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Hi listeners, I'm David Wheeler and I have a story I want to tell you.

A story about a daring caver exploring the deep dark recesses of an abandoned mine.

So gather around and listen.

Close.

I've always had a thing for places off limits.

You know, off limits like areas as regular civilians are advised to stay clear of.

Growing up, there was this patch of land just outside the tree line in my favorite park.

It was empty, and no one lived there, but it was surrounded by a tall fence and at least a half a dozen signs that screamed in bold lettering no trespassing.

As a kid, I never really got the point of all that. Like, what's so important about an empty lot of dirt where they afraid someone was going to steal their muddy grass?

It was as though they were saying this private patch of nothing was too good for me.

Well, I'd prove them wrong.

I felt pride as I climbed that fence like I was a rebel, leading a revolution.

When I landed my feet on the other side, it was like I landed a ship onto a new continent.

That wasn't a trespasser. I was an explorer.

It started with that dirt lot.

Then it was a former junkyard and then a vacant motel and then an abandoned hospital.

The more I crossed that forbidden line, the easier it got.

But then there always had to be a challenge, uh, what's next, you know?

I guess that's how I got into caves.

I never really questioned it. It seemed like the next logical leap, what other places locked away from society, hidden from view than a literal hole into darkness.

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