William Pike Challenge Award #1

Getting up was easy, the rush of excitement was overpowering, I was shaken awake by the adrenalin rushing through my veins. School was a blur, I remember arriving then being sorted into cars then taking the *sigh* 2-hour trip to cave stream.

When we got to the start of the cave, the sun shined onto the water causing sparkes excitement throughout the group, I dipped my foot in the "freezing" water, the cold ran up my leg forcing me to take my leg out of the drifting water. When we started to walk into the cave through the wafting water, my legs had gone numb from the cold, but that just pushed me to go further in. The water found its way up to my waist, my bottom was frozen. Halfway through the cave Our teacher aka Mr. Sinton white got us to turn off our torchs, the darkness surrounded me my insides shriveled up but later  unwound to enjoy pure darkness, the water was rushing down below the ledge I was on, the only noise that filled the cave was white rapids crashing agianst the rocks dominating wee bits of limestone, all was echo-y and peaceful, a whole 3 minutes past with me being able to think deeply about life, the sounds of water filled my ears relaxing me... then the torches turned on and we had to move on.

At one point the first obstacle appeared, gushing rapids burst down from rock that was higher up, my headlamp lit the sparkling water as I climbed the mini waterfall, walking along stumbling here and there I enjoyed the experience, at last light was able to be seen as it flooded the cave. I covered my eyes but it still glared through my dripping fingers, I climbed up the ladder to victory and let the sunshine and dry me off. driving home I thought about all the events that happened, cave stream was astounding and breathtaking he experience ripped all stress out of my head to switch my brain to caving mode, so next time I go to Christchurch I'll be prepared and complete cave stream again!