The Challenge Factory discussion

You are lost in the wilderness. Predators roam through the forest. Hot days and cold nights will test your strength. High cliffs, rushing rivers, and deep gorges will block your path. Any wrong decision could be your last.

Will you survive? In this challenge you'll make choices that could mean the difference between life and death.

I'll set the scene. You choose which path to follow. Follow the directions at the bottom of each post.

You can begin as soon as you get your thread.

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Read through the scenario.
2. Make your first decision and read one task for that decision. The fourth task will always be "Read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'". You can use or ignore the articles 'A', 'An', or 'The'.
3. Once you complete one of the tasks, post in your thread the following:
Decision:
Book:
Author:
Date Read:
Task:
How it Fits:

4. The moderator will then post the related decision result story.

Rules:
Books must be at least 140 pages.
Page count for audio books will be determined the first paper version shown on Goodreads. From the book's page, select “all editions”, then select the first paper edition as your guide.

Do you have what it takes to survive in the wilderness? Far from civilization, everything changes. You can't go to the grocery store. If you're hurt, a doctor isn't a phone call away. If you're cold, you can't turn up the heat. Even finding safe water to drink can be a challenge.

Being lost or stranded in the wilderness will test both your strength and your intelligence. How will you find food? How can you get the attention of rescue aircraft? What would you do if you were staring down the jaws of a hungry predator?

It won't be easy, but if you stay calm and make good choices, you might be able to get out alive. Are you ready to find out whether you have what it takes?

Where would you like to start? The Canadian wilderness, the Blue Mountains of Australia, or Germany's Black Forest?

I'ld like to start in the Blue Mountains of Australia

Gillis wrote: "I'ld like to start in the Blue Mountains of Australia"

You got it. Good luck!

You're deep in the forests of Australia's Blue Mountains, and nobody knows where you are. You were planning to meet your friend Casey at a campsite later for some hardcore biking. First, though, you decided to take a morning ride on your own.

Now you're lost. The interesting little trail that you had been following has disappeared, and you can't find it again.

You're not too worried at first. You have your bike, and you're an expert rider. There's not much terrain you can't handle. But then your front wheel catches a rock. Your bike skids out from under you and you smash to the ground.

You're just scraped and bruised, but the bike is in far worse shape. The front tire is blown out, the chain is snapped, and the rim is bent beyond repair. That leaves you lost and alone with nothing but your feet to carry you. Not good.

You search your backpack and find a first-aid kit. You wipe down your scrapes and bandage them. As you look through your pack, you realize you're in trouble. You have a bottle of water, but no food. You have a small tool kit, a spare inner tube for the bike, emergency matches, and a windbreaker jacket.

With a sigh, you zip up your backpack and start hiking. You head east, knowing that the coast and civilization lie in that direction. After several hours of walking, your stomach is growling.

You know that the Australian wilderness contains many edible plants. But all around you, you can hear a variety of birdcalls. It's nesting seasons, and finding eggs wouldn't be too difficult. But getting them could be dangerous.

To forage for wild plants:
1. read a book with 'forage' in the text of the book
2. read a book with a wild animal in it
3. read a book with only plants on the cover (nothing else)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To try to find bird eggs:
1. read a book by an author that is new to you
2. read a book with a bird as part of the story
3. read a book where something is hatched or a baby is born
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To try to find bird eggs
Book: Het leven, het heelal en de rest
Author: Douglas Adams
Date Read: May 21st 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: The book title starts with 'L' (ignoring 'het' whitch is an article - Dutch for 'the')

Birds are plentiful in this area. And you're in luck, since most are in nesting season. You start searching tree branches for signs of a nest. It doesn't take long to spot one sitting about halfway up a eucalyptus tree. It looks sturdy, but you know that climbing in a survival situation is a big risk.

Carefully, you work your way up the tree. You take your time, knowing that a fall here will likely cost you your life. Soon you've reached the branch that holds the nest. But from up here, it doesn't seem like a very broad branch. You don't know if it will hold your weight. You shake the branch, but you're not sure if the eggs would survive the fall. All your work for nothing.

To try shaking the branch:
1. read a book by an author that you've wanted to try
2. read a book about a topic that might shake you
3. read a book that has branched out from the original series
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To move onto the branch toward the nest:
1. read a book where the MC moves to a new location
2. read a book where 'branch' is found in the text of the book
3. read a book with all the letters of NEST is in the title
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision:To try shaking the branch
Book:Roots: wij, zwarten
Author:Alex Haley
Date Read:10th of June 2022
Task:. 2. read a book about a topic that might shake you
How it Fits: Roots is a book about (a.o.) slavery

You don't trust the branch to support your weight. So instead you brace yourself against the tree's sturdy trunk and start to shake the branch. You quickly build a rhythm and soon the branch is moving back and forth and the nest shakes loose from the tree and tumbles to the ground. Success!

You shimmy down the tree and check the nest. Out of a total of five eggs, three are unbroken. They will provide you with much needed protein and energy.

You gather wood and use your emergency matches to start a small fire. Meanwhile you chip a small hole in the top of each egg. The hole will keep the egg from exploding as it cooks. Put put out the fire and place the eggs on the edge of the hot coals. They're cooked within a few minutes. You peel off the shells and munch them down.

With a little food in your belly, you feel ready to keep moving. You move carefully through the thick forest. Soon you come across a small river. You start to follow it downstream. You know that rivers usually lead to civilization.

As you walk alongside the river, you realize that the sun will set soon. You'll have to make camp soon. This side of the river is rocky and rough. You notice a perfect flat location on the far side. The river is not a very big one. You think it's no deeper that waist level, and the current doesn't seem strong here. You decide to cross.

To strip off your clothes before you cross:
1. read a book where the MC is stripped of their rank, power, or property
2. read a book with a bare chest on the cover
3. read a book that is yours (you own it)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To stay dressed for the crossing:
1. read a book where the MC stays in one location during the story
2. read a book where the MC wears a dress
3. read a book with a street or road on the cover
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To strip off my clothes before I cross:
Book: Een schitterend gebrek
Author: Arthur Japin
Date Read: June 11th 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: The title starts with an 'S' (ignoring 'een' whitch is an article - Dutch for 'an')

Nights in this region can be chilly, and you don't want to face one with wet clothing. You strip off every bit of clothing and put it all in your pack. You lift the pack above your head and start across.

The water is ice cold. It's also deeper that you expected. Luckily the current isn't powerful, or you'd be swept away. You manage to make it across, but you're shivering badly. You quickly get dressed, gather wood, and start a fire. You need to get warm as soon as possible. You can't afford to get hypothermia out here!

Within a few hours you're snoozing by the fire. Even with its warmth, it's still a long and cold night. But you make it through and you're off again at dawn.

As you continue to follow the river, you hear a faint roaring. Soon you see why - the river tumbles over a sheer cliff. It's one of the area's many waterfalls.

You peer over the cliff and see that it's easily a 50-foot drop. You gasp as you notice something else far in the distance - a road! If you can get down this cliff, you should be able to reach it before sunset.

To climb down the cliff:
1. read a book with a significant character that is a climber (your definition)
2. read a book that is (or could be) on the Directions in Titles list
3. read a book where the MC is known by a shortened version of their given name (cliff - Clifford)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To try walking another direction:
1. read a book where the MC walks a lot
2. read another book in a series that you've already started
3. read a book that is (or could be) on the Cardinal Directions in Titles list
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To try walking another direction:
Book: Thief of Time
author:Terry Pratchett
Date Read: 16th of June 2022
Task: Read another book in a series that you've already started
How it Fits: this is the 26th book of the discworld series of Terry Pratchett witch I have been reading for some years now.

You know that in a survival situation, climbing is incredibly dangerous. A fall could kill you. Even a sprained ankle could be the end of you. You decide to walk parallel to the cliff and see if there's a better way down.

After several hours of hiking, you're tired and hungry. The cliff still blocks your way, and it's higher than ever. You haven't had water in hours, and you feel dehydration starting to set in.

