Craziest/Silliest things you have done while Urbexing
I'll start the ball rolling. I ended up naked in the St James Abandoned tunnel lake. I wanted to cross to the other side, started with rolled up jeans, then jeans were removed, then eventually I got to neck high, freaked out a little and returned back, shirt and undies all wet. Dried myself with my a water proof cover for my backpack. Chucked on my jeans, borrowed Midget's jacket and continued the adventure.
I have nothing. Dodging sewage in bat cave is about it really. I try to keep my adventures as non-life threatening as possible.
Challenge Complete: Climb the tallest crane in Sydney CBD.
Challenge Complete: Climb the tallest crane in Sydney CBD while it's raining.
Challenge Complete: Climb the outside of the tallest crane in Sydney CBD while it's raining.
Challenge Complete: Not fall to my death by slipping while 40 stories high on the outside of a crane.
Many crazy things happened and I don't think I'll do it again.
That crane was seriously a new level of retard, especially in the rain. I'll explain more when I do a proper post on it. A fella walking past while useing a laptop gazzed in dissbelief and nearly walked into a pole. It was awesome!
)Ummm..
Climbed up onto a roof to find the ladder and platform were attached to the most rusted and rotting I-beams I had ever seen! Very carefully climbed back down
btw i dont think we had the pleasure of seeing an intro thread yet from you ?
I did make an intro thread, but in n00b style, accidentally posted it in the NSW section lol. I did ask it to be moved but i think it's still there :-)
I was being stealthy, so didn't have a good look with by torch lol. Probably should've heeded the whole 'look before you leap' thing
- Running and hiding from a security patrol.
Turned out he didn't see us anyway, but we were in a construction site so its a bit hard to pretend you don't know you shouldn't be there..
Haha!aydun wrote:I just dropped into a nice high outfall expecting the water to be ankle deep like on a previous recco. Turns out it was slightly more tidal than I thought, instead being waist deep -.-
I was being stealthy, so didn't have a good look with by torch lol. Probably should've heeded the whole 'look before you leap' thing
Got your PM about that. Actually laughed out loud, sorry!
I've been there a few times and must have timed it with the low tide at each occasion.
It's worth going back at low tide for a look. The beginning is very muddy though!
I would've laughed if it were someone elseNuggs wrote:Haha!aydun wrote:I just dropped into a nice high outfall expecting the water to be ankle deep like on a previous recco. Turns out it was slightly more tidal than I thought, instead being waist deep -.-
I was being stealthy, so didn't have a good look with by torch lol. Probably should've heeded the whole 'look before you leap' thing
Got your PM about that. Actually laughed out loud, sorry!
I've been there a few times and must have timed it with the low tide at each occasion.
It's worth going back at low tide for a look. The beginning is very muddy though!
Definitely plan on going back though! -Being chased out of Geelong Cement by 2 dudes with a dog, was spotted on about the 4th level of a structure, almost jumped off the side with surprise, tried to run across what looked like a dried up dam for a shortcut and sunk waist deep in mud, still got away, just! Instead of yelling they should have simply waited at the bottom of the stairs for me as I had no idea anyone was there.
-Being in pipe/cable tunnels in Geelong Cement brushing past cut wires before realising the lights and maybe power were still on in this semi demolished area of the place.
-Riding a mountain bike along the top of a metre wide conveyor several metres above the ground at Geelong Cement.
-Twice, drunk both times, entered a large international grain export facility, in aound 2003 port security was meant to have been beefed up big time in places like this, walked straight in, could have even boarded a ship being loaded on the first occasion! The penalties for being caught in here could have been nasty...
-Found myself walking through Sulfuric Acid in the acid plant section of the old Cockle Creek Lead Smelter (Newcastle) it had literally eaten through a half inch thick stainless pipe and was in puddles on the ground.
-Being in the middle of a train bridge (about 30m+ high in places) when a train came, had to hang off the side while the train went past.
-Walking through a live train tunnel.
-Being chased out of the Huntsmen Chemicals refinery by security and losing my camera in the process.
-Climbing with no harness...
That's the majority of 'incidents' and stupid moments i can think of from the last 15 years of exploring....
Cheers
The explorer in the west................
Exploring the semi abandoned Buran space shuttle in Sydney, being potted by security a long way off, crawled back under the fences, removed jumpers, swapped bags and cameras then got asked by a poor old security guard if we'd seen two guys on the wing of the shuttle? "Yes, they went off that way towards Star City" only to be thanked as the guard ran off.
Feeling sheepish several times when asked to leave places by security guards.
Driving through the old government print works in Canberra with the okay of a security guard we gave beer to.
Starting up the engine of a Kubota crane in Buntzen Lake Canada.
Talking my way into a few buildings in Buffalo New York that the locals had been dying to get into. Thanks to my Aussie accent we were in like Flynn. I just said things like "Oh, we're not vandlas, we're just a photography club / history club / urban explorers.
Getting great video of some copper theives during an OPEX which had a photographic hunt for stuff including copper theives.
