Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
3...2...1 BUNGIE!!!
Today started slightly differently to every other day - no, not the rain, that was still pouring down - we got to lie in until the 8.45!!
After breaky on the go we arrived at 'the Station' to sign up for my first Bungie - Anne wisely decided that tackling the highest Bungie in NZ for your first jump was not the best of ideas. Once I was weighed in we set off, with Anne coming along as a spectator.
Once kitted out in a harness we took a gondola out to the Bungie station which was a small metal box about 7m2 suspended 150m in the air above a river and between two mountains. Anne unprepared for coming out to the bungie station needed a little convincing from a bouncy Kiwi, who didn't quite understand fear.
Everyones nerves started to show as we were pulled further out across the ravine in our gondola. A number of the group starting to question their decision to pay 250 bucks for this pleasure - of course the men including myself were less vocal about our fears, only making the occasionally murmurs including 'ermmmm...... that's pretty high ay'. One thing I did realise was that I'm more nervous of standing up and speaking in front friends and family than throwing myself down a 100m + ravine.
I was first up out of our group of 5. After having to downsize my ankle cuffs due to my girlie sized ankles I was moved over to the dentist chair to be clipped onto the bungie cord.
Previously more hesitant than nervous, this quickly changed and I was certain my harness was not tight enough as I shuffled over to the ledge to jump. Now staring down 150m or so into a river gorge the nerves kicked in and I was understandably not entirely convinced about throwing myself off - Anne was even less convinced deciding to stay well back from the viewing area, standing pretty much as far back from the edge as physically possible.
After failing to jump on the first count I manned up, more out of fear of shame than being ready and dropped off.
It was an awesome buzz worthy of screaming and f'ing the whole way down. Once the bouncing has finished you need to pull a cord detaching your feet from the Bungie and relying on the harness. Doing this while suspended 50 or so metres above a river is still pretty nervy, especially as my legs got caught up around the harness leaving me half upside down. Once upright being suspended 100m or so above a river was surprising calming after the fall and it was a nice opportunity to sit there panting and suck in my surrounds.
Anne realised that when I enjoy something I stick my tongue out and on this occasion as I was being hauled back up over the ledge my tongue was very much out with a grin ear to ear.
I enjoyed it so much that I decided to do it again. This time with the advice of the operators I adopted the 'bullet position' and dived headfirst to maximise my speed and get closer to the rocky river below - it worked! Next stop Hong Kong - a 200m+ Bungie!
On arriving back at queenstown we were pleasantly surprised to be told that the shotover jet was running! It had been cancelled the day before due to flash flooding. We hopped on the next bus and within 10 minutes were there. Kitted up in waterproofs and anne's nerdy pink hood we set off for a fast run through the shotover river doing some 360 turns. The first one was so unexpected anne bruised her bum! Great fun wizzing near the rocks in the rain and the heated hand rails were a nice surprise!
Back in queenstown we wandered about and did some shopping and decided that dinner at winnie's again would be the best place for us after a nice hot tub at the hotel The monty pizza was calling! We bagged a table and just when it was getting warm, the roof opened up to let in some fresh air. Completely cool! Polished off a good piece of chocolate mudcake for pud and then off home for another early night! Milford may be calling tomorrow...
- comments