DropZone Addicted!

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. ~ Leonardo da Vinci

Mostly all together again, back at the place we have all come to love ~ The Dropzone!

Sitting in my pajamas early on Saturday morning, working away on my assignment with a hot water bottle against my back to ease the pain caused from someone having smashed into the back of my car on Friday morning, the ringing of my phone suddenly broke the silence. Somewhere deep in the middle of my assignment, I reached out to grab my phone. On the other end of the line I find my friend and co-Kili team member, Simon.

Little did I know that I was about to be told, it’s finally time!

Back in March we all headed up to Robertson to jump out of a plane from 11,000 feet but sadly Simon, Ross and Alez didn’t get to jump that weekend due to the plane having reached its maximum hours before it had to be grounded. Since then dates have come up but it was never quite right, well that was until that morning!

Completely out of the blue, far from any pre-planning the wheels started turning and in a moment everything changed! My quiet Saturday morning in my study turned into a mad-frantic dash. It was time to head to the Cape Town Dropzone off the R27 ~ Ross and Simon were finally going to get to jump! The sooner that day the better as bad weather was due to come in later I was told. There was no time to waste. I couldn’t exactly go in my jammies so while I trawled through my cupboards for something half decent to wear, I sent messages to my two side-kicks, Natalie and Shanti, as we had all agreed we would go and watch them jump when it was there turn. In fact, Shanti had been asking me on a weekly basis if there was any news on their jump?!

Now that the time had come, neither of the girls were answering my messages and I was resigning myself to the fact I was going to go and meet them on my own, funnily unbelievable considering all the pestering that had been going on in the weeks leading up to this moment! After a quick shower and still no reply messages on my phone I eventually decided to phone. Natalie finally answered, shew, and she jumped right on board despite being in the middle of a big spring clean. Shanti on the other hand was still nowhere to be found and after sending her numerous message and leaving her a calm but “where-the-heck-are-you-answer-your-phone” kinda voicemail message I could only hope for the best. I gathered she was no doubt sleeping off the night before!

A quick shower later and the beginnings of looking half decent, my phone beeped to life. It was Shanti telling me she couldn’t drive due to someone falling on top of her and a damaged knee. You see that is what happens when you are so tiny and petite, people fall on you and you get hurt! How ironic once again, the girl who had been asking me weekly what was happening with Simon’s skydive wasn’t going to be able to make it in the end. There was just something so wrong with that. So in a split second I made the decision to drive into town to go and fetch her, despite my own sore and bruised back. She protested a bit saying she too was still in her jammies but I told her to get in the shower, I was on my way and would be there soon and I made sure to tell her not to argue. She later told me she started replying and then though the better of it and got in the shower!

As I finished rushing around getting ready, Natalie messaged me to say she was packing a picnic. “A what? Seriously?” was my reply knowing full well what she meant. I mean really, where do you find the time at a time like this to pack a picnic?!! Finally ready and half decent for public viewing, I hopped into my car, hopeful the adrenaline of rushing around would wipe the ache away that kept washing over me in waves.

A mad dash into town to fetch Shanti as Natalie began to make her way to my house from the other side. Don’t worry, it really wasn’t a mad dash because as luck (my guardian angels) would have it countless slow people taking an early morning Saturday drive kept me doing the speed limit the whole way. As I was driving a message from Simon bleeped my phone to life, they were on their way…. When I pulled up outside of Shanti’s house, I replied and told him we would be right behind him. A little white lie but soon we would be right behind them!

Shanti safely in the car, another mad (excruciatingly slow) dash back to my house to meet Natalie, us arriving just as she pulled up! Perfect.

Driving along the R27 chatting away, as girls do, we completely missed the turning with the small sign even though we were recording 3km from the landmark Simon had given us.  Luckily the driver (yes me) was wide awake and saw that we were now at 3.4km’s and that was the sign in my rear view mirror we were supposed turn at!

A quick U-turn and we had arrived.

