Big Kudos to our two newcomers to investigations! They worked into the group very well through the night. Immediately upon arrival we attempted to inject where we did previously only to find both entry points blocked by fresh cinderblock -_- Most likely due to loose conversations regarding the "shoes" found from the prior investigation. Fortunately Rick and I found another opening while trolling the grounds along the building. We collected the group and made our way in once again.  From the prior investigation the area was the same in respect but, we made a direct move for the catacomb wall blocked by plywood. Once we found it then it was time to put the battery operated circular saw to use...unfortunately at my fault...the blade died out instantly due to no charge in the battery -_- Here I am the "gear man" and a piece of my equipment failed me. I really hate it when I do that. Fortunately that just was not going to ruin our resolve. With three of us giving some muscle we broke the board loose. Instantly we had a tunnel ahead and a tunnel to the left well lit inside and pathed with what seemed to be modern piping in use due to "extreme temperatures" inside. The first tunnel was short and dead ended by a locked door next to a modern generator and piping. So, we took the next tunnel which led to another locked door at the end but, showed another passage to our left down a small ladder. The heat was getting worse...I felt so aristocratic when Amy offered me the roll of toilet paper to dab the M&Ms sized beads of sweat from my forehead I only thought it appropriate to ask for some "Grey Poupon".

 Rick and Ari went ahead to scope out the area beyond the ladder and after they returned we decided to move in further after a brief cooling off period. The heat was definitely in the 110 degree range and that can zap your strength very quickly. We traversed the ladder and followed the tunnel to its right and then another right. With Rick and Ari leading the way they stopped where the tunnel turned left. Faintly we heard Rick say "There's people over there. Let's get out of here". <lol> all of us moved quickly back down the long and hot tunnel. "I was hot and tired from the heat that my trot quickly slowed to a sulking walk." Once we went back around the corner and collected ourselves Rick explained he saw "an old man dressed in white with suspenders carrying crates or boxes." Ari had only caught a glimpse of the man adding "he had a type of engineer train hat". Ari added that the area him and Rick were looking at when they saw the man was an open area that was well lit and had a hallway leading ahead with rooms to either side. 

Once we checked up we went back into the Asylum to find the room with the "shoes". A long the way the generator room we found the last time was not lit but, Tommy's curiosity lit up the one area of the basement when he decided to test a breaker box. <lol> I'm walking ahead of the group and all of the sudden lights go on! Then I hear Tommy's leash tell him to "cut that out". Tommy switched the breakers off as quickly as he turned them on. I have to say that Tommy just loves this place out of all of us. ;-)

 As we moved on we noticed earlier that all the bats in the basement were gone. hmmmmmm...<shrugs> works for me. We came upon the last annex to the Administration section and noticed a cemented door was breached. We went through the breach to find what appeared to be a large cafeteria with what may have been a food service area at the very end showing a walk in cooler to the right just past a service elevator shaft and a locked exit door. Rick and Ari were sure they felt something here in the food service area by what appeared to be a boarded window that seemed to push back when pushed on...I just concluded that it was a window leading outside and the wind could have been pushing back on it. A few times we stood in silence at the "strange sounds" every now and then...sounds like pinging on a large pipe? There were only two and none after that...though, the ones that occurred seemed far away and it was just its seismic conclusion that reached us.

 We decided after the extended time that we had to get to the room with the "shoes" which we eventually found and pretty much concluded that it was just a room for entertainment due to finding musical sheets used by birds to build a nest and remembering the folder of songs a prior member found there in an a joining room during the last investigation. The closets we noticed from before were now open but, contained no signs "body hiding". Aside of their age...they were both clean.

 We agreed due to the time and our age that it was time to head out and in the process I held a small triumph close to me that my flashlight out lasted everyone else's. <hehe> I really really recommend an LED Flashlight from the C.Crane company. Last night it proved its worth ;-)

 Through out the familiar areas we moved through there were times when we heard what appeared to be "others" inside with us noting a large bang against wood and faint running along the floor overhead. For me it was just too hard to tell. During the focus on the sounds we had noticed a jovial get together outside of the building in operation in front of the Asylum making the racket. I believe this is where those tunnels led to. It is some sort of Medical building in operation but, in what manner we do not know.