Accidentially driving into a possible minefield in Azerbaijan while exploring a former war zone. Backing out very carefully on the exact same tire tracks we came in on.
Wandering around the St James tunnels with a spotlight during an old official tour run by the ARHS and knowing more about the tunnel than the guide who borrowed my spotty for a few goes at highlighting stuff.
Oh, fun and games shooting some video of the catacombs of Rome. The guide looked at me funny a few times as I shot some secret hidden camera video. Then later the same day shooting some more in the Sistine Chapel only to have some guy whip out a camera and take a photo right in front of the guards who did nothing.
Popping out of a drain in Adelaide in a park and asking some surprised urbanites if we could help ourselves to a sausage as "They don't feed us much down there?" Taking one before they could say no.
Popping out of a very dirty Bob's Drain in Melbourne right behind Crown Casino with 20+ people and then washing off in a fountain. Being stared at by car drivers as we washed off. This was late at night but there were heaps of people around still.
Being accosted by a guy at Bob's drain because he thought we were car thieves because we had back packs on and looked dodgy.
Popping out of a drain onto a railway reserve with 50 (Yes 50) plus explorers in Sydney only to be spotted by a train driver and being ordered back into the drain.
Encountering a catacomb explorer who was sleeping sitting up in the Paris Catacombs who asked if I had any batteries for his Dolphin torch he'd some how acquired. The torch was given to him by previous Australian explorers.
Falling through a catwalk in the old Burwood Brickworks because I was not looking where I was going. Only to luckily land on a cable instead of falling 2 meters to the floor where I would have landed on a nasty half cut I beam.
Driving down Mini 10th Drain and splashing some teenagers who were running away from my car. Then doing the same thing on the way back.
I so need to get my old site online again!
"Oh! That's YOUR web site!" ... "Yep, that one." http://www.uer.ca/urbanadventure/www.ur ... windex.htm
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The Adelaide snag pinching made me larf
Watching a Christmas tree wash past as part of a pile of debris in St Kilda drain.
Finding a $20 note stuck to the side of St Kinda drain and being laughed at by kids in Mcdonalds as we spent it because my shorts were muddy and looked like I had crapped in them.
Popping a manhole in Clan Tomb and commenting that when Predator had popped it there was a rubbish bin on top of it, only to watch a rubbish bin come crashing down in the street through the gutter box grille.
Almost getting my fingers run over as I gripped a grille in a new grille room in The Great Stairway drain.
Crawling way up Blue drain in Canberra and making horrible monster like noises at night and watching people's terrified reactions. Then packing up with laughter.
Crawling up the same drain with super soakers and a laser pointer.
Being asked by FBI agents in the USA on a Greyhound bus "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?" and figuring out the right answer is "no". Then being asked "Are you carrying any illegal drugs on you." Also answering truthfully "No" but wondering who would be too stupid to say yes. Then the priceless stare of death when I asked him "Do they really have an X files unit in the FBI?"
Accidentally parking in a police station filling area (police petrol station) at night in St Louis and being asked by two cops "What are you doing here?" Only to explain my friend was a night photographer and she was taking a timed shot of a tree and the cops relaxing at my accent and asking how long I had been in the US? I replied "Six hours." I explained I was getting over jet lag by staying up till dark on my first day.
Walking into a Walmart in the USA and being asked if I wanted to buy a shotgun which was on special that day!!!! I was like "Ahh, no thanks." I was amazed they'd sell them to anyone.
Being told that we wouldn't be allowed to explore any buildings in Chernobyl but doing so anyway.
Being accosted by a Sydney Cave Clan member as I looked at a random drain once and been given a wonderful guided newbies tour where he explained that drains were separate from sewers, and what gutter boxes were and not to explore when it rains and so on. I could see that he was very proud of his drain knowledge so I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd been in lots of drains till he finally asked "I notice you seem to be experienced at what you're doing. Have you been in many drains before." Then replying modestly "Oh yeah, a few." When really I'd been in over 200 at that stage.
Ahhh, standing on the edge of the waterfall in the Park River Drain intake and having a guide say "He knows what he's doing, he's explored plenty of drains." Only to have me loose my footing and slipping down the waterfall and landing on my ass at the bottom all wet and having all 8 people in the expo pack up laughing including myself. Then later canoeing out of the entrance just as a police car cruised past on the road above. They ignored us.
Sitting on the old flour mill in Merri Creek / Yarra River Melbourne on a hot day, with back packs full of spray paint and Cave Clan magazines right in front of a sign saying "Do not climb on mill race" as a cop car cruised past on the cycleway above only to have them look right at us and ignore us.
Turing up to explore St Kilda Drain one night and having a prostitute walk up to me and a mate then turn around as we popped a manhole in the footpath a few meters from her.
Riding back to my friend's place in Paris covered in mud up to my waist from exploring the catacombs and being served in McDonalds because no where else would serve us anything to eat.
Driving a Metro Camel train on the London Underground at the invite of a friend (all legit and authorised as the controls were the same as Melbourne W class trams) and announcing "Thank you for traveling tha Lundn unda grnd" in a broad Aussie accent as I got my Metro Camel rating.
