I like the dark
dear god that sounds sinister. but i actually do, spending my teens in the country and fells of the lakes i used to love walking over the hills in the moonlight. Used to wander through the woods too but that could scare me stupid. My favourite jaunt was up the Old Man (big mountain behind my house, not a generic 'old man') to watch the sun rise. Something everyone should do at least once.

Anyway! some stories from my night time jaunts. bugger the length...

1) I used to walk back form my job cleaning pots. I would cut along the lake and through some woods/campsites and along a disused railway track. I was a Fields of the Nephilim fan (touring again btw) and dressed the part. Long coat. Wide brim hat. All black.
Picture 6ft odd me wandering alone a track on a moonless night, walkman up loud and pausing to roll a smoke. I didnt hear the oncoming group who were walking back later from the pub. They didnt hear me silently rolling a fag in the gloom as they giggled about how dark it was. As the lighter flared and revealed my silouette their screams from about 3 feet away quite but the wind up me. I couldn't actually speak to apologise for a while. they seemed to be rather on edge too.

I did the same every time i could after that. sometimes with friends :D

2) further along the disused railway line was the most terrorfying thing in my world. THE GOAT HEADED POST!

this evil pagan symbol used to loom out of the gap in the trees just in time to give me the utter frights. I mean the whole jump/eep/noooo!/spreading sinking fear, fighting the urge to run (everyone knows if you give in it gets worse) etc. Every bloody time. In the daylight, however, it was simply an old sheep skull on a fence post. At night it was the face of the Beast come to rend me asunder. Who put it there in jolly humour one day?

Me. FFS I'm such a dickhead.

3)Bottle of scotch, few pre-rolleds, walkman. Time for a walk up the Old Man. The moon went behind some clouds and it went VERY dark. I never carried a torch due to my excellent night vision (which isnt that excellent as you will see). Ah well, i knew the route and where the drops are, shouldnt be an issue, so on i walk. I crest the summit, take a seat and wait for dawn, merrily singing along to the Nephs, Ministry, and such like. You know, growly strange songs about great cthulhu, killing, the usual stuff. As the first glimmers of dawn touched the stones around me i noticed some strange features. Rocks or hills i hadnt seen before. Hmmmm. The Sun spread its glow across the fells and revealed more. I took the headphones out and heard the gentle whispering of children. Ah. That would be the bivvying scouts i was sitting amoungst. I thought it best to leave at that point. thank god i was drunk or i would have missed standing on one of them as i wobbled away :/

the last one still makes me feel an utter bastard. Did they ask me to be quiet and i didnt hear? did they lie frozen in terror (I would freak right out NOW, let alone then!)? arg! poor buggers :(
(DreddPirateBob has watched every scifi film ever on, Fri 24 Jul 2009, 20:26, Reply)