JOURNAL OF DEREK RAYNESun. 10 a.m. - on trail
Disaster! I wasn’t even 15 km away from the mine when I got the Land Rover stuck while trying to cross a stream. I don’t know whether it was my own fault or just bad luck. I was almost across when it sank into the bottom mud on the uphill climb.
There’s no way to get it out - it just sinks deeper. I have no choice but to try to hike it, but under these conditions I’m not sure I can make it. I’ll have to fill my pack with as much food as it will hold, plus a flashlight, Father’s pistol, a few spare cartridges, and some other odds and ends, including the contents of the first aid kit, compass, journals, map, and notebook. I’ll also take the machete. We had 2 canteens, which I shall fill. My food supply, if I ration it to only a little bit morning and evening, should last about a week. I have no idea how far I can go in a day, but, by Father’s estimates, I must be about 165 km. from the main road. I don’t dare try to shorten the distance by cutting through. I’m not sure I could anyway - the vegetation is so thick. I’m leaving my sleeping bag and all else. I can’t carry it and struggle through the mud too. I’d try to take more food, but the weight would slow me. It’s down to a choice of do I hope that I can make good time with less weight or do I carry more weight and take longer. I think I lose either way. How will I ever walk 165 km?
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