Skydive

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  Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Our skydive had been rebooked for 10:30 and so we were pleased to wake to clear-ish skies and sunshine. By the time we'd driven back into town and parked up though, the cloud was building again and so we were fairly doubtful whether the jump would go ahead.
This doubt remained throughout the morning as we bought some Canterbury clothes for Frankie in town then boarded the bus and headed out to the airstrip again. Indeed it increased during the hour or so we waited there as the changeable weather caused the jumps to go on hold, resume, then be suspended again. Such was our resignation, in fact, that nerves did not prove so much of a problem as during our last attempt. It was only when we were kitted out in jump-suits, harnesses, headgear and goggles and were sat between our instructors' legs as the small propeller plane bumped its way along the grassy runway that we began to worry. By this point though, it was impossible to tell if the concern was about our impending jump or rather the apparently delicate little plane and flimsy-looking perspex jump door which my feet were pressed up against.
Too late to turn back though (and determined to finally get the jump done after so much waiting around), we spiralled gradually upwards and were able (at least slightly) to enjoy the spectacular views of the mountains and lake below. Unfortunately, as we climbed, a large rain-cloud also came into view and we were informed by our instructors that we'd have to abort the 15,000ft jump we'd booked. We were presented with the choice of either jumping from around 9000ft or returning and trying again later. By now though, we were so close and had waited so long that we were determine to jump from whatever height and so agreed to go rather than remain in the plane (as the other couple who were with use decided).
Once this was settled, we were clipped fully to our instructors for the first time and only now did it really feel like we were actually going to jump - it was not that the nerves kicked in! Fortunately, as we sat waiting for the red and green lights to illuminate and signal us to go, the pilot managed to gain more height in a gap in the cloud. So it was that we were actually at around 11,000ft when the perspex door slid open, we were shunted towards it and left to hang perilously over the edge (studiously adopting the shape of a banana, as instructed!) then finally pushed out and free of the plane.
The first few seconds of freefall were terrifying and stunning at the same time - an instant realisation (as you tumbled carelessly through the air) that you'd just jumped out of a plane and were now hurtling downwards at about 150mph. Almost immediately though (probably coinciding with the instructor releasing a drogue to stabilise the fall and stop the tumbling), these feelings were replaced by elation and amazement at the achievement, the sensation (more akin to flying than anything) and the view. Another, more unfortunate, sensation was of being pebbledashed as we had the unique experience of passing rain on the way down - something which felt like a more extreme version of skiing under an active snow-making machine. We were through this in seconds though, and free to enjoy the view once more until - all too soon and suddenly - the parachute was released and we came to an abrupt and silent halt.
40 seconds or so of deafening and exhilerating freefall were then followed by around 5 minutes of peaceful and calm drifting; punctuated only by a few stomach-churning spins and some brief instructions on how to land (a topic not addressed until this point!) In fact, we had loads of time to take in the scenery (and even to wave at each other) and I was surprised to find that, even now that we were dangling hundreds of feet over fields and dropping perceptibly towards them, my usual fear of heights did not return when I looked straight down. Before long though, we were swooping over and towards the drop-zone and both managed a gentle and (although I say it myself) graceful landing on our feet )in contrast to some of our predecessors who'd come to rest after an ignominious slide across the field on their bottoms). I landed first and so was able to watch Frankie come in and jog over straight afterwards to congratulate her on a memorable choice of birthday present!
After removing our gear and heading back to town (after an hour or so's wait) our decision to jump was proved wise; as the weather closed in completely and made ours the last jump of the day. Having not quite reached 12,000ft, we were also refunded to the value of a 9,000ft jump - giving us a pleasant and unaccustomed sense of being flushed with cash for the rest of the afternoon.
We spent our time shopping and looking for a hotel (Frankie had decided to treat us as part of my birthday present) and so we toured and patronised an impressive sweet-shop and booked ourselves (after much touring and inspection of rooms) into a palatial 'one bedroom apartment' in Peppers Hotel on the lakefront. The room was amazing - huge, with a king-size bed, a living room with a fire, satellite TV and sofas, a showroom-perfect kitchen and even a washer and drier. The most impressive feature, though, were the massive windows which filled two whole sides of the living space and looked out onto a balcony and the lake beyond.
We showered, changed, put on our washing and then set out into town. By this time, the rain which had been falling steadily all afternoon had stopped and so we could see a little more of the pretty lake as we made our way to The Cow for our first meal out in New Zealand.
Dinner was huge and excellent - a massive pizza accompanied by a garlic bread bigger than a family-sized loaf - freshly baked only moments before. We stuffed ourselves completely, then left to find somewhere for another drink with our bagged-up left-overs in hand. Settling for a quiet bar in the Wharf, we had a cocktail in front of the first before heading back to the hotel; by this time hardly able to believe that our day had begun in such dramatic fashion!

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