You force yourself to keep walking. By evening you feel awful. You are severely dehydrated. You curl up and try to get a few hours of sleep, hoping that will help.

But by morning you're completely drained. You're cold and shivering. You try to stand, but the lack of water leaves you lightheaded. You faint, bashing your head against a rock.

You're dimly aware that you're bleeding. But at this point, you no longer really care. The wilderness of the Blue Mountains has beaten you.

Sorry, Gillis :(

You have some choices at this point.
1 - stop this challenge
2 - stay in Australia and start over making different decisions
3 - go to another location and read for that place

There may be other choices that I haven't thought of. What do you want to do?

Oh no!!!
Maybe Australia is a bit too 'exotic' for me. Let's try something nearer to home (I'm from Belgium): Germany's Black Forest

Gillis wrote: "Let's try something nearer to home (I'm from Belgium): Germany's Black Forest"

Closer to home might be good :)

You look out from your small camp, scanning the horizon. Everywhere you look you see trees and more trees covering the rolling hills. There's no sign of civilization, and your situation is growing critical.

What started out as a hiking trip with your older brother, Henri, has gone terribly wrong. The two of you planned a long weekend of hiking in Germany's Black Forest. But yesterday you realized you were lost. And now things are even worse - Henri fell while climbing, badly breaking his leg. He's in terrible pain, and you don't know what to do. Your cell phones are dead, your food is almost gone, and Henri is in shock. Henri is in desperate need of medical help.

This is no time for tears. Henri's life - and your own - depend on you. You've got to get him the help he needs.

To stay with Henri and wait for help:
1. read a book with all the letters of STAY in the title
2. read a book where the MC or author's name begins with H
3. read a book that you have been waiting a long time to read
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To strike out into the forest in search of rescue:
1. read a book where a significant character plays a sport (like baseball)
2. read a book with a lot of trees on the cover
3. read a book where the MC rescues someone
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To strike out into the forest in search of rescue
Book:Soerabaja
Author:Paul Theroux
Date Read: June 21st 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: the title starts with 'S'

Henri may not have more than a day or two to live. You can't afford to sit around waiting. It's time to take action. You've already made a lean-to shelter for Henri, given him your last two granola bars, and a canteen of clean water.

With one last hug for Henri, you head out into the forest. The terrain is uneven and thick. Branches smack you in the face and you're always tripping over tree roots. Through the dense treetops you realize that the sun is setting. It's time to stop for the night. You build shelter, get water from a nearby stream, and start a small fire to boil the water. You lie down and try to sleep.

In the morning your stomach wakes you up. You feel as if you're starving. Can you spend another day of hard hiking without food?

To stop and look for food:
1. read a book from the The Most Begun "Read but Unfinished" (Started) Book Ever
2. read a book with a good looking MC
3. read a book with prepared food on the cover
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To continue searching for help:
1. read a book that will continue a series that you haven't read in 6 months
2. read a book with 'searching" in the text of the book (that exact word, no variation)
3. read a book where the MC receives help (your definition)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To stop and look for food:
Book:De monsters van Templeton
Author:Lauren Groff
Date Read: June 30st 2022
Task: read a book with a good looking MC
How it Fits: The book mentions multiple times that the MC 'Willie' is good looking.

You need something in your stomach if you're going to hike all day. You search for an hour before you find some wild blackberries. You know that they are safe to eat. You grab a handful. They are quite tart, but at least they fill your stomach.

It's back to your hike. Early in the afternoon, you see a thin wisp of smoke rising in the distance. It could be a sign of people, so you head for it.

Soon you come to a deep, narrow gorge carved out by a small river. You have to get to the other side, but it's too steep to climb. A tree has fallen over the gorge, bridging the gap. But you have no idea how strong the wood is, and it's covered with slick moss. Crossing it would be a huge risk. But it might take hours to find another way across.

