I mentioned before that Queenstown is a skiing town, but when the slopes aren’t in season (and when they are) it is regarded as the adventure sports capital of the world. You can do pretty much anything here; to name a few: skydiving, hang gliding, canyoning, hiking and, of course, bungy jumping.
As soon as my eyes popped open around 8 AM, I was certain that there was no way I would fall back to sleep. I hadn’t dreamt about it, but the knot in my stomach made it clear that my body and mind had not forgotten what I would be doing in just a few short hours.
I was bunking with 2 of the other guys who would be jumping with me. One of which had been the most frightened of the group and he hardly opened his mouth from the time his eyes opened until he jumped off the platform. We headed together to the meeting point to check in and meet the others. We had a light breakfast and chatted nervously until it was time to get on the bus for the 45 minute ride to the jump site. It was a quiet ride to say the least and I was feeling cautiously excited and optimistic though I knew that I would no doubt be gripped by fear when it was time to go.
They are a quite well oiled operation and from our arrival until jump time they kept us busy and managed our nervousness. We immediately got fitted with harnesses and were shuttled over to the platform on a small gondola car. It was see through on the bottom of the car and for the first time we got an idea of what we would be leaping into….it was a long way to the river below.
Fortunately or unfortunately for me the order of jumping was by weight from heaviest to lightest so I would be one of the first to jump. When I arrived on the platform I was immediately fit with ankle harnesses and then ushered to the “on deck circle” if you will, a chair where you’d be checked on last time and have the bungy cord attached. I was still feeling good and joked with the guy to double check all the connections. I then shuffled to the platform and as I looked over the edge…I felt the fear. I heard my friends call out to me to look over at their waiting cameras. I looked, but didn’t manage a wave or a smile; they later told me I was sheet white. I heard the countdown in my other ear…3…2…1 and I just jumped off the platform trying not to give it too much thought. What a rush! I was falling and there was no time to think and before I knew it I had hit the bottom and the first bounce sent me flying back into the air. After the second bounce I pulled the cord to put me in a seated position and was hoisted back into the platform and just like that it was over. I was feeling great and I encouraged all my waiting mates that it would be no problem....none of them had yet to jump.
As I watched the rest of my friends jump(all made it successfully), I began to think about going again. I wanted to enjoy the jump and soak in the surroundings and the first jump just did not lend itself to that. I asked the employees and they said I could jump again at half price and I told them I was game.
I did my final jump and it was just me and the employees as the rest of the group had been shuttled back across. The guys gave me a little bit of hassle trying to ensure I wasn’t too comfortable, but I jumped and enjoyed the ride. It was nice that I could really take in the beauty of the surrounding and enjoy the rush.
The ride back was polar opposite of the ride out. Everyone was feeling good and chatting away. We arrived back in Queenstown and met the rest of our group for lunch, had a celebratory beer and showed off our DVD’s and pictures. We were feeling on top of the world.
We then headed off with the whole lot about 25 people to do some luging(in small cars) down a track at the top of the town gondola. It was great fun, like an idiot’s grand prix.
Something else came out of those days in Queenstown. I had decided to go on a 3 day hike with 2 of the guys from the bungy and bus. We were to leave the next day and hike across an alpine pass. We took care of some preparations and got mentally prepared for that next adventure. After a night of celebratory revelry, the last night the whole bus crew would be together, I slept like a baby.
As soon as my eyes popped open around 8 AM, I was certain that there was no way I would fall back to sleep. I hadn’t dreamt about it, but the knot in my stomach made it clear that my body and mind had not forgotten what I would be doing in just a few short hours.
I was bunking with 2 of the other guys who would be jumping with me. One of which had been the most frightened of the group and he hardly opened his mouth from the time his eyes opened until he jumped off the platform. We headed together to the meeting point to check in and meet the others. We had a light breakfast and chatted nervously until it was time to get on the bus for the 45 minute ride to the jump site. It was a quiet ride to say the least and I was feeling cautiously excited and optimistic though I knew that I would no doubt be gripped by fear when it was time to go.
They are a quite well oiled operation and from our arrival until jump time they kept us busy and managed our nervousness. We immediately got fitted with harnesses and were shuttled over to the platform on a small gondola car. It was see through on the bottom of the car and for the first time we got an idea of what we would be leaping into….it was a long way to the river below.
Fortunately or unfortunately for me the order of jumping was by weight from heaviest to lightest so I would be one of the first to jump. When I arrived on the platform I was immediately fit with ankle harnesses and then ushered to the “on deck circle” if you will, a chair where you’d be checked on last time and have the bungy cord attached. I was still feeling good and joked with the guy to double check all the connections. I then shuffled to the platform and as I looked over the edge…I felt the fear. I heard my friends call out to me to look over at their waiting cameras. I looked, but didn’t manage a wave or a smile; they later told me I was sheet white. I heard the countdown in my other ear…3…2…1 and I just jumped off the platform trying not to give it too much thought. What a rush! I was falling and there was no time to think and before I knew it I had hit the bottom and the first bounce sent me flying back into the air. After the second bounce I pulled the cord to put me in a seated position and was hoisted back into the platform and just like that it was over. I was feeling great and I encouraged all my waiting mates that it would be no problem....none of them had yet to jump.
As I watched the rest of my friends jump(all made it successfully), I began to think about going again. I wanted to enjoy the jump and soak in the surroundings and the first jump just did not lend itself to that. I asked the employees and they said I could jump again at half price and I told them I was game.
I did my final jump and it was just me and the employees as the rest of the group had been shuttled back across. The guys gave me a little bit of hassle trying to ensure I wasn’t too comfortable, but I jumped and enjoyed the ride. It was nice that I could really take in the beauty of the surrounding and enjoy the rush.
The ride back was polar opposite of the ride out. Everyone was feeling good and chatting away. We arrived back in Queenstown and met the rest of our group for lunch, had a celebratory beer and showed off our DVD’s and pictures. We were feeling on top of the world.
We then headed off with the whole lot about 25 people to do some luging(in small cars) down a track at the top of the town gondola. It was great fun, like an idiot’s grand prix.
Something else came out of those days in Queenstown. I had decided to go on a 3 day hike with 2 of the guys from the bungy and bus. We were to leave the next day and hike across an alpine pass. We took care of some preparations and got mentally prepared for that next adventure. After a night of celebratory revelry, the last night the whole bus crew would be together, I slept like a baby.
3 comments:
HB:
I felt a rush, too, as I watched you rapidly descend; however, my rush was somewhat different in nature. I thought to myself, I wasted a lot of money on your college education if that bungy cord snaps. In all seriousness, the video is fantastic. Since I am unable to share the experienece in personam, your blog is the next best thing.i am really enjoying your exploits.
Love, DAD
hi,baby, from picturesi found ur body became stronger now than before,maybe u have grown more muscle on ur body
u see like are more and more cool and beautiful
thank u for ur blog i can see more landscapes
Harrison, HaHa, your father is so humourous... You are so brave and I am trembling and light-headed just by thinking the hight and jumping..
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