3,2,1 BUNGY!

New Zealands native bird the kiwi cannot fly, and neither can the native people of New Zealand, as the video shows I flapped my wings but just got no where. Bloukrans Bridge is part the the N2 and spans across the Bloukrans river. the Bridge sits 216m above the bottom and houses the worlds highest commercial bungy jump. My fear of heights was to be tested and or conquered by this very bridge.

I did not get any sleep the night before our departure to this very spot, the bungy jump has been the one thing on my mind for the last 6 months, the one thing I knew that would put me so far out of my comfort zone. upon arrival we got weighed in, and I got told I was jumper number one, at this point i started to freak. The walk to the center of the bridge was on a very flexy hung bridge about shoulder width, it hung just under the concrete car-way. I believe my fear of heights has started to diminish after studying and experimenting with the strength of concrete and steel, starting to understand a strong system and how fixings and welding works has given me a lot more confidence with walking on thin steal bridges.

When we made it to the centre of the bridge the music was cranking and everyone was dancing, this was a great distraction from what was about to happen. Once on the centre there was no mucking around, the licence of the safety equipment had expired on the 11th so it was due to be re tested again,, After our jump. this didn't help. the straps were put on and I was helped over to the edge..

At this point it was a, too late just do it, sort of feeling, toes had to be over the edge and then just look straight down, before jumping I wished mum a happy birthday and then 5,4,3,2,1... Bungy! 6 seconds of free fall was filled with every swear word I knew, until the gradual deceleration as you near the bottom of the extension  it was at this point were I thought, hmm that wasn't actually that bad. the tightness around the ankles felt secure and all was well.

Until I reached the first crest in my wave form, and holy shit what an unnerving and unreal experience, at this point you cannot really see the ground, you cannot see the bridge or the cord, you are not suspended completely weightless in between two giant cliff faces, a point in time where it felt like gravity and your weight had hit equilibrium and you had found yourself hovering in between a natural canyon. A crazy experience im not sure I ever want to relive.