Wednesday 15 May 2019
Today was a
special day for 4 of the group members; those who had opted for bungy jumping,
from Bloukrans bridge, which is probably the world’s highest commercial bridge
bungy at 216 metres. The original list of bungy jumpers from the group was 2 to
which 2 additional members volunteered, one being yours truly! 2 out of 4 members
were from one family.
Some of the group
members preferred to spend the day at the hotel & or doing shopping in the
local mall. The others who were travelling in the coach, were all ready at the breakfast
table by 0700 hrs to ensure that there is no delay because of them. Breakfast
done, the group settled in the coach & were prepared for the drive to
Bloukrans bridge where the jumpers had to report by 900 hours.
Just before
reaching the destination, as we were driving past a particularly deep abyss in
the mountainous road, Charl instructed Riaard the coach captain to slow down
the driving speed so that the passengers can have a look at the sheer
precipice.
Around 0900 hrs the coach touched down near the reporting station
& the jumpers with their family members & well wishers joined the queue
to formally register for the jump. The jumpers had to fill up & sign an
indemnity form that they would not hold the organisers (Face Adrenalin)
responsible for any injuries one is likely to sustain. Having done this, paid
up for the jump, the jumpers proceeded to the harness area.
Others who had come
along had the option of participating in the Bloukrans bungy bridge walk.
For the jumpers the
adventure began before the actual jump itself! They were to be reached across to
the jump area by zipline! The zipline –
sliding across on a metal rope - from the bank to the arch – over 200 metres
above terra firma - gives the jumper a fair idea of what sort of excitement to
expect during the actual jump.
The jump area
itself had an electrifying atmosphere. Catchy music blaring from strategically
placed loud speakers welcomed every one. The Face Adrenalin (FA) team were a
friendly energetic & helpful lot; jamming to the music; joking amongst
themselves & with the jumpers, offering to have pictures taken, in short
creating a thoroughly enjoyable ambience.
When my turn to
jump came, things seemed to move very fast. They made me sit in bench, put on
ankle straps, tightened the padding around the legs, attached & secured the
harness around the shoulders. Two persons helped me to hop on to the jumping platform.
These guys position us such that the toes literally stick out of the edge.
Charl had informed that a camera would be placed just above the jumping point
which captures the moments just before jumping. These are the moments which a
first time jumper would probably be living over over over & again in his/her
entire lifetime.
It is impossible
to put into words what happens when one actually jumps. As a person who is used
to wearing spects / glasses for the past 30 years, my first thought was what
would I be seeing. But the gushing of the wind across your face as you fall
down at a speed of “God knows how many kmph” - the experience of falling freely
in open space head down with you speeding towards tons & tons of mountainous
rocks (thanks to mother earth & gravity, as always, doing their work
perfectly); you never even realise when you start going back. When the jump comes
to a stop & you are suspended head down feeling totally vulnerable, even as
you see the nature in its absolute glory, a lot of emotions pass through one’s
mind. In my case the foremost one was of Peace; followed by gratitude & to
a certain extent happiness; and yes; fear.
Before you
realise it, someone reaches out to you, tells you to hold him & gets you to
the top again. Even as you are winched up, you are awestruck by what you have
just experienced.
The FA team pulls
you into the platform area & even as your friends wish you, thump you in
your back, and you see the subsequent jumpers go through the activities which
you have done just minutes back, you find it difficult to believe that you have
actually completed the world’s highest bungy jump!
(The language used in this portion is alternating
between first person & otherwise, to enable the author to express his experience
better)
Wednesday 15 May
2019
Part II to
continue
Your blog makes one re-live the event in a absolutely vivid way. Luv the clarity with which you express the emotions which u experienced while u were suspended ulta. As for me, while I do relate to the same now but at that moment was so blank that I could not express what I felt. However, I couldn't agree more with what you experienced.
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DeleteAhaaa... Loved that description... Now I absolutely have to do the jump....
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