The Leap of Faith by Kiyo (7G)
We were at Bowles in Year 6. My group was doing the Leap of Faith. No one knew what to expect. When we got there we saw a giant pole and a ring. We knew what we would do. Everyone argued to do it second but no one for first so I volunteered to go first. That was ok with everyone else. So on went the gear, and I walked up to the pole. The pole had small ledges coming out in a pattern just big enough for a foot. I started climbing. I’m not sure but I think I made it look easy until I was half way up and to my surprise, the pole started to wobble. I asked the person who was in charge and he said it is meant to feel that way.
So I continued climbing, being much more cautious than before. Eventually I made it underneath the platform. The next thing I had to do was get on top of it. With the pole feeling like it was wobbling the whole time, it’s harder than it sounds. That was the moment I started to panic. After some time, I made it up. Then it was the scariest part – to stand up on the small wobbling platform. My heart was telling me not to stand but my mind said different. I tried to stand, my legs shaking, my feet wobbling, until I was standing.
Next was the hardest bit, the Leap of Faith. I had to jump to a metal ring. I was scared I would fall and the rope attached to me wouldn’t save me. I didn’t know what to do, I knew I would need to leap, but I didn’t want to. So I closed my eyes, and opened them and jumped, I missed but the rope caught me. So I climbed up to try it again. Now that I knew the rope was strong I immediately went for my next jump. I missed again. My next jump would be my last. I got to the platform and prepared myself, then I jumped my last jump. When I found myself clinging on to the metal ring, I felt relieved. I was a bit paranoid when the staff told me to hang on for a few seconds but soon enough I started to dangle back to the dirty earth.
A Cave by Oliver (7G)
We entered from the warm sunshine of the day in through a large opening in the cliff that towered endlessly above us. I dipped my trainer into the crystal clear water on the floor of the cave, it was cold, freezing cold, I drew it out immediately, I bravely dipped it in for the second time knowing it was the only way to get to the other side. Moments later I was shoulder deep in black water shadowed by the darkness of the cave, my clothes were drenched and my body was numb, I ploughed through the strong current of water flowing from the cave ahead, it was pitch black, the only thing I could see was dripping walls of rock narrowing on all sides of me lit by the tiny ray of light from my head torch.
I could imagine being able to hear the echo of my own voice had it not been for the deafening torrent of water pushing my feet from beneath me, while I was trying to find my footing on the uneven rocks.
It was exciting; I was anxious, exhausted and relieved to reach the end.