 Cracking the 4:30AM mark we left as quietly as we came with no strange sounds as we walked away in its shadow. I have concluded at this point it is what it is with some minor operation benefiting the campus and being host to adventurers...some more determined to breach points within that we just left alone and keeping what may be important history in the Administration section safe from those who would tread with no respect to history.

 But, in conclusion...no one ever said you couldn't make a big bag of coin on grave robbing ;-) 

Fortunately this group just doesn't have a penchant for that type of stuff :-) Hard Work always deserves a rest in time.

From:  "fengshuicarrot3" <Fengshuicarrot@aol.com>
Date:  Thu Sep 19, 2002  8:17 pm
Subject:  last saturday, and according apologies

Hello,

I'm writing to the group to post my EXTREMELY late report on Saturday's investigation at the asylum. But first I would like to apologize for my excessive lateness in writing this. I feel, considering I told Rick and Jeff I would write this, that I owe an explanation. Its simple, I had one to many short lived personal crisis's, and a little bit to much work to do. I just haven't been online in a few days. Sorry.

 Anyways, about Saturday. That was probably the most enjoyable thing I have done in a really long time. The site was stunningly beautiful. Between the old style designs of the asylums worn exterior and interior, and the Gothic-esque cathedral I was totally blown away. The only more shocking experience of the night was the amount of "indefinable" activity to be found inside, oh yeah, and how cool my hosts were;>)

Rick and Jeff, after devising an inventive plan of entry (a.k.a tear a large piece of plywood in half), led us down into the building and through many confusing tunnels until we reached our destination, the boiler rooms/steam tunnels. Up to here paranormal/weird activity had been relatively non-existent. We had to wait about 20 minutes well Rick, Jeff, and Tommy took their time draining a saw and matching wits with a board. The board almost one, but after shaking the entire building section two or eight times testosterone and large heavy objects defeated the evil, this is why inanimate objects should learn to just yield from the start, they'll never win against men. Yeah, anyways back to the point. The tunnels were astonishingly hot (unless you consider that you are in a steam tunnel after all) at least 30 degrees warmer than the 60ofarenheit it had been throughout the rest of the building. We found a few un-attainable rooms blocked with metal doors and possible security alarms considering the amount of work being done down their. Ignoring them after minimal attempts, we checked out the degraded passage to our right and finding a dead end went down the left one that followed the pipeline. Maybe 30 yards it went until it ended at another door, and a ladder leading a few feet down. Despite the heat curiosity got the better of Rick and I (bet you didn't see that coming). The ladder almost burned skin to touch. Heat rises and yet as we went lower, it got hotter. A mere five feet down to the bottom, but when we got there it went from around 90 to near an almost unbearable 120 degrees. Not to mention all the humidity (steam pipes, go figure). We went maybe another 30 yards through this when, passing the first of a series of alcoves to our left I walked into a major cold spot and felt as if something terrified fled from us with amazing speed. I'm not new to haunting's by any means, but this really surprised me. Things felt very clear, like I have rarely experienced. Still a bit rattled I told Rick, he took a picture and we went back for the others. Making a long story short, we had one more surprise to find in those tunnels. Rick had taken the lead with me in toe (from about 20 feet) and we were going pretty fast when suddenly he stopped and started to stare, when I caught up I realized what at. Around the bend, we were standing by, and quite a distance back stood an elderly man of European heritage wearing a flannel shirt with overalls, work boots, and an old engineers cap (I think I also saw a coat, but this is unverified by Rick who got a much better look). Rick says that he was going back and fourth moving crates, I wasn't there long enough to tell, the man had started to turn in our direction. We left, rather fast, and with great confusion from those who hadn't seen. Oh, and when you think of what this older mans wearing and doing, please keep in mind 120 DEGREES W/LOTS OF MOISTURE in the air. Anyway, we decided to head back up. Draw your own conclusions I really don't have any. I just realized how much I'm writing so Ill try to cut this short. Big party across street, scarryysoundsbypatientrooms, girl scream a lot but don't know where from, stupid cathedral, and oh yeah there was a room where something kept moving doors and stuff and making a light go flash where there was light to be found and pushing on wall and ignoring Rick well he tried to help it. That pretty much wraps it up. Oh yeah and someone tried to seal us back in. Break stuff;)