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Published: October 21st 2007
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Zzzziiiiiipppp! Zzzzziiiiippppp! Zzzzziiiipppp! Off to Stormsriver Zip Line tours!
We woke early, got dressed in some of our warmest clothes, which by the way we didn't pack many of, and got on the bus for the drive to Stormsriver. We are off for a morning of Zip lining and adventure!
I woke up pumped to be strapped to a metal cable suspended 30 meters above the ground and fly through the treetops, Marnie on the other hand was not so excited. Not only was there the apprehension of height, speed and the unknown but also the rain to contend with. This was the first time that we had a overcast day with continuous drizzle in the 50+ days we have been here.
Once we arrived and signed our lives away, absolving the tour company of any responsibility if we were to plummet to our untimely deaths, we got strapped into our harnesses and rain coats. If there is any fashion trend i would love to bring home it would have to be the great look of wearing a Zip Line harness. (I wish I had photos to prove how excellent we looked, but my camera is not the
Death march
on the way to the first Zip line platform... I think Marnie was not too happy at this point kind to be bumping along on a zip line in the rain with me). After the harnessing we got into the back of a truck and took a short but wet 5 minute drive to the start of the Zip lines.
We walked into the rainforest, climbed a platform and were then instructed in the art of braking so we didn't fly into the next tree we were zipping to. It looks and sounds a lot easier then it is to stop a zipping person! All we had to do was keep our right hand slightly above the cable and when we wanted to slow down or stop all we have to do is pull down with the right hand on the cable and we should be able to slow our speed.... yeah right! I tried braking on many occasions, but I sure as heck couldn't control my stop- Thank goodness for emergency brakes operated by the guides!
Time to fly! Peter was great enough to volunteer, or be volunteered into being the 1st person to zip across the line so the rest of us knew what to expect. The rest of the group went first and then
Mid air
Here I come! This was SO much fun!! it was just Marnie and I left on the platform... I was going to go next but thought Marnie might bail if she were allowed to be last and think too much about what she was about to do. Marnie bravely stepped up to the platform, she was locked onto the line, coached on how to sit and slide off the platform and how imperative it is to keep your brake hand ready for slowing yourself and off she went! I think it was one of those "If I don't do this now, I am never going to do this" moments. YAY MARNIE! She faced her fears of highest and enjoyed the ride!
After watching everyone else fly away and squeal and scream with enjoyment I got strapped on to the line and giver shit! IT WAS AWESOME!
After landing onto platform two our guides explained that the Zip line platforms are not actually attached to the trees at all. As the company is an eco-friendly organization they built these platforms to be suspended by only the use of tension. The trees have not been drilled into, cut or modified in any way. The platforms are suspended using
All smiles!
See Marnu! I told you it wouldnt be that bad! You did enjoy it! I am so proud you went!! rubber mats and wooden blocks with cables tensioning the platforms around the trees, that way the company can move and build as many lines as they need without casing damage to the rainforest. Totally cool!
From platforms two we had another 8 lines to cross. I could have enjoyed another 20 lines for sure! It was a great way to spend a morning. Aside from being a little wet when we got back to the bus there was not a word of complaint anyone could think of, except that we wanted more lines to zip across.
After leaving the Zip line company we went back to camp where the afternoon people were picked up and brought to the bungee jumping. I was definitely tempted to go, but since i don't see the point in hurling myself off a bridge, it didn't do it. I kind of wished I had as the bride that they bungeed off of is the highest bungee jump in the world. Oh well, just another reason to go back!
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