Yesterday we went to Luna Park for the day and we all surprised ourselves by how much fun we had. We did the proper Sydney thing and took the ferry - all we needed to do was jump on a bus up to Balmain and then the 9-minute ferry to Milson's Point.
We all had unlimited rides passes (including the kids) so we did our best to get our monies worth - Tango train, Ferris wheel, Wild Mouse, Spider, Tumblebug, Jolly Roger, Carousel, Dodgems, U Drive, Space shuttle, Magic castle, Whirly wheel and the Mega Drop.
Not all of us did all the rides but Adam amazed us by going o n the Wild Mouse (like the Mouse trap in Alton Towers for those that have been there) and not freaking out and then going on it again (he needed to be accompanied by an adult so the first time he went with Oli and then with Colin/Daddy). We all did go on the dodgems and the Ferris wheel with some amazing views - including some man who had just caught some huge fish (Marlin I think)
The one ride that only the Colins and I did was the Mega Drop - you get lifted up and dropped ....................................
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46 metres to the deck. I think it is fair to say that a few naughty words were heard on the shores of Sydney at the time.
Oli and I went on a few rides and I hate to admit it, screamed like girls!!
Yesterday, Colin G and I jumped out a perfectly good aircraft from 14,000 feet. Don't ask why as I and the other Colin have absolutely no idea. But thanks to David and Ryann for their voucher, I took the plunge.
The day before we hired an 8 seater Toyota and at 8oc in the morning we headed off for Wollongong, 80kms south of Sydney. We got to the office just in time to be told we were taking off in 20mins. Colin and I signed our lives away and declared that if we died we wouldnt sue anyone. We were then told to put on lovely blue trousers and that our instructors would be along shortly.
Dougg (my instructor) and Redeye (Colin's), arrived and helped us put on our harnesses. We then got our 5mins of instruction on what to do and after a bit of faffing about and a few final trips to the toilet we headed off in the mini-bus to the local regional airport. About 30mins later we were shuffled into the small plane.
Once up in the air, it was a 20minute flight to reach the jump altittude. 14 very very high thousand feet. The view was amasing, although slightly disconcerting that the only thing between me and the ground was a thin plastic shutter. I wasnt even attached to the instructor and more importantly the parachute at this point. About 5mins out we had a quick chat with our instructors to remind us what to do and were then attached. The point of no return was approaching at a rapid speed. I was told I would be third out the plane. The buzzer then went and the roller was lifted. The first couple of guys then fell out. If you have seen a Bond film where the guys get sucked out a small window when the cabin pressure goes. It looks just like that!!!
We quickly shuffled along and then JUMPED!!...
The free fall takes about 60 seconds and I pretty much screamed the whole way down. Its just a surreal experience watching the ground get closer to you very quickly. We even fell straight through a cloud. I managed to eat some!!
The parachute was then pulled. Thankfully it opened alrighty and we drifted back to land.. PHEW!!!
I even got a shot at controlling the chute by pulling on the guide cords. Left to go left.. etc.. But if you pull them both, you slow so quickly that you feel that you are almost stationary.
After spinning round a few times, which my stomach really didnt agree with. We landed smoothly and I was very happy to feel the ground under my feet.
Colin G landed fine too and we were both rather relieved to have made it in one piece.
If you want to experience the whole thing.. I have uploaded the full video of me screaming like a girl. BTW.. I asked the kids what silly faces I was to make to the camera.. so they were their idea!!!.
