Rin
16-07-2008, 06:38 PM
This posted bit is from the states, a simple grain mill in the middle of Minnesota, I pick this one because I've got a sample of writing on it, that we're getting ready to use in the URL launch in late august.
This was my first ever urban exploration, with my buddy Gahein, which might explain the body language in the piece below.
If you don't care to read the write up, just skip below to the photos instead.
I'll post more sites as well, but the details listed below will be missing, just a sentance or two and photos.
Fruin Mill
Our first location and adventure
"Running on the roof, skating underground"
This is a tale of Rin and Gahein, as it was just the two of us. We were the shambles of a group not yet grown, and young. We ventured around the edges of a creek that formed a moat of sorts around the mill, and eventually got around it's winding path, walking under a small roof that was situated right down the middle of the entire building. This covered middle section was not indoors, but more of a clever way of uniting two separate buildings, both with their respective towers. As we would later discover, they were connected underground as well.
From our new vantage point, a few things were noticeable. The smell was overwhelming, and the fear was present. Rin and Gahein at this point had never been near an abandoned building, had never planned on entering one, and had never quite thought such a gem could exist unnoticed for so long. "Surely all property was looked after and owned." These were the naive thoughts that composed our fresh minds, and fueled our nervous gestures all the while. We milled about the dirty remains of what must have been a train loading dock, when Gahein noticed an open garage, and franticly motioned to Rin to come check it out.
Darkness was darker than we remembered. In an ironic coincidence, a light switch was near, that proved useless at our attempts in turning on a light or two. The flashlights came out for the first time, and were clutched feverishly. Silence settled in, and magnified every water drop and echo into a homeless man or thug like hint at death. Every corner held a group of gangbangers, and knife carrying thieves. It was terrifying. Where we had entered, was a large storage space, or warehouse like shipment room, with every window boarded up, and no available light. In our dread, we ascended the nearest stairs, to where we assume more light would reside, and to our own relief, was true. The natural light flooded in like first aid, and showed us our first real glimpses of graffiti, in it's "en mass" form. Now the new fear was graffiti bombers, and the potential danger they presented. Obviously they must be high and violent all the time, and more than willing to cut us up for what little money we carried, which was then, on mention, moved to our shoes for safekeeping.
So far urban exploration at the moment was overwhelming, but we had never even heard of the term UE, so it must have been catchy as well. We sure as hell did our research into this "Thrill Sport" as soon as we exited for the day. What was left in store though, before we trudged back to the car, was even better. After a good hour of looking in every corner, and prodding every pile of mystery shit, noises began to echo through the dirty metal of our space. Gahein being near a window, glanced out into the space between the building we were in, and the one across the train loading area. Just as quickly, he retracted his head, and mentioned one term I had expected. "Hoodlums." We had a quick discussion, and decided that the only reasonable escape was up. So we ran up the stairs. We ran like death followed, we ran with a cold in our chests, and we ran with thoughts of everything forsaken on this god awful planet. In short; we over reacted. It was our first time, and like most firsts, was too powerful for it's own good. At the very top, we came to rest from our fleeing in a room that seemed to be made of wood. It was a peculiar room Rin had thought. We sat with our backs against the wall, and Rin mentioned to himself, how odd it was to have a step stool in the middle of the floor. "They must have been hanging something up" was the supposed thought, and he traced the steps to the ceiling to see just what it was they were hanging. Upon the rafters was tied a strong and sturdy noose. The thick rope looked dirty and used, and came to rest right above the ladder. It was a thought devoid process, as Rin quickly shared with Gahein his findings, by pointing up at it from the floor, and mentioning a solid, "Check that out." Cue into play Gahein's superstition of the supernatural, and it was time to leave, hoodlums or not. On exit, Rin snapped a few shitty flash photos, and climbed down the cold ladder in pursuit of a fast moving Gahein.
They were both halfway down, when the noises came back. It was most obviously the hoodlums again, and this time they had little to escape to. In a quick search, a small square room was discovered that hung outside over the top of the middle divider roof of the train loading yard. Safety was iffy, but accepted in what ever dosage was being handed out at the moment, our options were being pinched. We waited in silence, leaving a whispered message on the voice mail of a good friend, telling of our location should we die on this dark day. Cue the rain. The clouds moved in, and began pouring their foul showers upon the thin tin roof we resided under. It was a beautiful moment. Ironically so. After some discussion, the "fuck it" moment arrived. We gathered our possessions and moved out of the small room, brandishing found weapons of wood and metal poles. It was time to get out, and that's all that meant anything. In a matter of minutes as well. Soon enough we were out, had not seen or heard a thing, bid good morning to a dog and it's walker on the path, and left for home. Our feelings of fear and excitement were traded in for those of worn out exhaustion, and we made plans on a return trip, to conquer the taller tower.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2371999066_813d6dbff3.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2371160229_26d97bd440.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/2371160037_5966878e89.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/2371159043_99e066458b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/2371994570_937c908259.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2371996374_5dede64cc0.jpg
This was my first ever urban exploration, with my buddy Gahein, which might explain the body language in the piece below.