After parking and chatting to some fellow Robertson skydivers we had met on our jump back in March we headed inside to find Alez waiting just outside. Simon and Ross were up in the plane already! Sadly, we had missed them suiting up and getting ready but apparently as soon as they arrived they were told they were ready to go. Luckily we made it in time to spot the speck of the plane high up in the sky and then we saw the parachutes deploy.

Simon swooped right over us as they came in for landing.

Ross coming in for landing.

Crazy skydivers! Ross and Simon shortly after landing….

Afterwards we spread out the picnic that both Natalie and Simon had packed, we celebrated, and we fed off the adrenaline high of Simon and Ross, longing to feel that incredible adrenaline rush again too.  There is no question about it, we all want to do it again. (And again, and again!)

After a crazy, amazing totally unplanned Saturday my Sunday turned out to be rather busy playing catch up on my to-do list that got left in my dust early that previous morning!

Alez has the perfect quote on her bag ~ skydiving beats sitting in my study any day. Do what you afraid of ~ or even if you are not afraid ~ that is where your best life lives, on the other side of your fear!!

P.S. I am happy to report that even though I was whisked away from my studying on Saturday (and truly I welcome the break!), I completed my assignment on Sunday and submitted it before Monday’s deadline. Whoever  said you can’t work full-time, study part-time and live an amazing life all at the same time!?!

Tomorrow night, I am throwing a party at my house because Wednesday is a holiday here in South Africa and even though it’s supposed to be autumn, Cape Town is putting on a spectacular display of weather so I couldn’t think of two better reasons to round-up some friends, light a fire, throw on some meat, crack open a cold one and just celebrate life!

Yet, another incredible weekend under my belt. I really do love it when plans get tossed and you just ride along with life!

~ Thanks to my amazing friends for saying yes at the drop of a hat ~

~ Thanks to Simon and Ross for finally getting a date together, no matter how unexpected it was ~

~ All Photos By Me ~

For the Sheer Love of the Life I Lead… Bucket List # 46

Friday rolled around, it was finally time! The car was packed, the friends were loaded and we headed out to Robertson.  # 46 on my bucket list was up next and I was hugely excited.

The plan was to camp out for the weekend on the Robertson Dropzone, with our jump scheduled for Saturday.  Six of us headed up on Friday night, five jumpers and one for moral support and another three friends, who would also be jumping with us, were coming up on Saturday.  A great weekend was about to unfold before us and I for one couldn’t wait to get started!

We arrived at the Robertson Dropzone after sunset and as we turned onto the gravel road we stopped to capture a few moments of craziness, after all we were planning on jumping out of a plane!

We had arrived and it was time to get crazy!

Once we got that out of our systems we drove on to our camping spot and proceeded to unload the car and start pitching our tents ~ all in the dark. Once that was done, a fire was lit and we eagerly chatted about our upcoming jump out of a tiny little plane the next day. The Dropzone was quite, with just a few skydivers already there but nonetheless the energy was electrifying.

Our tents were up and the fire was roaring and dinner would in a few hours be ready ~ finally!

The night was not an early one by any means; in fact I think we all crawled off to bed sometime after 1am. I wish I could say we all slept soundly, but some were found sleeping in the cars in the morning due to the loud rumbling coming from the tent that Angelo lay dreaming in. In fact his snoring was so loud the ground we lay on would vibrate as he cut the silence of the night with his snores. But that wasn’t the end of it, at some point during the night, a commotion was coming from Angelo’s tent yet again. We were to find out in the morning that a family of mice had popped in to visit him and were crawling over him to check out what all this racket was about! Later, in the really early hours of the morning we were awoken by Angelo yet again, but this time to the sound of some very colourful words coming out of his mouth and movement that let us know he was outside of his tent! It was raining and I smiled as I lay wrapped up snug and warm in my sleeping bag, the boys had forgotten to put on the cover over the top of their tent and it was raining right inside the tent!  So much for star-gazing for him.  Some might call it payback for the rumbling earlier!

Finally, we awoke after a night with little bits of sleep here and there, mixed with a one-man choir gone wrong.  This didn’t dampen any of our spirits though.  The sky was full of clouds and even a spattering of rain, it was a cool and overcast start to the morning ~ not a good sign when you are hoping to fly up high in the sky.

