The day of the Sky Dive. Woke up this morning and got ready to go out as our sky dive was booked for 11am. The day was really sunny and clear so it looked like it would be on, eek. Had to drive 40 mins along the road from Franz to Fox Glacier. Obviously i was not in a hurry. When we arrived at the air field it was rather amusing as the runway was a small dirt track and what should have been the hanger was a little wooden hut. Great!! They were running late so we put on our jump suits which were faded and a bit patchy and clowned around for a bit. What i did like however was that only two people jumping out could go up at a time which made the total in the plane 5. Two tandom jumpers and one pilot, and it was a squeeze. The guys jumping out with us came over to give us a mini training session, we practiced hanging out of the plane correctly and then there was a drill of things to remember to do to avoid getting the parachute tangled up on the way down and things. Had to try and listen hard here but the information wasn't really going in as all i could think was oh my, i'm jumping out of a perfectly good plane today!! My guy was about 40-50 and had been jumping out of planes for 28 years. Brilliant, this is just what i wanted. Not some young wippet who turns up with a hangover!! I'm set. We got in the plane, i wanted to go first so me and my guy squashed ourselves in at the front with just a perspex window to keep us in. The flight up to 12000 feet was stunning. I could see the glaciers, the Tasman sea, the alps throughout New Zealand, including the highest mountain, Mnt Cook and Mnt Tasman the second highest next to it. Took loads of piccies and to be honest from when i got in the plane all of my fear disappeared more or less. That was of course after wanting to cry, laugh, be hysterical and shake on the ground just before we took off!! It took 20 mins to reach 12000 feet and then the door opened. I swung my feet out, posed for a photo and we fell. Freefall was so much fun although my ears popped badly (it hurt loads but it's so great that falling feeling, that it sort of doesn't matter, there are too many other things going one). Also you know when you are out in a gale force wind and it's hard to breathe?? Well it was like that i had to suck in little pockets of air. I did actually manage to look around at the scenery, the freefall is just the craziest feeling. I would definitely recommend it. Then the parachute opens after 45 seconds in which time you've fallen 9000 feet. For the next 5 mins you casually glide down and can chat away to your instructor. We spun around a few times, took some pictures. I got to steer the parachute and then we came in to land, gracefully by sliding along the floor on our bums. By far the best thing i have done on the trip so far. I want to do it again!! Couldn't hear properly for the next three days because my ears were so blocked but it's worth it. On to Pancake rocks next. xx