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into the tunnels

After considering our options, we decided to journey below to the basement, to explore the utility tunnels. We donned our masks- a combination of asbestos fibers, dirt, death and dank tunnel air required this. We would be breathing heavily as we traversed the tunnels and more than a few minutes of this air I'm sure would have made us ill.

It was a long walk down the first length of tunnel, shared by huge steam pipes to our left, before we arrived at a junction. The tunnels gradually decrease in width, making a stroll through them increasingly uncomfortable. Our shoulders tightened and, at certain points, the tunnel necessitated we move sideways.

Eventually, the height of the passageway became much shorter, which was unfortunate for a 6'5" member of our party. Perhaps it was a good thing then, that after a series of right turns and long distances, we came upon a bricked up wall and decided to retreat. There were lefts that could be made, manholes at the ends of ladders above us and other options to explore, but the tightening of the space, the heavy tunnel air and an increasing sense of 'tunnel dementia' left us eager to return to the open basement. Being that animals senses are infinitely more refined than humans, the presence of many cat skeletons made us start doubting we would be able to find a way out if we traveled too long or too deep.