While we waited for the sky to clear we kept ourselves busy with things like signing our life away, going into town to have breakfast, shooting beer cans off a friends head and watching the clouds part and the blue sky finally appear. Not to forget, attending a 10 minute briefing for our jump. Yes, only 10 minutes required!  Smile, eyes open, hands on harness when you jump, head back, hands back on harness when chute deployed, feet up when you land…  Right, think I got that all!

A cloudy Saturday morning dawned so we passed our time signing our life away before the jump that would hopefully happen later that day when it cleared up….!

We even headed into town to grab some breakfast to line our stomachs for our jump.

A trip into town for breakfast while we tried to pass the time waiting for the clouds to clear.

Passing the time ~ dreaming of flying….

Passing the SkyDiving sign on our way back from breakfast we could help but stop and do another group shot!This is about the only normal shot we have!

What else was there to do as we waited of the weather to do but play silly buggers of course!

What else was there to do as we waited of the weather to do but play silly buggers of course!

Us scared to jump out of a plane ~ no, not a chance!!

The sky was clearing but still we waited and passed the time shooting beer cans off our friends head ~ just for fun, because we could!

Around 11 that morning, while lying around at our camp site, we heard the first sounds of the plane’s engine firing up. Yup, it was time. The plane was taking to the sky for the first time that morning and loads of skydivers would be taken up in groups.  Angelo would be up first in Load 10, Natalie and I were in plane Load 11 and Shanti and Winslow were scheduled to be in Plane Load 12. Seeing the names up on the board got the butterflies fluttering in the tummy. The forms were signed, the money was paid and our names were officially on the board. I couldn’t help but wonder if I should be worried that they made us pay in full up front! We still awaited the arrival of our three other friends who had phoned to say they were on their way and would be with us in about an hour.  As each plane load took off we counted how many more plane loads before it was our turn. We even started having a lot of fun with each other, teasing each other saying “they coming to get you” and it wasn’t before long we were all a little jumpy each time we heard someone walking towards us!

As the day went on we were told to make sure we eat before we jump. Something we were all a bit nervous to do as well, I think everyone was having visions of “up-chucking” whatever we had eaten but the skydivers kept telling us to eat, so we nibbled…. forcing force down what we could. I mean seriously, who can eat when they are nervous?!

The rest of our group arrived around lunch time and even before pitching tents we went to get them signed up and sorted out so we could get their names up onto the board of jumpers.

The rest of our group had arrived and now it was time for them to sign on the dotted line too….

Alez wondering if this is really such a good idea as Oliver pops in to see how we all doing!

Lazing around, waiting to be called.

Watching the loads scheduled before us drop skydivers out of the sky…

Watching skydivers literally drop out of the sky.

In the afternoon we lazed so more, we panicked as others joked they were coming to get us, we nibbled, we laughed, we tried not to think too much about what we were about to do.  Another load got taken up, another loaded landed. We watched. We waited.  Then there was a problem with the plane door not closing, delaying things even further. As the sun began to get low, we all hoped we might be on a sunset jump. But then the sun began to set and we were told due to the cloud cover that morning and the resulting late start and the plane door issues, which had since been fixed, we would have to wait until Sunday to jump.

The sun was beginning to set on our campsite.

The sun setting on the dropzone and with it our hopes faded of jumping that day.

Can you imagine doing a jump as the sun sets ~ maybe my next bucket list item ~ a sunset skydive?!

A collected sigh escaped from all our mouths, excitement that we would get to wait another day to jump, the anticipation building, mixed with the relief of knowing we could now relax knowing we weren’t going to get called. The fire was lit, a cold one was placed in our hands and so our 2^nd evening on the Dropzone began!

Angelo, fast became our braai master, cooking up a superb selection of meats that literally melted in our mouths. The Dropzone was much more festive that night with more skydivers around and the atmosphere was amazing with skydiving stories flying around the fires. Oliver, a skydiver jovially said, “This is a dropzone. We are alive and that’s reason enough to celebrate!” I couldn’t agree more!

