MHMF Challenge No. 2 - The Jump!

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  Cape Town, South Africa
Friday, November 17, 2006

It's been a long time since I've written, so for the sake of speed I'm only going to report on the SECOND FUND-RAISING EVENT for the MHMF. I'll try to find time to write a diary before we leave South Africa next week.

People who know me well will understand how out-of-character it was for me to undertake this challenge, and believe me, if it hadn't been for the Fund there is no way that I would have done this.

On Friday 3rd November I did the world's highest gorge swing at Lehr's Falls in the Oribi Gorge in the Kwazulu Natal! The swing is 100 metres high, which is approximately equal to a thirty-three storey building!

Now, if that's not worth a sponsorship or two, nothing is

01 The Jump!

!

I am going to try to attach the short video clip of me jumping as well as the certificate I got to prove that I did it.

We had heard about this gorge swing which is billed as the highest in the world when we arrived in Ramsgate on the coast, a few kilometres away from the gorge. I said to AD, "That's something that would be worthy of an MHMF challenge!" We looked at each other and laughed, neither of us being very good with heights. I don't even like fairground rides very much, so you can imagine that the idea of doing the world's highest gorge swing seemed completely ridiculous.

On the day we visited Oribi Gorge (which is very beautiful, by the way) I considered the real possibility of doing the jump. I said to AD, "You know, I just might jump today," although the thought gave me butterflies every time it crossed my mind. I said that I would see how it looked before I decided for sure.

When we arrived at the jump site I said to the ticket-seller, "I might jump today." He said, "No refunds!

Before the jump

Once you pay you jump or lose your money!" Luckily I hadn't seen the drop by that point or no doubt I would've chickened out! So I finally said, "OK, I'm going to jump today!" I handed over my 300 Rand and there was no going back!

Two other people were jumping at the same time as me, a German couple, it was her birthday. At the mouth of the gorge is Lehr's Falls, a stunning waterfall overlooking the floor of the gorge, 100 metres below. The three of us were led to the edge of the waterfall where our harnesses were fitted. Then I bade goodbye to AD (the chicken) who made his way round the path from where he took the video which I hope you can view. He said it made him feel queasy just watching me!

Down a ladder to the jumping place, and I was the last to jump so had to wait, legs turning steadily to jelly, as I watched the couple jump. She went first (what a way to celebrate your birthday!) and I watched her disappear over the edge with my heart racing. Then he went over. They both seemed completely un-phased by the whole event & I was impressed.

My turn. A safety rope was attached to my harness and I sat close to the edge while the swing rope was then attached, making small talk with Brandon who was attaching the ropes to try to distract myself from the view of the gorge floor so far below me

Lehr's Falls

. I explained to him my reason for doing the jump, and that it was more than a little out-of-character!

Finally I stood. Brandon told me to lean backwards until I felt the pull of the swing rope. My words went something like this: "Oh my god oh my god, this is scary this is scary! This is for you Mim oh my god! No, no, no, this is scary this is scary, no no no no no!" At which point Brandon pushed me off.

The surreal feeling of falling is all I remember. I didn't like it. Luckily it didn't last for very long. Finally I stopped swinging and found myself still semi-screaming and gasping for breath. Then came the slow winch back up to the top. I quite liked that bit. I got a very different view of the waterfall from there and all around me was lush natural beauty. Finally I was back at the top of the fall. As Brandon released me from the swing rope I felt it start to pull on me again... "No no no no," I seem to remember starting again. He released me before I got pulled over the edge again - what a relief! Legs shaking - no, everything shaking - I clambered thankfully back up the ladder to where AD was waiting for me. It took quite a long while before the adrenalin wore off. AD's impression of me made me laugh every time I thought about it, for days afterwards

This says it all

! Hear for yourself, turn up the volume when you watch the video (assuming I'm able to upload it OK!).

Well, if it hadn't been for Mim and the Fund I would not have jumped. Life is for living, and boy did I KNOW I was alive!

Sorry mum, I did promise I wouldn't do anything too extreme in the name of the Fund. I promise that that is the most extreme activity I will do - believe me - never again!!!

While I'm at it, I should give you an update on the bird-identification challenge. When I last reported we had listed 113 species of birds - we've now identified 168 species :)

Here's the list of those we've identified since I last wrote:

1st November
114 Pygmy Kingfisher

3rd November (Rock Inn, Oribi Gorge, Southbroom)
115 Cape Bulbul
116 Pintailed Whydah
117 Spotted Black Weaver
118 White-breasted Cormorant
119 Paradise Whydah

5th November (Cintsa)
120 Yellow-bellied or Variable Sunbird
121 Common Chaffinch
122 Pied Crow
123 African Paradise Flycatcher
124 Northern Wheatear

5th November (Addo Elephant Park)
125 Fire-crowned or Black-winged Bishop
126 Red-knobbed Coot
127 Cape Crow
128 Cape Weaver

6th November (Addo)
129 Cape Siskin
130 Mountain Chat or Wheatear
131 Cape Sparrow
132 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
133 Indian or Common Myna
134 Horus Swift
135 Redheaded Finch
136 Cape Batis
137 Cattle Egret
138 Crowned Plover
139 African Marsh Harrier
140 Spotted or Thick-knee Dikop
141 Steppe or Common Buzzard
142 Blackheaded Heron

7th November (Plettenberg Bay)
143 Lesser Kestrel
144 Sacred Ibis
145 Neergaard's Sunbird
146 Cape Gull
147 African Black Oyster Catcher
148 Barratt's Warbler
149 Herring Gull
150 Hoopoe
151 Cape White-eye

9th November (Knysna)
152 Cape Cormorant
153 White-breasted Cormorant
154 Cape Robin

11th November (Rust En Vrede falls)
155 Golden- or Yellow-Crowned Bishop
156 Rock or Speckled Pigeon

11th November (Mossel Bay)
157 (Southern) Red Bishop
158 (African) Paradise Flycatcher

12th November (Hermanus)
159 Grey-rumped Swallow
160 African or Jackass Penguin (!)
161 Cape Francolin

13th November (Harold Porter Botanical Gardens)
162 African Black Duck
163 Sentinel Rock Thrush
164 Cape Batis
165 Mocking or Cliff Chat
166 Red-billed Fire Finch

14th November (Hermanus)
167 Red-rumped Swallow
168 Orange-breasted Sunbird

Not bad eh?

As I said, I'll try to find time to write up a diary before we leave this country, which we have fallen in love with. The natural beauty, the people, the food, all is good. I pray that they are able to overcome the social problems which are undeniably still a huge issue, because this is truly a jewel, this country.

Thanks to everyone who has been in touch and all who have sponsored us so far. Don't forget that you can sponsor us by following the links on miriam-hyman.com

xesther

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