To find a safer place to cross:
1. read a book found by accident (not intentionally)
2. read a book written by an author that you consider safe to read
3. read a book with a significant character than is cross, angry, or annoyed a lot
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To cross on the fallen tree:
1. read a book with a character in it a mixture of two cultures
2. read a book a person that is laying down or reclining
3. read a 'deadtree book' (printed on paper)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To find a safer place to cross
Book: The Last Hero
Author: Terry Pratchett
Date Read: July 5th 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: The book starts with 'L'

There's no way you'll trust that dead tree with your life. You've got to fins another way. You work your way alongside the gorge until the slope becomes less steep. Finally you scramble down one side, cross the shallow river, and climb back up the other side. You've lost several hours.

Late in the afternoon, you finally find what you're looking for - people! A group of uni ecology students. You stumble into their midst, waving your arms. "Help! I need help!"

After a moment of shock, the young adults spring into action, rushing to your side. They use their mobiles to call for help and give you something to eat.

Within an hour you hear the thumping for helicopter blades in the distance. You watch anxiously as the chopper touches down to pick you up. Now you just need to get Henri.

Yay! You survived! Congratulations.

What do you want to do now?

Jey !!!!

I'ld like to try the Canadian wilderness next...

Gillis wrote: "I'ld like to try the Canadian wilderness next..."

Sounds good.

As you watch the August sun dip behind the mountains of the Canadian Rockies, you're worried. You were supposed to spend two nights alone before being picked up by a small plane.

But now three days has stretched to six days, and what few supplies you brought with you have run out. And it seems that no one is coming.

Did something happen to the pilot who brought you here? He's the only other person who knows exactly where you are! Your friends and family only knew you were coming to Canada.

Your food and fresh water may be gone, but you came prepared. You've got warm clothes, a tent and sleeping bag, a pocketknife, and a piece of flint to start fires.

It's clear that rescue might not be coming any time soon. It's time to decide - do you wait for rescue here? Or is it time to strike out into the wilderness in search of help?

To wait for rescue here:
1. read a book set near where you live
2. read a book where the author's last name starts with 'H', 'E', 'R', or 'E'
3. read a book where the MC has to wait for something important
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To strike out in search of help:
1. read a book with the word 'strike' in the text
2. read a book with 'OUT' in the title (can be part of a word, i.e., about, South, outdoor)
3. read a book where the MC asks for help
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To strike out in search of help
Book: Het leven van Pi
Author: Yann Martel
Date Read: July 12th 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: The book title starts with 'L' (ignoring 'het' whitch is an article - Dutch for 'the')

If nobody knows where you are, you could wait here for weeks before rescue comes - if it comes at all. You might survive the summer, but winter would kill you. It's time to move.

You pack your things. Your backpack is heavy. Reluctantly you leave your tent behind to lighten your load. You can always build a shelter.

Mountains lie to your east. The land gradually slopes down to the west. You don't know where you might find civilization.

To head west away from the mountains:
1. read a book with a person on the cover looking away from you
2. read a book set west of where you live
3. read a book where a famous mountain in mentioned
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To head east toward the mountain:
1. read a book where a person on the cover is looking towards you
2. read a book set east of where you live
3. read a book with 'mountain' in the text of the book
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To head east toward the mountain
Book: Eindstation Bern
Author: Colin Forbes
Date Read: July 31st 2022
Task: 3. read a book with 'mountain' in the text of the book
How it Fits: The story is situated in Switzerland. The author often mentions the mountains in the surroundings

You strike out toward the mountains. Your progress is slow.

You hike until late afternoon and then set up camp. You build a simple lean-to against a large boulder. After building the lean-to, you don't have time to hunt for food. You end up foraging for insects. The forest floor provides plenty. Eating them is pretty gross, but it's better than starving.

Day after day, you repeat the routine, covering ground and searching for signs of people. But with your diet of insects, you're growing thinner and weaker. As you gain elevation, foraging becomes harder and harder.

You're just about ready to turn around when you hear the sound of an airplane above you. You have to get the pilot's attention!