Night two on the Dropzone ~ some coffee tequila anyone?

Our braai master, Angelo entertaining us with something on his phone.

These two even provided us with some musical entertainment!

The anticipation was growing, we were so more than ready to jump out of a plane!

What’s the point of being crazy if you don’t have crazy-ass friends to join you?!! I love it when everyone just says YES!

Enter Sunday morning. A perfect, blue skied day ~ perfect for jumping out of a little plane and soaring through the sky!! Surely today would be the day!

A beautiful blue skied day dawned.

We didn’t know what time we would jump so we made sure we were up early, ready for that call saying “You are next!”  Again we were told to make sure we eat. This time they explained that we need to eat because the adrenaline rush is so huge you need food in your body to cope with the rush otherwise you will feel sick, they said. Hearing that I think we all grabbed our nearest bit of food and started eating. But yet again, eating when you are nervous is hard. Well at least for me it is! We sat around in camp waiting our turn, some were reading, some were doing a crossword puzzle together, others were just lazing around soaking up the sun.

Sitting around waiting to be called…. Another adventure and a new top made in memory of Emma and to raise awareness for Cystics Fibrosis!

Around 9:30am, we watched with bated breath as one of the skydivers walked towards us, “Natalie, you are up next.”  Slight panic erupted and it seemed everyone ran off in a different direction! This was it! We all emerged again and walked towards the hanger together, where we would suit up. Once inside we found that Natalie was now in a group on her own. I was moved to the next load, also on my own. Then Shanti and Winslow were scheduled to go together and then Angelo in the last load on the board. Simon, Ross and Alez didn’t seem to be up on the board. When we queried this we get told that the plane was running out of flying hours before it needs to be grounded. They would see what they can do to get them on a load.

Natalie all suited up and ready to go. Mikey her tandem master behind her getting the parachute ready.

Behind us Natalie was busy suiting up, the nerves beginning to show, there really was no going back now. Her tandem master was Mikey and her camera man was Marcel.  They headed out and off into the plane. I stood there taking pics as they took off and then headed back to the rest of the group who had returned to lazing around the campsite, each waiting their turn. We could hear the plane Natalie was in heading higher and higher then it was out of sight and we could no longer hear it.  We knew when the sound of the plane faintly came back and when we could see a speck in the sky overhead we would know they were flying over at almost 11,000 feet and getting ready to jump. As we waited one of the skydivers came to call me. It was unexpected and I jumped up from my lying down position.  In an instant the nerves returned, my heart beating double time. It was my time!

I headed off the hanger and was handed my skydiving suit. It was huge and I was grateful for my top I was going to put over it.

Suiting up and getting my harness sorted. The butterflies were going mad by now…

My tandem master came and introduced himself to me, I was going to be jumping with Timmy. Without wasting any time he put me at ease and had me laughing in the playground of the skydivers! He told me he had done over 13 000 jumps and had been in the business of jumping out of planes for over 17 years now. Then he pointed to a cute little boy running around. He said “see that little boy? That’s my son and I have no plans of not coming back down to him.” This man knew what he was doing, I smiled as I took a deep breath, airing out the nerves that were making my body shake in a tiny crazy dance of what I was about to do. Then Oliver bounded into my space as Timmy tighten up my harness,  making sure everything was secure. Oliver was going to be my cameraman and his joy and sense of humour had me laughing even harder within no time! My first interview out the way, I was harnessed up and all we needed to do was wait for the plane that Natalie had taken up to land so we could jump straight in.

The time had come. I was suited up, my harness was on and, Timmy, my tandem master behind me appeared to be just as crazy as I was ~ This was going to be a good fit!

If he was trying to put my nerves at ease he was succeeding in his craziness!

And so it was confirmed ~ only crazy people jump out of planes. Such a perfect fit!

At that point I asked Shanti if she would take my camera to go and catch Natalie parachuting in as I knew I was going to miss it. It wasn’t before long while I waited for the plane that Natalie came in with big smiles on her face but staring off into a faraway land. I hoped she was enjoying that adrenaline rush that was so evident! Apparently as she landed her first words in reply to Shanti’s “how are you feeling” was I need to go and lie down and sleep! Lol, I wish I could have seen and heard that myself!

