (that she can't remember), I'll just keep it brief.

I saw things. Admired things. Got cut by things. Nearly stepped in things. I mean these things happened to her.

Suppressed a headache during the whole hike on the first day until we reached the campsite. Got a massive headache after setting up the tent. A noodle soup and some meat later she  hamboned at the talent show at the end of her group's performance. Hamboned in other groups during their performances. Received stares of isolation for doing so. Was cheered on by the wild group of people that attend the same school as her.

https://youtu.be/6PdAeOOtWl4

Yeah. I'm tired of that.

I slept in a tent with 6 other people. We killed a spider in the tent (on my mat). Had weak knees by the second start of the hike the next day. A dude
on my team was supposed to co-host the talent show but didn't, and that,  coupled with me having "danced" during other performances that night, awarded us with being the last group to leave.

Jumped on a leader's truck and was carried a few feet before being told to get off. Then proceeded to chase after the car before being called by my group (a distance behind at that moment) to stop and wait for them.

After that there was a beach and some mangroves, and there we crossed the creek. Should have pulled my joggers up more. While walking we encountered several groups of Rangers running along the trail. Must have been going through the same pain as us, even if they didn't have backpacks and heavy tents to carry. They were running, after all.

At some point I busted my knee and had to walk awkwardly on the last trail for some time (maybe half an hour) before the weird pain receded. It wasn't really a pain so much as me feeling something shift out of place every few steps. When it shifted is when the pain came.

While the sun shined and burned a lot, it didn't bother me, weirdly enough. Only my neck and arms were exposed, and I definitely felt the heat, but it felt good. On that last trail, the longest of the whole hike that we walked on near the beginning of the hike on the first day, garbage and thrown out furniture signified the entrance of the path, which on the second day became our exit and end of the hike. What utter relief I felt at having had finished the hike. Our group had a little group hug before swiftly moving away from each other since we all stinked. And that symbolized the end. Around 1 pm on Sunday.

Our next hike has been postponed twice now, same as the first one.  Since, just in case you forgot, that was but a practice hike. Around 15-20 miles on foot for Bronze. Silver group is around 20-25 miles, 3 days and 2 nights. Gold is about 25-30 miles, 4 days and three nights. I think. I'm in Bronze, so I have even more to look forward to. I'm pretty proud of myself that I wasn't extremely tired after and didn't drop asleep as soon as I got home. I'm gonna exercise and build up some more muscle still, but I did good!

This hike was on my island. We'll be travelling by boat to another island to hike over there. With the experience we've gathered, we'll be better prepared for the hike. Namely, hotdog and hamburgers instead of noodles. And that was my hike!