To build a fire:
1. read a book where the MC is fired from a job
2. read a book with a building on the cover
3. read a book where someone starts a fire
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To find a clearing:
1. find a book to read from your TBR list
2. read a book with lots of white on the cover
3. read a book with 'clearing' in the text of the book
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To build a fire
Book: Monstrous Regiment
Author: Terry Pratchett
Date Read: Aug 10th
Task: 3. read a book where someone starts a fire
How it Fits: Several campfires are built during the story and one of the characters in the book is in fact a pyromaniac and sets a building on fire at the end of the book

A signal fire is your best chance, even if it takes some time. You quickly gather small branches and dry grass for tinder. You strike your flint and the tinder catches fire. As the fire burns, you add larger and larger sticks. You keep looking up into the sky for the plane. It's still there, but you know your time is running out fast.

Next you add wet wood and leaves to create huge amounts of smoke. By now 15 minutes have passed since you saw the plane. Is it too late?

Just then you hear the plane again. It passes overhead, turns, and passes again. This time it dips one of its wings toward you - the universal signal that you've been seen. You raise your arms and shout for joy. You're going to live!

You know a rescue helicopter will be on its way soon. All you have to do is wait. Your adventure in the Canadian wilderness will be over soon.

Congratulations! You survived Canada!

What do you want to do now?

I ld like to try the Blue Mountains of Australia next...

Gillis wrote: "I ld like to try the Blue Mountains of Australia next..."

You got it. Good luck!

You're deep in the forests of Australia's Blue Mountains, and nobody knows where you are. You were planning to meet your friend Casey at a campsite later for some hardcore biking. First, though, you decided to take a morning ride on your own.

Now you're lost. The interesting little trail that you had been following has disappeared, and you can't find it again.

You're not too worried at first. You have your bike, and you're an expert rider. There's not much terrain you can't handle. But then your front wheel catches a rock. Your bike skids out from under you and you smash to the ground.

You're just scraped and bruised, but the bike is in far worse shape. The front tire is blown out, the chain is snapped, and the rim is bent beyond repair. That leaves you lost and alone with nothing but your feet to carry you. Not good.

You search your backpack and find a first-aid kit. You wipe down your scrapes and bandage them. As you look through your pack, you realize you're in trouble. You have a bottle of water, but no food. You have a small tool kit, a spare inner tube for the bike, emergency matches, and a windbreaker jacket.

With a sigh, you zip up your backpack and start hiking. You head east, knowing that the coast and civilization lie in that direction. After several hours of walking, your stomach is growling.

You know that the Australian wilderness contains many edible plants. But all around you, you can hear a variety of birdcalls. It's nesting seasons, and finding eggs wouldn't be too difficult. But getting them could be dangerous.

To forage for wild plants:
1. read a book with 'forage' in the text of the book
2. read a book with a wild animal in it
3. read a book with only plants on the cover (nothing else)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To try to find bird eggs:
1. read a book by an author that is new to you
2. read a book with a bird as part of the story
3. read a book where something is hatched or a baby is born
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To try to find bird eggs
Book: De vermoedens van Mr Whicher
Author: Kate Summerscale
Date Read: Aug 24
Task: 3. read a book where something is hatched or a baby is born
How it Fits: The mother of the murder victim gives birth to a baby

Birds are plentiful in this area. And you're in luck, since most are in nesting season. You start searching tree branches for signs of a nest. It doesn't take long to spot one sitting about halfway up a eucalyptus tree. It looks sturdy, but you know that climbing in a survival situation is a big risk.

Carefully, you work your way up the tree. You take your time, knowing that a fall here will likely cost you your life. Soon you've reached the branch that holds the nest. But from up here, it doesn't seem like a very broad branch. You don't know if it will hold your weight. You shake the branch, but you're not sure if the eggs would survive the fall. All your work for nothing.

To try shaking the branch:
1. read a book by an author that you've wanted to try
2. read a book about a topic that might shake you
3. read a book that has branched out from the original series
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To move onto the branch toward the nest:
1. read a book where the MC moves to a new location
2. read a book where 'branch' is found in the text of the book
3. read a book with all the letters of NEST is in the title
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision:To try shaking the branch
Book: Het eiland onder de zee
Author:Isabel Allende
Date Read:14 Sep 2022
Task:. 1. read a book by an author that you've wanted to try
How it Fits: I've been wanting to try a book from Allende for a long time

You don't trust the branch to support your weight. So instead you brace yourself against the tree's sturdy trunk and start to shake the branch. You quickly build a rhythm and soon the branch is moving back and forth and the nest shakes loose from the tree and tumbles to the ground. Success!