No sooner had Natalie arrived, the plane was landing and Oliver, my cameraman, was linking up with my arm and leading me off to go and meet the plane. It was 10:34am.

The top says it all… Living my bucket list!

Oliver leading me off to the plane…. Bye Bye!

The excitement was bubbling up inside of me, twisted with nerves that made me shake from the inside out! Oliver was great, making me laugh as we waited for the plane to pull up in front of us. The tiny little plane rolled around, the lone propeller spinning wildly. Timmy, my tandem master, went up and opened the door and waved at me and Oliver to come.  We walked up to the plane and I was the first to climb in, moving all the way to the back of the plane, sitting on the floor as there are no seats.  Oliver climbed in and perched himself in front of me right in the tail of the plane.  I watched as the others climbed in and my tandem master spoke to the pilot. I took a deep breath in and suddenly I was ready. The shaking from inside my body stopped and a calmness came over me leaving only pure excitement to bubble up inside of me. I was SO ready!!! A student skydiver came and sat next to me, flashing me a huge smile, then Timmy slotting in close behind me and then one more skydiver behind the student. The plane was full and with the closing of the door, we were ready to take off.

The guys in the plane with me were great, the jokes were flying around and the laughter even more so! The pilot positioned the plane on the runway, my friends were standing to the side, I waved and gave them a thumbs up. They waved back excitedly. The engine roared and suddenly we were rolling forward with the power of a minute plane and then the wheels lifted off the tarmac and we were airborne!

In the plane, the jokes were flying and I for one couldn’t wait to jump out!

My two crazy co-jumpers.

The flight to 11,000 feet would take us approximately 30 minutes. To me it felt like we were only up there for half that time. Apparently, time does fly when you are having fun.  The guys joked around, Oliver took some video footage and in-between the jokes they gave me a guided air tour of what we saw below.  The landscape below was so picturesque I almost forgot I was in a tiny, little propeller plane!  I looked out to the window with a permanent smile on my face. I was really doing this! Oliver reached out and grabbed my hand, it was a sign to take a deep breath in. We breathed together. It felt good and if it was even possible, it calmed me even more. The nerves had gone completely the minute I stepped onto the plane and all I could do was smile! Oliver showed me the gadget on his hand again, we were at 5,500 feet, half way up!  I think I shout out “yeah!”  I smiled even more as I looked out the window and thought of Emma. Even though I had been higher in altitude on Kilimanjaro I somehow felt this would bring me even closer to her.  The excitement grew and something was bubbling inside of me. I asked Oliver how high we were, he showed me the gadget on his hand again, we were at 8,800 feet.  I asked him if we had time for a quick video recording, I had something I wanted to say….

He said “Of course” and got his camera into position and turned it on. You’ll hear it on the video I have posted below, but this is what I had to say.

“We are currently flying at almost 9,000 feet.  Emma, this jump is for you. We are jumping out at 11,000 feet. Come fly with me girl!” Oliver and I then high-fived each other.  Timmy behind me asked me to move back a little bit closer to him. It was time to attach our harnesses!

10,000 feet.

Everyone was beginning to position themselves.

Timmy gave some last-minute advice to the student sitting next to me.

Timmy pulled his legs back past me and sat up on his knees, asking me to sit on top of his legs.

10,500 feet.

He tightened my harness, pulling me closer to him.

10,800 feet.

The door was opening.

The gush of wind filled the inside of the little plane.

The sounds of the air rushing just added to the excitement of what I was about to do.

The first skydiver was out before I could blink.

Next up was the student.

The student free-falling! My cameraman next, then me! Note the tiny black step I would within minutes have to rest my feet on!

From behind me, Timmy reached over my shoulder with his hand, took my hand, squeezed it and said “have a fantastic jump!”

From behind me, Timmy reached over my shoulder with his hand, took my hand, squeezed it and said “have a fantastic jump!”

