Advertisement
Published: January 30th 2010
Edit Blog Post
Just as I though I had finished my entries for New Zealand I couldn't resit doing one more! Yesterday I jumped off a bridge and it was one of the craziest things I have ever done! Again, just like the skydive, within 24 hours of deciding to do it I had already jumped off! The main thing that persuaded me to do it was the fact that everyone was talking about it and how good and scary it was and I knew I would be absolutely terrified...so I just had to give it a go! We headed out to the marina to be picked up by the bungy company and took a ride down to the bridge. Even the first glimpse of the massive bridge made me nervous. We checked in, put on a harness, helmet for walking the bridge and signed another one of those "if you die it's not our fault" forms. The funny thing is, we hadn't even got 10m up onto the bridge and I was already freaking out because of how high up we were. The steps to the top got smaller and smaller until it got to the point when we had to hold the railing on the way up (it was pretty windy too!) I decided to do the bungy jump with a guy called Jamie who we met in Australia and have been bumping into on our travels ever since. We eventually got the the top and I was out of breath with nerves and everything seems like a bit of a blur from there on! The guys running the show ran through how it worked and then got started. It went in weight order so I was roughly in the middle of the group...kind of good because I got to watch others do it first...which in all honesty didn't help at all. It was just such a big drop I can't even begin to describe what I felt like. My turn came about quickly and as I sat in the chair the guy attached the straps, pads and ropes. I could see over the edge as well with made it all the more scary. He then said, "when you hit the water put your hands straight and have fun". Sweet. So I hopped of the chair, wobbled over the the platform and my insides literally dropped away from me as I realised I was about to jump of this thing! We got some photos, he gave a count down, and I jumped! It was so hard to relay the message from my brain to my legs saying "just jump!" You have to fight every natural instinct, having to convince yourself that jumping out to the safe pod under the bridge right out into the open air attached to the bridge by no more than a line of latex cord is in fact a good idea! The drop was 41m and after the initial jump of the platform (which was awesome) you just fly down hurtling towards the ocean and the cord kicks in just before you hit it. I got my hands in and I remember my face being inches away from the water. The I shot straight back up, closed my eyes but then opened them again just to see the underside of the bridge above me and that was scary again! I bounced about 4 times before releasing the cord from my feet to be winched back up on the harness. I couldn't stop screaming it was such a rush and so much fun. There is no feeling like it and on the way down, it was almost peaceful (like the skydive was) because with nothing else around you all you have to to is think to yourself. The very fact that you have to jump of yourself makes it so much harder but possibly one of the most mentally rewarding activities ever. Great fun. The Auckland Harbour Bridge jump is the only jump in New Zealand where there is an ocean touch involved so it was pretty cool to get that in as well. Dan bought me my photo pack of the jump as a belated 21st birthday present which was cool and I got a free t-shirt as well so all in all it was a great day. I would defiantly do a jump again. But I know for sure that no matter how many times you jump, every one will be just as extreme. With the skydive, you had no choice, you had to go because the instructor was attached to you. but with the bungy jump it is so different. The guys working there can't push you, you have to do it all on your own. When I got back in the jump pod after I was winched back up I couldn't stop shaking...nervous, but happy energy! I have put some photos up on facebook of the jump, check them out because there are a few that really show the height...and the scared look on my face! It feels so good to say I have done it and now, I literally think I could now tackle any extreme sport thrown at me....now that I can safely say I have thrown myself (actually paid to throw myself) off a bridge...just for fun! Awesome.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.173s; Tpl: 0.036s; cc: 10; qc: 52; dbt: 0.0769s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb