Look Mom, No Hands

I apparently did not back out. I apparently did bungy from 43 meters. I apparently did not have time to think about it.

I mentioned to Lynette our tour guide, which we picked up yesterday that I wanted to bungy the next day on our free day in Queenstown. She immediately said, "Wanna do it today?" and I said, "Ok." (I'm an idiot I know)

The next thing I know she is on the phone booking a time and we are back in the car on our way to the Kawarau Bridge. We get there I'm out of the car and at the "Here are your options area" I'm asked for my name, asked what options I want (I got the jump and three photos. I opted out of the DVD and am a little sad at this point that I didn't get it, however, how often would I really watch the damn thing)Then I was asked to sign a release form, to stand on a scale and my weight was then written on my hand in big red numbers branding me for life apparently. I was then given a piece of paper with my name and my weight. My weight seemed to be written everywhere which is probably good as it is apprently important for the whole bungy process.

All of this was done very quickly with no time for thinking, something they do on purpose I'm sure. I was then told to go through the doors and walk to the bridge. Michele and Lynette came with me while Hugh and Dia stayed at the watching area to take pictures of me taking the plunge.

Upon arriving at the bridge I was put in a harness and then asked to sit while a nice New Zealand boy wrapped a towel with some straps around my legs. If I had been thinking straight I think I would have wondered how on earth that was supposed to keep me from falling when the bungy pulled on it.

I know someone jumped before me but I have no memory of watching him jump. Michele continued to smile encouragingly at me and take pictures. Lynette made comments like, "Have you looked down yet?" which I readily ignored. And then I was standing up and inching forward with my legs bound together towards the edge of the platform. About then I was starting to think that I couldn't do it. I mean 43 meters (which I think is around 140 feet) doesn't sound that high and is certainly not the highest jump here but damn if it didn't seem that way.

New Zealand boy was very good at his job. He ran through multiple instructions which went straight over my head. I opted for the water touch and he told me to make sure that my arms were straight out and my chin down as if I was diving because otherwise I might smack my face on the water and that would not be fun.

After talking rapidly at me, making me smile for the camera, wave to the crowd he said he was going to count to five and then I was going to jump. I at this point said, "I don't know if I can do this." He then told me that he was not going to make me jump. He was holding my rigging and I was completely safe. He told me to look at the bridge across the way and this is two seconds of your life and the next thing I knew I was falling. I don't even remember thinking jump. I think I stopped thinking. I must have closed my eyes for the initial plunge but the next thing I knew I was falling.

I didn't quite touch the water. Very close but I just missed it. I was silent on the way down and once I bounced back up I just started screaming. Afterwards Hugh and Dia said the crowd laughed at me. Hell as long as I was entertaining. I bounced a couple of more times, my shirt flew upside down and the whole thing was a complete rush.

I was then being told to reach for a pole and they lowered me into the raft. I was given various instructions all the while one of the other New Zealand boys was making small talk which I could barely answer considering I had just jumped off a bridge. I was quickly ushered off the boat and walked back up to where everyone was waiting. When I got back up to the top people who had watched me jumped waved at me as if to say, "Oh good you're still here, Hello."

Upon my return I hugged Michele and Lynette and then I was ushered over to a screen where they showed the video of me jumping. Again surreal in that I had just done it from a completely different perspective. After the video I got my pictures, my tshirt and we headed out of there with me on a complete high.

The whole thing was very efficient and fast. I don't know if I could ever do it again but I'm sure as hell glad that I did do it.

Mom you can breath, I'm just fine.

There are pictures online, well, not quite yet but they are to be posted soon. In the next day or so you can go to AJHackett.com and input the code AJHK511216246848 for my pictures.