The hugest grin broke out on my face!

This was really it!

Oliver began moving towards the door.

He turned to me and took my hand one more time.

We breathed together.

“Enjoy your jump.” He said as he flashed me a huge smile.

And then he was climbing out the door holding onto the wing, getting himself into position to catch on video my exit from the plane.

Timmy told me to put on my goggles.

It was time.

Putting on my goggles ~ by this time I just could not stop smiling!

We started moving in union, swinging around to position ourselves in front of the open plane door.  I lifted my left leg to swing it out the door and as I did so the wind outside the plane knocked me and I shout whoa! That blast of wind was something else. Once my left foot was secure on the tiny black step outside of the plane, I slipped my right leg out of the door, holding onto the handle just inside the plane on the right hand side of the door. The air blowing past us as we flew up at 11,000 feet, swirled with excitement around us.

I have never been more ready for anything in my life.

Sitting in the doorway of the plane trying to swing my leg out of the door.

Whoooaa! My left leg getting blown off the little black step. Good thing I was holding on!!!

I was sitting on the edge of an open plane door at 11,000 feet, ready to jump.

I could see everything clearly.

There was no fear coursing through my veins as I sat on the edge of that tiny plane.

I shouted “whooohooo”

I was living my best life!

Both legs out and securely on the little black step, I looked up at Oliver as I removed my left hand and placed it on the harness.

I took my left hand and put it on my hardness, readying myself for the jump.

I looked up at Oliver.

All I could do was smile.

And I had been worried about forgetting to smile.

No chance there!

I then moved my right hand off the handle and grabbed my harness as we had been instructed to do in our briefing.

Timmy put his hand on my forehead and gently pushed my head back onto his shoulder.

Timmy putting his hand on my forehead and tilting it back, ready for our launch into nothingness.

I closed my eyes and thought of Emma as I lay my head back on Timmy’s shoulder.

A split second moment caught on camera, thinking of Emma as I sat on the edge of the ledge.

Then I opened my eyes wide.

I didn’t want to miss a thing!

Breaking into a huge grin as Timmy and I began to rock forward.

I smiled at Oliver as Timmy and I rocked forward.

Once.

Twice.

Finally, rocking right over the edge of the ledge of the plane we had been perched on.

We lurched forward, sending us soaring out of the plane and into nothingness.

The gentle rock forward that sent us soaring out of the plane.

As we fell I shouted whoOoOOoooHooOoo!!! Love this picture so much.

Just hanging upside down!

As we fell, I shouted whoOoOOoooHooOoo once again!

It was the insanest feeling I have ever experienced.

We head dived, almost doing a full back flip and it was when the sky and the mountains swapped places I realized I was upside-down!!

Straightening out, the landscape unfolded before me.

Straightening out seconds after having jumped out of the plane. What a rush!

Falling. Falling. Falling.

I wish the whole word could see what I saw.

I was soaring in the sky.

I couldn’t stop grinning and trust me with rushing air all around you it’s not the easiest thing to do!

I kept saying WoW!

It’s all I could manage to express everything I was taking in.

At 11,000 feet nothing else mattered.

I was soaring in the sky with Emma, and for the first time I knew why the birds sing!

I felt free.

Weightless.

All my senses were heightened.

Soaring in the sky, weightless & free!

Loving every single second of that free fall! This picture (as per the gadget on Timmy’s hand) was taken free-falling at 9,900 feet.

We was falling at speeds of 220/230 km’s per hour, my most thrilling adventure yet!

The adrenaline was coursing through my veins.

I was flying high above the earth with the best view of the world below me!

Timmy spun us around twice so that I could get a 360° view of the world below me.

WoW!!

And then WoW again!!

Timmy taking me on a 360° spin to take it all in. Not once, but twice. The adrenaline was pumping!

The insanest rush!

Then Oliver, my cameraman grabbed my hand and was saying goodbye.

I waved as best as I could while free-falling!

Waving goodbye to Oliver, my awesome cameraman, who came along for the ride.

