Throwing myself out of a plane...

Trip Start Dec 28, 2005
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Trip End Sep 01, 2006


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Saturday, January 28, 2006

First day in Mission Beach was pretty quiet - just chilled out at out hostel. We met up with a girl we had made friends with from Cape Tribulation and talked her into sky diving with us the next day... yup, sky diving... Watched Point Break that evening to get into the mood (and scare ourselves more) - good fun, but oh dear! His first ever jump (in the film) and Keanu Reeves just jumps out on his own - then later he does it with no parachute to catch up with Patrick Swayze - hmmmmm...

The sky dive ("Jump the Beach" company) was amazing - wanted to do it my whole life and I wasn't let down. Strangely enough I wasn't too scared - think I passed that point and just gave in to the fact it was going to happen. We got picked up and taken to the centre, signed our lives away ("I understand that sky diving is very dangerous... etc ..."), had a 2minute briefing which involved laying on our bellies on the floor in the reception, then had a little interview for our DVDS (yes we have the evidence that all you lucky people will be made to watch!) before setting off in a tiny plane which we had to cram into (Caz was actually sitting on her instructor's knee!) with a see-through door and a very scared guy sitting in front of me mumbling to himself (this actually helped because instead of thinking ahhhh, I though awww). I went second, after the terrified guy, and it was so exciting - you literally have no time to think about what you're doing, you just sit at the door 14,000 ft above the land and get rocked out whilst your instructor tells you to smile for the camera! The freefalling part was the best - your stomach drops for a couple of seconds, but then adapts and it just feels really fast but stable due to the force - amazing! Embarrassing moment came when the parachute came up - cos of the jolt from it opening my top flew up - didn't notice for a few seconds - I'm hoping my instructor didn't either!! Quickly corrected it befors making too many passing birds blush - oh dear! Anyway, from that point you just float down - the view was incredible - the sea, the barrier reef, beach and all the surrounding landscape. I even had a go at steering it as well as enjoying some turns and swoops. The landing was easy and smooth - you just bend your knees and put your feet down after your instructor has. By that point you're travelling pretty slowly anyway...

Had dinner and celebratory drinks afterwards with Becky and Caz before going to Townsville where we spent just an evening as it is just the gate to Magnetic Island...
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