We had a crazy adrenaline filled day...including a surprise activity I hadn’t mentioned!!
This morning we walked to the activity centre and caught the 8.30am bus to the Shotover jets. It started to snow while we were driving!! Unfortunately for us, the other people on our boat were no shows, and the boat can’t go without four people minimum. So we had to wait half an hour for the next boat - but it was worth it!
It was FREEZING! Whizzing through the canyon at top speeds of 85km/h with splash back, 360s and huge dips was so cold in the 2 degree weather, but so much fun! We sat in the front and screamed our heads off. I had only just made the height limit for the front seat and I could see why - my feet barely touched the end so it was hard to press myself against the seat for the 360 degree turns! Pair that with my dodgy right hand and it made for an interesting ride, flying out of my seat a little now and then. Lots of fun, but I was very glad I had brought my beanie and gloves. The shotover jets have been running since 1965 and they’ve recently started upgraded the boats at Christmas, apparently the one we were in was a prototype and the other ones like it coming in the next month with have heated hand rails!!
Then it was back to the activity centre and my nerves really began. We were weighed and had lots of numbers written on our hands. Before we left Aus we decided we wanted to do the Nevis swing - the highest canyon swing in the world dropping down into a 160m canyon with 70m of freefall. For some reason, booking that didn’t phase me too much, but I had always said I could never do a Bungy jump. The activity centre told us because of our existing bookings we would get a 45% discount on the Kawarau Bridge Bungy. Rob booked in straight away on Sunday night but I agonised and worried about it until last night when I finally booked it.
So this morning when I woke up, I had a headache (I assume from dreaming and worrying) and felt really nervous and sick. I hate half a bowl of cereal for brekky, and could only bring myself to eat a banana until it was all over.
We got back on the bus and headed to Nevis first. We got on and the guide said “how are we all feeling?!” I felt like bursting into tears, but the Americans on our bus all went “YEAHHH! Good!” The guide said “hold on to that good feeling, because it will disappear!”
Rob had been really good all day. He put on some music to psych us (mostly me!) up and kept hugging me. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t hysterical or anything, but anyone that knows me well knows I’m a huuuuuge stresshead, and today was no exception!!
The stupid thing is this isn’t exactly my first rodeo. I’ve skydived, cliff dived 20m, hang glided, parasailed, swum in Devil’s Pool, hot air ballooned and ridden a bike down the Bolivian Death Road. But for some reason, Bungy jumping has always freaked me out. I blame the American woman who went crazy at Kawarau bridge while we watched when I was 7! Traumatised for life.
Until we arrived, I wasn’t really nervous for the Nevis Swing. But when we walked the 20m suspension bridge blowing in the wind, a few tears let loose. We were behind a couple of people/groups so watched them. Then it was our turn. We got all strapped up, then the universe played a cruel joke on us. The cameras were having technical issues. So we had to sit ON THE EDGE, staring at the huge drop, for FIVE MINUTES! The guy was brilliant. He knew I was scared, so talked to me about work etc and then when our time finally came, he didn’t even count us down. He just threw us off and we plummeted the 70m freefall. I’m surprised Rob isn’t deaf I screamed that loud!! The swing itself was awesome fun. The anticipation and waiting around were the worst part! The couple after us were insane and went down upside down.
We waited for the next shuttle bus and then caught the bus to Kawarau Bridge. The negative self talk started but I tried to stop it. There were a few “I don’t think I can do this” moments. Rob walked to the viewing platform to film me and away I went. I got strapped in, and the same questions were asked of me again. “How are you feeling?” (Terrified!), “what do you do for work?” (Cue the guy trying to talk Maths to me about weights and angles to do with Bungy!). A few more tears escaped at this point, and I told the two guys looking after me that I was absolutely petrified. They must get this a lot, because they were awesome too. One slowly got me to the edge of the tiny platform, and encouraged me to let go of the handle I was hanging onto for dear life. Then it was time to jump. The people who chicken out are the ones who don’t go when the jump masters count them down. I looked at the bridge straight in front of me, leaned forward and jumped on the “3” in “3, 2, 1”. The feeling was weird. Once again I screamed my head off (I have a sore throat now!!) but it was so strange hurtling towards the ground and then whoosh the cord catches you. I was hesitant due to a previous sore back, but because this one is “only” 43m high it wasn’t too bad, and the cord was actually pretty smooth. Then a little boat comes out and they scoop you up in it. Rob went after me and didn’t scream at all. We were both very proud of ourselves!!
I’ve now ticked off just about every adrenaline activity available which I’m pretty happy about. Hopefully now I never have to have the awful nervous feeling I had today!!!
We’ve had a fantastic day but I’m very much looking forward to sleeping much better tonight, and not worrying about Bungy or anything else. We haven’t really got much planned for our final 2.5 days so are going to chill out, walk around and go out for a celebratory “we survived!” drink tonight.
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
PS: Just saw on the news there has been lots of snow in mountainous areas in the north island as well as 10cm of snow at Tekapo where we drove through on Friday. Glad we aren't driving there now! Hard to believe it was 24 there last week. Apparently a very cold winter is expected this year after quite a warm summer for NZ.
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