Canyon Swing . . . (link)

I was advised to do this Canyon Swing and to do it backwards as its such a different experience. The guys decided that there was a ladies first policy and as I was the only one there I stepped up and went for it as all the boys stood back and cowered away!!! (not kidding!)

The 'Gimp Boys' tried there best to scare me giving it 'you can change your mind now if you want' and 'ooh, backwards!' 'that rope doesn't look very safe' 'watch that rope doesn't tangle around your neck' etc etc but it wasn't working!!! I was well up for it after the Nevis yesterday!

They asked if I wanted to look over the edge and pretended to puch me off too which I found hiarious and then I stood backwards on the end, diving board style and they really started messing with me!!

They kept getting me to lean back and pretending to drop me but I laughed all the time and so they continued to try and get a bigger reaction from me. They were so funny, so finally I stood on my own and just leaned back and jumped as far as I could again!!! Just as I jumped they shouted 'Noooo, don't jump!' and gave me a huge shock! As my hands were tucked behind my head my natural instinct was to try and run back up to the platform so as I jumped my legs were just wiggling around as though I was swimming! It was so funny!!! I then just swang around for a while in the canyon and it was great fun.

When they pulled me back to the top one of the guys said 'my mother warned me about girls like you who don't get scared!' whihc made me feel well happy!!!!

It was great, not on the same level as The Nevis, but the crew really made it for me!

109m high, 60m freefall, 200m swing! GOOD TIMES!!!!

The Nevis . . . . (link here)

Having had a huge build up the day before, watching the story of the bungy jump and AJHackett I was ready to go but feeling a tab nervous and hungover!!!!

I met some guys who were doing the same jump so they really helped psyche me up for the big jump!!! The road there was pretty bumpy and steep but once at the top I looked out from the viewing platform and though 'oh, it doesn't look too high!'. I was feeling pretty confident right up until I saw the first guy throw himself out and scream like a girl!!!!! He looked tiny against the moutain rocks and we all started to panic!!!!

We took a cable lift out to the jump station and as the jump order went by our weight I had to wait until near the end so to keep myself busy I just sang along to the songs. The atmosphere up there was great. Everyone was cheering and screaming for each other. One poor girl was petrified so she stood on the edge for about two minutes and then finaly told the guy just to push her!!!!

As I was sitting in the chair I made them put on some good music and took a little glance backwards of the platform because apparently it helps!!! Crap!!!!! I had to slowly walk to the edge and the guy dropped the cord over it jolted me forward and I nearly fell!!! My heart went crazy at this point and he suddenly expected me to jump. I gave myself a few more seconds, though commit to the jump and just launched myself as far as I could!!! WOW! What a feeling!!! I can honestly say I've never felt this way before. Completely disorientated and in no control of anything what so ever! It was such a rush and the fall seemed to go on for a long time!!!! I bounced back up and then was off again, smiling and laughing to myself all the way! It was wicked!!!! I pulled the cord on my leg and got into a seated position and just took in the view and lay back watching as I got hoisted back up!

Afterwards I felt completely invincible and as though I could take on the world, I want to jump from anything and everything crazy!!!! There was suggestions of using knicker elastic, bunk beds and matresses in the dorms but thats not extreme enough now!!!

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!!!

Flicr account updated!!

I've finally managed to get some pictures on my flicr account so check out the link beside!!!

STATS

0 times I've missed home ;-)

1 bedrooms I've had to myself
pair of trousers I have with me for cold weather

2 planes I've now jumped from
glaciers I've been on

3 glaciers I've seen
waterfalls climbed through

4 pairs of sunglasses I've had since May

5 flights I've been on since May, not inlc sky dive
new meats I've tried this year. Elk, Bison, Possum, Shark, Goat

6 Items of clothing in my posession which are second hand
Islands I've slept on in Fiji, incl main Island

7 months I've been away from you all

8 Number of hours sleep I strive for every night (So doesn't happen!)

9 Days left in NZ :-(

10+ Cups of Milo in the last few days (Hot Choc Energy Drink)
Packs of noodles eaten since October

17 Hostels stayed in since October

100+ mountains climbed across the World

415 photographs to date from The Rockies to NZ

1000's Lakes I've seen, taken pictures of, stopped at, walked round, had a picnic by, etc etc

Just thought I'd share these stats with you so you know whats going on with me!! Its a hard life as you can see!!!!

Fox Glacier - Sky Dive

Getting a bit carried away with the old 'extreme' sports, I decided that where better to do a sky dive than a place surrounded by snow capped mountains, the tallest mountain in NZ, Mount Cook, rainforests, the ocean and beaches, a glacier and quaint towns. It had to be done!!!

The trip wasn't going to go ahead at first as there was quite a bit of cloud but we managed to hang back and it cleared.

As we left the plane we did a forward roll and then Rod turned us in all directions so I could take in the scenery. We fell 12,000ft. 45 seconds was freefalling and 4 1/2 minutes of gliding.

I got some excellent video footage and Rod, my instructor was a right old character and let me steer the parachute for a while.

As we landed we both pulled our feet up and skidded along the grass on our backsides. Not quite the landing I was expecting but it was funny!!!!

What next? . . . . . I wonder . . . . . . .

bunjy in QT perhaps!!!!

Franz Josef Glacier - Ice Climbing . . . .(link)

Ice climbing has possibly been one of the highlights of my trip so far. Completely a last minute decision, and what a challenge!!!

I was a bit dubious at first as it requires a high level of fitness apparently but I managed it so it can't be that bad.

We had to hike 3Km initially to get to the Glacier with all of our gear, then climb a load of steps, ladders, bridges etc to find a suitable climbing place. The finding the place was actually harder work than the climbing itself!!! We saw some Kea's, Alpine Parrots which, apparently are highly intelligent, can open zips etc and the only animal that teaches their young! Didn't get into my Pot Noodle though, ha!

Climbing was wierd until I found my rhythm and got more comfortable, then away I went, there was no stopping me. You have to kick as though you were kicking a ball up, straighten your legs, loosen your axes and then dig them as hard a poss and as high as poss, and start all over again. It was soooo much fun!!! A bit scary when your feet slipped and you were hanging on by axes only but the instructors had us by a rope at the bottom so there was no worries really.

Mike taught us to 'Climb as you shag, not as you shit' which I found hilarious!!

It was a brilliant day and, once again, something I would highly recommend you all do if you ever get chance.