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Published: June 11th 2008
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It is official that I am certifiably crazy! Today I jumped off the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe not once but twice. It was exhilarating and incredibly insane. It was also something I have always wanted to do. I did a three in one package (cheaper.. always out for a deal) which included in the zipwire (flying fox), bridge swing and bungy jump.
The first activity that I did was the zipwire across the gorge. I thought it would get my adrenaline going for the next two activities but boy was I wrong. The zipwire was a piece of cake and more of a fantastic view than scary in any way. I was strapped in, put my feet up and had a big push from behind to send me sailing across the gorge. It was amazing and didn't even seem high. On the other side I was unstrapped and walked to the top of the bridge. I entered Zimbabwe for about two minutes on my walk back and as the exchange rate somewhere around 6 million to 1 US dollar on the day I am glad my stay was short!
As I made my way to the centre of
the bridge I saw another guy on the tour being strapped up for the bridge swing. As I watched they advised him to taking a few running steps off the bridge. As soon as he left the platform he dropped for about 5 seconds straight downward before the swing actually began. The first thought in my mind was how in the world am I going to make myself run off the bridge! They quickly said I was next as my face turned very pale. The instructors strapped me up to the swing line which weighed a huge amount and felt like it was going to pull me off the bridge before I was ready.. they counted to three, said "swing" and I was rooted to the platform. They had to count three times until I could make myself take those 3 running steps off the platform by which time my hands were completely numb! Probably the scariest thing I have ever done. The freefall was 5 seconds of sheer terror before the swing began. Once the swinging began I had a great time (once I convinced myself I could let go of the rope)! The view was really really amazing. I was dangling over the rapids of the Zambezi river in the mist of the Falls. Lovely.
I was hauled to the bridge once more and climbed back to the top. As soon as I got there I was next in line for the bungy and was seriously starting to wonder why I had signed up for that cheap three part deal. As if throwing myself off the bridge once wasn't enough for me! I was seriously scared about the bungy but knowing that I survived the swing and knowing that the money I paid was non refundable I figured I might as well!
I entered the platform for the last time where I had two towels wrapped around each foot and a small cord wrapped around both legs. Very nervous as, apart from mere towels breaking my fall, I had seen the bungy cord on the walk up which is really just a bunch of rubber bands in cord form. They walked me up to the edge and with my feet over the edge counted 5 4 3 2 1 .. Bungy. With the slightest push from behind and the most ungraceful dive of my entire life I began the fall to the river. Can't really remember much of the view as all the blood was rushing to my head and my body was convulsing in fear. But when the bungy cord caught I was relieved.. until I realized that a bungy isn't about one drop it's about many. Teaches me right for jumping with a rubber band attached to my feet. I bounced 6 or 7 times with the same feeling of falling on each bounce.
I have to say in hindsight I am glad I did it but I will never do it again!! But at least that's another check on my life list. Will have the videos up of the jumps soon.
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