Walk Right In

The first time you sneak into an abandoned building is a rush. From the fist spotting, to having a reccy about to slipping in for the first time. It's a great and memorable experience, and it soon leaves you wanting a repeat.

I stumbled upon this place by accident and was trying to be a good lad and get some exercise by walking a few stations across the city, when I happened on it.

At first glance the gate looked nicely secured, but after wondering past a handful of times looking like a right dufus to the staff at the adjacent establishment, it became obvious that it wasn't!

The place was under construction or perhaps demolition, and the gate bolt had been slipped loosely into the brick wall of the adjoining building, with just some loose wire wrapped on it, for heaven knows what purpose. Perhaps to deter drunk hobos from finding a cool patch of concrete or perhaps it was the drunk construction workers thinking this was security window dressing.

After the staff next door got bored of me and returned to their grind, I slipped into the alcove out of their sight and out of the sight of the CCTV camera, which most likely wasn't even on.

Having a quick pull at the bolt it slide easily out and the gate swung out and opens up. I slipped round and closed it behind me quickly and retreated into the shadows out of the line of sight from the street.

I was determined now, I had done the deed, to make sure I got some photos, something anything, to mark the occasion. This was my first decent sized structure and I was rather excited.

I snapped a few semi interesting oddities in the ground floor, among the dust construction materials that looked to have been forgotten their for time to claim, and moved towards the stairs.

Creeping up the stairs as quickly and quietly as I could so as not to wake the meth crazed grafers that no doubt lay in wait, as I ascended I heard only my own crunch, crunch, crunch as I tried in vain to avoid the broken glass everywhere.

Unsurprisingly the place was empty as a crypt and it was just me and my still beating heart in residence today.

Popping into the first fire door I took some shots of the multitude of spray cans littering the complex and the lost shoe of some unfortunate soul.

At least the grafers had left the fridge door ajar so as not to produce bad odors while the power was off.

At this point I decided I had pushed my luck far enough and decided to head for the exit post haste, so as not to arrive there to find anyone waiting. I had only been in for about 10 minutes tops, but it was in the middle of the city.

Slipping down the stairs I found that a nice gentleman had decided to take up position right outside the exit gate and chat on his mobile. He was a few meters back from the opening, so I crept up as quietly as I could and slipped out behind him, by the time he looked around to see where i had come from, I had closed the gate and was briskly walking down the street.

Rounding the corner, I slipped into the other pedestrians and made for home.

I was as happy as Larry in the little expedition as meek as it would appear to most.

Who knew you could have such adventure while making excuses to go for a walk.