Bungy

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Today was Bungy day. Went down to the Bungy centre in Queenstown and after a bit of a wait, we were driven up to the canyon site where the Nevis jump is. There were about 20 people, some had already done the bridge jump in the morning. Most were here for their first jump.

The jump is from a big cable car overlooking a huge canyon. You go across in small groups to the cable car in a tiny metal basket thing and there is no way to avoid looking down at the canyon below.

I was fortunate enough (or unlucky you may think) to be the first to go. You are sat in a dentists chair while they tie your ankles together and attach you to the bungy rope. Then you are escorted towards the ledge and the countdown begins. I'd booked this jump on friday, so I'd had plenty of time to think about it. They made me look down which didn't help too much but 5-4-3-2-1 jump I managed to dive off. The first couple of seconds are the worst (or best) as you feel the sudden acceleration. You don't really have much time to think about much on the way down. I think the 134 metre drop lasts about 7 or 8 seconds. On the bounce back up you feel some relief but then I twisted a bit at the top as I felt the freefall sensation again.

After the second bounce, you have to reach up and unbind your ankles so you can just sit in the harness. They then winch you back up to the cable car. I then had the pleasure of watching everyone else go through the same torment. Everyone seems to come up with bloodshot eyes afterwards. There were a couple who needed a few countdowns before they jumped, but no-one bottled it.

Great fun. I didn't sleep that well overnight as I had some very vivid dreams of the experience.

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Photos

The dentist's chair
It's not easy smiling at the camera when you are about to do something so crazy.

Hard bit over
There's no going back now

Comments

[Matthew Hare]

Good times..
Good on you fella, sounds like a blast. I envy you :)