To read part fifteen of day eleven, click here.

“All right, Brett, it’s your turn. Ready?”

I took a deep breath and muttered a prayer, stepping into the water.

“When you get to me, Brett, I’ll help you through this slippery spot. Then you’ll be fine until you get to Bruce, and he’ll help you to the edge.”

That was one of the longest speeches Kayce had made in a while! I started to look up at him, but looked down quickly as I slipped and my backpack started shifting on my back. I jerked to the side, moving it back where it belonged. Because our packs couldn’t be buckled while we were crossing rivers, they could shift easily. It made you lose your balance easily. And if you lost your balance, you slipped.

Kayce grabbed my arm when I was close enough and steadied me as I tried to walk on the rocks that were moving under my feet. It was very slow going, but I was making progress. And I wasn’t freaking out at the moment, which was a blessing. I was able to make decisions about what I was doing without worry clouding my judgment.

As soon as Kayce let go of me, I almost slipped. I managed to stay up though, and kept going. I was walking across the river, and I was doing well.

…I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

That line from “The Little Engine That Could” rang through my head, over and over. I was doing my best, and I was going to get across that river.

…I think I can, I think I can, I think

I was cut short as my foot slipped, the water now over my waist. It was at least a foot deeper, which made wading through the river a lot harder. But I was almost to Bruce, and after him, the bank was right there. I was going to be fine, and I was going to make it.

Bruce grabbed my arm when I was close enough and helped me over a slippery spot. A minute or two after that, Maggie was offering me a hand and pulling me up onto the bank. I thanked her and got out of the way before dropping my pack, wringing out my shirt and pants. They’re called “quick-dry”, but in my experience, they never dry as fast as you want them to.

I had made it through the creek! Unfortunately, we had at least one more to cross.

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.*