If you don't care to read the write up, just skip below to the photos instead.
I'll post more sites as well, but the details listed below will be missing, just a sentance or two and photos.
Fruin Mill
Our first location and adventure
"Running on the roof, skating underground"
This is a tale of Rin and Gahein, as it was just the two of us. We were the shambles of a group not yet grown, and young. We ventured around the edges of a creek that formed a moat of sorts around the mill, and eventually got around it's winding path, walking under a small roof that was situated right down the middle of the entire building. This covered middle section was not indoors, but more of a clever way of uniting two separate buildings, both with their respective towers. As we would later discover, they were connected underground as well.
From our new vantage point, a few things were noticeable. The smell was overwhelming, and the fear was present. Rin and Gahein at this point had never been near an abandoned building, had never planned on entering one, and had never quite thought such a gem could exist unnoticed for so long. "Surely all property was looked after and owned." These were the naive thoughts that composed our fresh minds, and fueled our nervous gestures all the while. We milled about the dirty remains of what must have been a train loading dock, when Gahein noticed an open garage, and franticly motioned to Rin to come check it out.
Darkness was darker than we remembered. In an ironic coincidence, a light switch was near, that proved useless at our attempts in turning on a light or two. The flashlights came out for the first time, and were clutched feverishly. Silence settled in, and magnified every water drop and echo into a homeless man or thug like hint at death. Every corner held a group of gangbangers, and knife carrying thieves. It was terrifying. Where we had entered, was a large storage space, or warehouse like shipment room, with every window boarded up, and no available light. In our dread, we ascended the nearest stairs, to where we assume more light would reside, and to our own relief, was true. The natural light flooded in like first aid, and showed us our first real glimpses of graffiti, in it's "en mass" form. Now the new fear was graffiti bombers, and the potential danger they presented. Obviously they must be high and violent all the time, and more than willing to cut us up for what little money we carried, which was then, on mention, moved to our shoes for safekeeping.
So far urban exploration at the moment was overwhelming, but we had never even heard of the term UE, so it must have been catchy as well. We sure as hell did our research into this "Thrill Sport" as soon as we exited for the day. What was left in store though, before we trudged back to the car, was even better. After a good hour of looking in every corner, and prodding every pile of mystery shit, noises began to echo through the dirty metal of our space. Gahein being near a window, glanced out into the space between the building we were in, and the one across the train loading area. Just as quickly, he retracted his head, and mentioned one term I had expected. "Hoodlums." We had a quick discussion, and decided that the only reasonable escape was up. So we ran up the stairs. We ran like death followed, we ran with a cold in our chests, and we ran with thoughts of everything forsaken on this god awful planet. In short; we over reacted. It was our first time, and like most firsts, was too powerful for it's own good. At the very top, we came to rest from our fleeing in a room that seemed to be made of wood. It was a peculiar room Rin had thought. We sat with our backs against the wall, and Rin mentioned to himself, how odd it was to have a step stool in the middle of the floor. "They must have been hanging something up" was the supposed thought, and he traced the steps to the ceiling to see just what it was they were hanging. Upon the rafters was tied a strong and sturdy noose. The thick rope looked dirty and used, and came to rest right above the ladder. It was a thought devoid process, as Rin quickly shared with Gahein his findings, by pointing up at it from the floor, and mentioning a solid, "Check that out." Cue into play Gahein's superstition of the supernatural, and it was time to leave, hoodlums or not. On exit, Rin snapped a few shitty flash photos, and climbed down the cold ladder in pursuit of a fast moving Gahein.
They were both halfway down, when the noises came back. It was most obviously the hoodlums again, and this time they had little to escape to. In a quick search, a small square room was discovered that hung outside over the top of the middle divider roof of the train loading yard. Safety was iffy, but accepted in what ever dosage was being handed out at the moment, our options were being pinched. We waited in silence, leaving a whispered message on the voice mail of a good friend, telling of our location should we die on this dark day. Cue the rain. The clouds moved in, and began pouring their foul showers upon the thin tin roof we resided under. It was a beautiful moment. Ironically so. After some discussion, the "fuck it" moment arrived. We gathered our possessions and moved out of the small room, brandishing found weapons of wood and metal poles. It was time to get out, and that's all that meant anything. In a matter of minutes as well. Soon enough we were out, had not seen or heard a thing, bid good morning to a dog and it's walker on the path, and left for home. Our feelings of fear and excitement were traded in for those of worn out exhaustion, and we made plans on a return trip, to conquer the taller tower.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2371999066_813d6dbff3.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2371160229_26d97bd440.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/2371160037_5966878e89.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/2371159043_99e066458b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/2371994570_937c908259.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2371996374_5dede64cc0.jpg