Getting off the train to explore London Underground stations with permission.
Being given a wonderful tour of a massive disused steelworks in St Louis USA by a steelworker who told us of how he lost his best friend right on a spot he showed us when a huge bucket carrying molten metal tipped as it was carried above his friend. The friend was instantly killed and vaporized as the molten metal hit him.
That guy showed me and a friend all over that plant and told us some amazing stories all for free.Being asked by a security guard at the Battersea power station what we were doing and after explaining "looking at the old power station. When did it close down?" Being given a 20 minute talk followed by a short guided tour of it by the obviously bored guard who seemed quite keen to entertain a visiting Aussie tourist.
Finding a manhole in some German city which played music from it! I think I have video of that somewhere.
Driving around the block with a really cool Dutch explorer Petr Kazil so that we could cross the Dutch / German border and say "Now we're in Germany, now we're in the Netherlands" a few times.
Leaving my keys in the door of my van in France and then going on a 30 minute walk to explore bunkers on a crowded beach only to realize my keys were missing and finding them and the van exactly where I left them! I was wondering why people seemed to be staring at the van.
Being on the roof of the old Melbourne Power station as the police helicopter flew over during a strike by workers at "The Age" across the road. The spotlight hit us so we hunkered down by a wall then scampered as it flew off for another pass.
Being in the old Melbourne Power station and hearing the loud public address system from The Age building across the road and thinking it was the police yelling at us then sheepishly realising what it was.
Being asked by a police officer to "Ring me the next time you want to explore this place because the old folks get jumpy and report everyone." One night when we explored the Burwood brick works.
Calling the police officer some weeks later, being told he was out but getting an okay to explore anyway.
Calling the police to report a stolen car in Mini 10th and starting with "My friends and I were driving down the drain...."
Some friends being asked by Salvos "Is everything all right at home?" After they were sitting at Flinders Street Station late at night after a roof topping expo. They were a little dirty.
Being approached by a homeless guy late one night who took a look at us and decided not to ask us for money or smokes after all.
One mate being offered a ride to our car by an obviously drunk worker who was driving across the just built Bolte Bridge in Melbourne after we'd walked across it one night. Then the other two of us walking across a 1 metre gap in the bridge just walking on the rebar ends with a 12 metre drop below us.
Watching some Telstra workers doing some wiring in Melbourne one day and being invited down to take a look into the utility tunnels that run under the city.
Doing the same to some BT workers in London and being told the tunnel they were in was a utility tunnel that runs right down under the Thames.
Spotting some random guy in Geelong and asking "Do you know of any abanoned buildings around here?" Only to be told about the spectacular old Geelong Power station and 30 minutes later standing on the roof of it with spectacular views.
"Oh! That's YOUR web site!" ... "Yep, that one." http://www.uer.ca/urbanadventure/www.ur ... windex.htm
And read the damn Newbies FAQ and guide to writing a first post! viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4257&p=40693
And read the damn Newbies FAQ and guide to writing a first post! viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4257&p=40693
Here are a couple more:
Being told not to take photos on the official Paris Catacombs tour, but doing so anyway and getting stoney looks of death from the tour guides.
Getting "lost" on the Gunkanjima / Hashima Island tour 3 times due to "serious need to go to the toilet" after managing to get added to a journalists tour of the island. Getting ignored the first two times but then being yelled at in Japanese the third time.
The tour costs about $50 Australian and is available from Nagasaki Harbor:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4414.html
"Oh! That's YOUR web site!" ... "Yep, that one." http://www.uer.ca/urbanadventure/www.ur ... windex.htm
And read the damn Newbies FAQ and guide to writing a first post! viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4257&p=40693
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I would never do that. I have an insane fear of sharp objects esp. needles.aydun wrote:I just dropped into a nice high outfall expecting the water to be ankle deep like on a previous recco. Turns out it was slightly more tidal than I thought, instead being waist deep -.-
I was being stealthy, so didn't have a good look with by torch lol. Probably should've heeded the whole 'look before you leap' thing
Thick shoesMidget wrote:I would never do that. I have an insane fear of sharp objects esp. needles.aydun wrote:I just dropped into a nice high outfall expecting the water to be ankle deep like on a previous recco. Turns out it was slightly more tidal than I thought, instead being waist deep -.-
I was being stealthy, so didn't have a good look with by torch lol. Probably should've heeded the whole 'look before you leap' thing
These bad boys can prevent all but the sharpest objects from inserting into my feet. x2twisties wrote:Sh!t Panic, you have been around mate!!! I'm very envious of these stories you have!!
Damn, if only I was that bold when I was there! I just found the UK penalties for tresspassing are less strict than here (the police usually ignore tresspassers).Panic! wrote: Being asked by a security guard at the Battersea power station what we were doing and after explaining "looking at the old power station. When did it close down?" Being given a 20 minute talk followed by a short guided tour of it by the obviously bored guard who seemed quite keen to entertain a visiting Aussie tourist.
Just a harmless explorer. No need to waste taxes checking me 
Stupidity helps you make the first step and sense gets you out alive.