The Journey

Day 1

"Are you sure you've got everything now?" My mum asked, worried. God, you'd think I was going away forever. Oh wait...

"Yes mum, I'm sure. I packed everything last night" I assured her as I gazed out of my living room window, ignoring all the rest she was saying. I wish that bus would hurry up and come.

"I've put the shampoo, shower gel, hand gel, toothbrush, toothpaste and insect repellant in the flowery toiletry bag" she explained, "all the pot noodles are at the bottom of your rucksack along with a plastic plate and plastic cutlery" mum went on, "are you sure that you'll be warm at night? Will one pair of pyjamas be enough for you?"

"Yes mum!" I shouted, "they told us to only bring one pair of pyjamas"

"Well what's the point in that? What if they get dirty?"

"I don't care. I don't exactly want to be carrying five pairs of pyjamas for two weeks" I explained.

"Will you have enough water?"

"Yes mum!" I shouted again, "I've told you this! There's wells every 4k"

"Kat, come on" my dad pleaded, "she'll be fine. You know she'll be fine!"

My mum worries a lot. My brother, Kieran, done this hike three years ago, when he was my age, and she would get in a panic if one night she texted him and he wouldn't reply. You see, my mums not really an 'outdoorsy' woman (she likes her luxuries) and she doesn't really understand that when you're doing this hike there aren't any sockets to plug your phone into. I think that Kieran said that they take you into one of the towns every third day or something to re-stalk your supplies and there's obviously sockets there. I'll bring my phone and my charger anyway.

"Remember to just phone if anything's wrong, okay?" Mum said

"Well what's the point in phoning yous if anything wrong?" I answered, "yous will be in the Bahamas. It's not exactly a quick journey and a cheap phone call"

Whenever I go anywhere to stay overnight or for the weekend or anything long term, my mum and dad always take advantage and book a holiday or go out for a meal or something like that. This time, however, seen as I'm away two weeks, they booked a 1 week holiday in the Bahamas. Can you see the difference between a hike in the highlands of Scotland and the Bahamas?

"Well phone your gran then" my dad replied

"Aye, like grans going to make the journey up north. It's not as if she 21"

"Well phone Kieran then" dad said, irritated.

"Fine" I stated, "I will phone Kieran"
I turned towards the window again and saw the bus pull into my street. It's probably picking up my friends, who live around the corner, first and then coming back. I went and stood outside with my mum and dad each following me like a lost puppy.

"I don't know what we're going to do without you" my mum hugged me

I smiled, "have fun in the Bahamas. Make sure you bring me back a present"

"Make sure you get me a present as well" mum shouted as I started to walk towards the bus

"You'll get my dirty washing and that's all" I laughed

"Be safe!" Mum shouted

"Make sure you don't fall down any mountains!" Dad shouted

I sat down in the seat next to my friend, Lucy, and waved my mum and dad goodbye from the window. It was a 40 minute drive to the starting point of our hike. Whilst on the bus one of the instructors, Jan, announced who would be in groups with who. There were 9 of us from our school here, all people I was friends with. Unfortunately, we didn't all get in a group together. As there were 18 people here, there were 3 groups of 6. My group consisted of me, my two friends Lucy and Emma and three other guys from another school. I felt my phone buzz in my fleece pocket. When I looked down at it, it was my mum. I sighed and turned my phone off. This is my journey. And it starts right here.