You shimmy down the tree and check the nest. Out of a total of five eggs, three are unbroken. They will provide you with much needed protein and energy.

You gather wood and use your emergency matches to start a small fire. Meanwhile you chip a small hole in the top of each egg. The hole will keep the egg from exploding as it cooks. Put put out the fire and place the eggs on the edge of the hot coals. They're cooked within a few minutes. You peel off the shells and munch them down.

With a little food in your belly, you feel ready to keep moving. You move carefully through the thick forest. Soon you come across a small river. You start to follow it downstream. You know that rivers usually lead to civilization.

As you walk alongside the river, you realize that the sun will set soon. You'll have to make camp soon. This side of the river is rocky and rough. You notice a perfect flat location on the far side. The river is not a very big one. You think it's no deeper that waist level, and the current doesn't seem strong here. You decide to cross.

To strip off your clothes before you cross:
1. read a book where the MC is stripped of their rank, power, or property
2. read a book with a bare chest on the cover
3. read a book that is yours (you own it)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To stay dressed for the crossing:
1. read a book where the MC stays in one location during the story
2. read a book where the MC wears a dress
3. read a book with a street or road on the cover
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To strip off my clothes before I cross:
Book: Schuldig in eigen ogen
Author: Agatha Christie
Date Read: Sep 19 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: The title starts with an 'S'

Nights in this region can be chilly, and you don't want to face one with wet clothing. You strip off every bit of clothing and put it all in your pack. You lift the pack above your head and start across.

The water is ice cold. It's also deeper that you expected. Luckily the current isn't powerful, or you'd be swept away. You manage to make it across, but you're shivering badly. You quickly get dressed, gather wood, and start a fire. You need to get warm as soon as possible. You can't afford to get hypothermia out here!

Within a few hours you're snoozing by the fire. Even with its warmth, it's still a long and cold night. But you make it through and you're off again at dawn.

As you continue to follow the river, you hear a faint roaring. Soon you see why - the river tumbles over a sheer cliff. It's one of the area's many waterfalls.

You peer over the cliff and see that it's easily a 50-foot drop. You gasp as you notice something else far in the distance - a road! If you can get down this cliff, you should be able to reach it before sunset.

To climb down the cliff:
1. read a book with a significant character that is a climber (your definition)
2. read a book that is (or could be) on the Directions in Titles list
3. read a book where the MC is known by a shortened version of their given name (cliff - Clifford)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To try walking another direction:
1. read a book where the MC walks a lot
2. read another book in a series that you've already started
3. read a book that is (or could be) on the Cardinal Directions in Titles list
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision: To climb down the cliff
Book: Slaap!
Author: Annelies Verbeke
Date Read: Nov 27 2022
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: The title starts with an 'S'

You consider yourself an excellent climber, and you think you can handle this cliff. But with no rope, you know that one slip will leave you dead. You have to be careful.

Off to one side of the river, the cliff is mostly dry. You see exposed tree roots sticking out of it. They'll make excellent handholds and footholds. You take a deep breath and start your way down.

About half way down, a tree root snaps off in your hand. For a moment you're falling, but you somehow manage to catch yourself. Your heart is racing but you keep calm. You slowly make your way down, and finally your feet are on solid ground.

As you turn around to continue walking, your jaw drops. Two people are walking towards you. They are two sisters and their car is parked only a few miles away. They offer you food and water and a ride into town.

You close your eyes. You're going to be okay.

Yay! You survived Australia!

What do you want to do now?

Hey Lanelle,
Since I made it through Canada, the Black Forrest and Australia and with the holiday season coming up, I think I'll stop my adventures in the wilderness and return home to my husband and kid.

Thanks a lot for creating this wonderful challenge and for the effort of keeping up with all adventurers participating!

You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed the challenge.