Day Thirty-One

Western window.

I dug out a window in the western side of the monument so I could follow the moon. Far below, skeletons and creepers were moving over the countryside. 

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I tried mining for a time, but I did not expect to find much. I was fairly limited in the direction I could mine, too. Any direction except straight down just exposed me to the night. Eventually the sun began to rise and returned to the peak to survey my surroundings.

Digging a way out.

The monument was, thankfully, mob-free.

Today's path.

Now I had to find a way down. In my frantic climb last night, I had not thought to leave a path to easily get down in the morning. A commenter suggested jumping down the waterfall. Unfortunately, I could not see the waterfall from the peak so that was out of the question. During the night I had mined a narrow, spiraling stairwell through the center of the monument. I returned to it and continued it down to the ground.

Down we go.

Nearly there.

Free!

Thanks for the good times, Monument.

Onwards!

The land directly east of the monument was flat before rising in small hills. Before the hills was a cavern going down and south. In its mouth was a vein of ore. I mined it hastily as the moans of zombies rose up from the darkness.

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One last glance at the monument. Not so freestanding now with my dirt bridge.

Hills to the east.

I headed north around the cliff and followed the shore. In the distance I could quite a lot of sand.

Looking north-east.

My first desert.

A crazy floating sand house.

The sand clung to the southern faces of the mountains, as though it had been picked up from a desert in the south and dropped here by a north-blowing wind. I can only speculate.

More sand to the east.

Looking back at the sandy hills and floating sand house thing.

Mountains to the south.

I climbed the hills to the east and found myself out of the desert and looking down into a lush valley.

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It was about this time I realised there was still a sign sitting in my inventory. Whoops!

That's better.

On the valley floor, the grass and trees were visibly healthier. The stark difference between the hilltop and the valley floor was unavoidable.

The valley floor.

The valley ended with a vast lake.

I tried to find a way around the lake but the sides were sheer. Instead I paddled out and swam to the opposite shore. It did not see wide enough to warrant stopping to build a boat.

The southern cliffs (taken from the water).

South again, from the opposite shore.

Climbing out the other side, the forest continued until I hit the ocean.

Hey, pig.

Through the forest.

The coast.

Looking north from the sand bridge.

Across the sand was a small peninsula before the ocean blocked my path. Time for a boat. As I walked onto the beach, I noticed water pouring downwards into a hidden cave.

Looking east.

I wonder what secrets lie down there.

Opening my inventory to grab my workbench, I noticed just how much junk I was carrying. I swiftly threw the gravel and dirt into the water to be washed down into the cavern below.

More stuff than a nomad ever need carry.

Heading east.

I directed my boat to the south of the island, maneuvering around the small sand banks.

Taking it slow.

East again, with a desert appearing to the south.

Getting late.

I hoped to cover some more ground on this continent before making camp. I hurried up the hill and through a forest. To the north was an old inlet from the sea, nearly dried up.

Forest to the east and inlet to the north.

Looking north.

Through the woods.

Looking back west. Time to make camp.

I could see the ocean just up ahead. I jumped down a small cliff beside the sea and dug into it. Taking another suggestion from a commenter, I placed some cacti at the entrance to ward off any nosy mobs. Though, in hindsight, camping this close to the water was potentially a foolish idea. What if a swarm of skeletons decided to stand in the water? Oh well. I guess I will deal with that in the morning.

Planting my defenses. Literally!

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Day Thirty

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Day Thirty. One more day and I would have been walking east for a whole month. Though, the spiders and zombies scampering over my roof seemed determined to not let that happen.

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The sky grew lighter and the zombies burned. But the spiders remained and their interest in me did not wane. I walked back and forth in my room and the spiders followed me atop the glass. The moment I smashed a single block they would be atop me. I needed an alternative exit.

Digging east.

I knew the hill dropped just to the east so I dug that way and opened a new door. The spiders were still following me above and would still drop on me the moment I exited, but at least I would have somewhere to run.

Here we go.

I bolted. One spider dropped on me instantly and got a couple of hits in, dropping me a few hearts. But as usual, within seconds they gave up on their chase and grew disinterested me.

Silly spiders.

Before heading on, I ducked back west to the edge of the snow to pick the many red mushrooms I had left the previous evening.

Om nom nom.

Let's do this.

Heading east, scattered pockets of snow spotted the landscape.

Heading east.

Ssssssss!

An ominous cave. I left it alone.

Soon I came across an ocean. I was about to put down my workbench and build a boat before i realised that I wouldn't have to this time.

Ocean ahead. Time for a boat.

Hmm. Perhaps not.

Oh gosh, please don't break!

Looking back west from whence I came.

The next continent was green for a time, but snow-capped mountains were visible on the horizon.

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Distracted by the mountains, I came within a single cube of possible death.

That was too close. This picture doesn't really show just what a drop this shaft was.

The ground rose gradually and the snow once again became more consistent.

Another shaft.

Snow is getting thick.

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Through the woods.

Another ocean. Won't be walking across this one.

There would be no avoiding the boat this time. I swiftly crafted one and set sail. I could see a sheet of ice to the north, and it was not long before more land appeared to the east.

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Mountains to the south-east.

I pulled up on the beach and continued east through the trees. A soft fall of snow was still scattered across the leaves and grass.

Woods to the north.

A frozen puddle.

Large lake to the south an the ocean beyond.

East, chickens!

Mountain in m road.

I walked up to the base of the mountain. The land before it was sundered with crevasses and canyons. I navigated around them to see if I could find a direct path over.

Watch you step.

Hmm. What if i try this...

Ow. No, that didn't work.

I gave up on finding a direct path and instead headed north to climb the more gradual foothills of the mountain.

Woods to the north.

Up we go.

Hello. What is that? (looking north-east)

A strange structure came into view to the north, unlike anything I had before seen. I decided to take a brief detour to check it out.

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Well that is something.

I had hoped that it was floating, but instead it balanced precariously on a single leg of stone. It was a breathtaking sight that dwarfed the flattish lands around it. As I gazed at it, trying fruitlessly to capture it with a photo that would do it justice, the sky began to darken. It was time to find camp. I was struck with a somewhat ludicrous idea. Quick as I could, I gathered some dirt.

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I don't have much time.

As the stars came out, I clambered the small mound beside the monument and built a narrow bridge of dirt across the divide.

This is quite likely the most stupid idea I have ever had.

Yep. Definitely a stupid idea.

I placed dirt and frantically jumped to the top of the monument. The view was breathtaking.

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It did not take long for the fear to set in. What the heck was I doing up here? What if a mob spawned? Where would I run? What if I fell? I swiftly covered the monument and torches and dug into the 'ground' to make my camp.

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Crazy? Undoubtedly. But still, I was camping above the clouds atop a bizarre monument. What would an adventure be without doing crazy things like this? The story, the fact I can say "I went there" more that makes up for the risk.