The whooshing of the air as we were free-falling, filling my ears with that excited noise of the air rushing past us at speeds of up to 230km’s per hour, then the parachute opened, scooping us back up into the sky and in that moment I was enveloped in such an incredible and peaceful silence. I took a deep breath, said WOW for the hundredth time since jumping out of the plane and laughed. The adrenaline coursing through my veins, my eyes wide open since I left my sitting position on the edge of that plane at 11,000 feet ~ I was taking it ALL in.

Our parachute opening, scooping us back up into the sky above ~ there really is nothing lady like about skydiving!!

Timmy joked with me as our parachute opened, “Well the good news is that we have a good parachute!”

I laughed some more!

Next Timmy was spinning us around in these big sweeping circles.  First to the left. Then to the right. With each turn the adrenaline coursed through my veins as we sliced through the air as if we were on a roller coaster ride!

Next thing I know is Timmy is giving me the cords to the parachute to hold and he is explaining to me how to “steer” the parachute. Before I knew it I was speeding us up, then slowing us down, then dipping my left land and swooshing us around to the left and then without wasting any time we were swirling to the right. Oh my word, it was insanely incredible! At one point I had to ask Timmy to take the “controls” back as I had to shake my hands out as the adrenaline rush was so intense I couldn’t hold on any longer.

As we floated closer to earth, tiny specs on the ground began to appear in form. It was everyone standing on the ground, looking up at us coming in. As we got closer, I recognised my friends and waved and shouted out “Whoooohoooo!”

I was having the time of my life!

Timmy pulled the parachutes cords and we started to slow as we came flying towards the earth. I lifted my legs and we came in for the perfect landing!

A light pull on the cords and Timmy and I came in for a perfect landing!

Just landed, waiting to get ‘detached’ from Timmy and I could not stop smiling!

What a rush!

I was high on adrenaline.

An adrenaline rush like no other.

I was back on the ground, but my soul was still soaring high above!

A hug for Timmy, my tandem master, who let me fly and got me safely back to earth and helped me tick off # 46 on my bucket list. Super-Amazing!!

And that folks is how you tick off # 46 on my bucket list!!

As we had headed back to the hanger, Oliver my amazing cameraman, linked up arms with me yet again. My friends came to meet me with hugs and cheers.

Walking back arm in arm with Oliver, my cameraman, to my friends waiting on the other side of the runway.

Friends waiting on the other side of the runway with hugs as the plane that took me up lands behind us.

More hugs from friends. As I arrived, they were getting ready to go up!

That was probably one of the insanest thing I have ever done but I believe the risks I take are justified by the sheer love of the life that I lead and I loved every single second of it!

Arriving back at the hanger, Shanti and Winslow were all suited up and ready for their turn.

Winslow and Shanti ready to take to the skies.

And finally, after them it was Angelo’s turn too.

Next up was Angelo.

Sadly, and with much disappointment from our whole group, the plane had reached its maximum hours in the sky and would only be able to do one more load before it had to be grounded for a service, leaving Simon, Ross and Alez unable to do their skydive. It was bitter-sweet, we were on a high from our jumps, yet hugely disappointed for our friends who wouldn’t get to jump that day and experience what we had just experienced.

The rest of the day was spent reliving our jumps, commiserating with those who didn’t jump and just generally lazing around on the grass under the trees, some so exhausted from the adrenaline rush, catching a few zzzzz! Around 3pm, all completely famished, we fired up the skottle and proceed to cook breakfast, which we devoured in no time. Then it was time to pack up and head on home….

That skydive was the most freeing thing I have ever done.

For those that have, no explanation is necessary. For those who haven’t, no explanation is possible.

It is something each individual must experience for themselves.

There is just something that no words could ever describe about standing in the open doorway of a plane, thousands of feet up in the air, and then stepping out into nothingness, falling, falling, falling and then…. Whoosh, your chute opens and you are gliding towards the earth.

Wow.

Wow.

And Wow.

#46

Tick!

On a natural high ~ adrenaline coursing through our veins and certificates in hand ~ we had done it!!

~ All photos by me and a few by my friends and skydive photos and video by Oliver from Skydive Robertson ~