To read part one of day eleven, click here.

When I was done packing up my tarp, I rolled out my mat and sat down with my journal. I was able to think of one or two more things for our “give and take” session, but it wasn’t enough. I still had at least 8 more things to think of, and I was drawing a blank. I’m never good at thinking up things like that for people, and doing it with a deadline? Just makes it even worse.

As I sat there thinking about my crewmates, I felt so lonely. They had been my only companions for the past ten days, and I missed them. So much. I had coped really well the day before, but as I sat there that morning I missed everyone so much.

Ten minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the trail towards me, the leaves on the trail rustling as the person moved towards me. The footsteps got closer and closer, and I couldn’t tell where they were coming from. I looked to the right, expecting whoever it was to come from that direction. That was where Katie and Jen were staying.

“Hey Brett! Good morning!”

Katie’s voice came from the trail to my left, the side that I hadn’t expected anyone to come from. Oh well. She must have snuck past while I was going to the bathroom.

“Are you almost ready to rejoin the crew?”

“Oh, yes. I’ve missed everyone so much! I just have to roll up my mat and put my journal away.”

“That’s great. I’m going to get Luke. When you’re ready, head that way.”

She gestured to the trail to my right, where I had expected her to come from.

“When you pass Rebecca’s campsite, keep going. It’s not much further. If you used your WAGS-Bag, it goes in the red bag. Make sure you squish all the air out of it – if you don’t, it will explode and everyone will have to deal with the smell of poop for the rest of the trip. And when you reach my campsite, continue the silence. There will be no talking until everyone has gotten there. Do you understand?”

I nodded, not sure when the silence was supposed to begin.

“I’ll see you back there!”

Click here to read the next part of Day Eleven.

*Everything here is from my own memory and may not be correct. Outward Bound is not responsible for anything I post here. Thanks too NCOBS for letting me use their photos.*