Long live your dreams
New York, New York
Sydney
Climbing for Dawn
Photos from Sydney
The Land of the Long White Cloud
Christmas
Jumping high, jumping higher
My birthday
North to South
15th December 2005 - posted from Christchurch
We arrived at the Nevis base, a small hut in the middle of nowhere. The 45-minute journey to the bungee jump was long enough for you to really think about what you're about to do. I really wasn't up for it when I arrived in New Zealand, it's never anything I've ever considered doing and I've never fancied it, but don't knock it until you've tried it. Besides, what is there to fear? The bungee is safe. If the people running it are prepared to jump themselves (and one occasion with their 7-year old daughter) then it's safe enough for me. You fall until the bungee reaches its maximum length - in this case, 134 metres.
To achieve this height, the "jump station" is suspended between two sides of a canyon, about 150 metres above the ground and river below. The mood in the station is more of a party inside, with music blaring out (U2 for us, I found 'Vertigo' rather appropriate) and everybody standing and sitting, smiling and chatting.
Your legs are strapped to the bungee and around your body is the harness, also strapped to the bungee. You can shuffle around, enough to be led to the edge. I got to the little plate sticking out of the rocking station, I looked down and I could see far, far below the river. I looked straight ahead to the other side of the valley, bent my legs and then just sort of fell. I was hoping to do some kind of spectacular dive, but no, I just kind of fell off. Still, I jumped without being pushed, so I was happy.
The eight seconds goes very quickly. You can see the ground rushing towards you as you top 70mph - the most amazing ground rush. You bounce a few times and then hoisted up to the top again, nice and quickly, after your legs are released so you're facing the right-way-up.
After the poor weather on my birthday I didn't go sky diving. After a few days the weather improved and I went for the jump. Very few nerves this time - but quite enjoyable to watch others jumping having the same experience I did the first time. Ten minutes into the air, we were at 12,000ft and ready to jump. Strapped on, legs back, head back, big smile and away we go! A few seconds of freefall and I was in a cloud - you can't see a thing! Apparently, Chris, didn't want to see anything...
After spending eight days in Queenstown, we decided to leave and head for Mount Cook - on route to Christchurch, our final destination in New Zealand. We arrived and the weather started to turn again. We stayed in the only hostel in Mount Cook village, a tiny village consisting of about 100 people - all of whom work in hotels or the hostel. The primary school has 10 pupils. It's all there so people can enjoy the sight of the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mount Cook. We planned a day walk up a nearby mountain to get a look of the beast Cook is (we can't climb Cook, people use it for practicing Mount Everest expeditions, it's that kind of mountain). The clouds came down and we couldn't see the end of the car park, let alone the mountains. We settled in to the hostel, watched a film and played board games. We finished the day with Guess Who? after we got bored with Trivial Pursuit. Here's one for you: which Teletubby can speak Cantonese?*
We arrived yesterday in Christchurch after a quick stopover to visit some family friends of Andy's parents. They took us into the bush to a wonderful waterfall and we had a picnic amongst the trees. Now we're making plans to sell the van and to head out to the country around the city, as our last views of New Zealand.
Before we know it, it'll be Christmas and then New Year in Sydney. Before I know it, I'll be home. It was a comforting, yet sad thought that in just under a month I'll be sleeping in my own bed. Just how I wanted to feel.
*The answer is Po, obviously...