Life’s Adventures
Great Barrier Reef 10th-13th August, 2010
0Day One. I’m setting out on my maiden voyage on Emperor Wings.. it’s a humid, muggy day and I’m perspiring.. this might have something to do with running back to the car to fetch my beer before the boat leaves, whoops!
Within the first hour of the trip, were all perched on the front of the boat as it glides through the sea, listening to Richie give us a talk on diving and snorkeling, of course none of us are taking any notice of him with the two baby hump back whales playing in the water behind.
Sydney Bridge Climb, 18th July, 2010
0The Bridge Climb was a 3 ½ hour guided journey to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Taking us along the outer arch of the Bridge on catwalks and ladders all the way to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour – scary stuff!
We all had to take a breathe test before we could do the climb, and not everyone made it through… tsk, tsk, these young whipper snappers nowadays huh?!
100m Abseil into the Unkown, 1st June, 2010
0It was a 100m slow abseil into the Lost World, then embarking on a journey back to the surface though another spectacular dry cavern. With my slight fear of heights, you’d of thought I would of learnt my lesson to not look down? Don’t be silly, eek, that’s a long drop to the bottom as I’m dangling by my rope.
The abseil is at least twice the height of any other cave at Waitomo and the beauty of this iconic cavern is unsurpassed, descending slowly bouncing and turning as the mist filtered light gives unreal qualities to the strange plants and formations around us.
Grade 5 Rafting, 9th May, 2010
0They say you’ll never forget your first time rafting, and this couldn’t be more true. At the start of the trip I got a feel for the raft on calm stretches of water, learning all the basics, steering, ducking in and out, what would happen if the sheet hit the fan.
We started off with a gentle lope of grade 1-2 rapids, building in a natural progression to the intense grade 4 and 5 section where the full volume of the river narrows to a pinch.
Swam with Dusky Dolphins, 7th May, 2010
0Not only have I been privileged to swim with the smallest Dolphin in the World, the Hector, I’m lucky enough to have swam with one of the Dolphins that is considered one of the most playful in the world too, the Dusky Dolphin with Dolphin Encounters from Kaikoura.
It’s an incredible feeling being nestled in between hundreds of Dolphins in the pod, as they swoop within an inch, circling you, zipping by as I do my best to keep them entertained.. good job I’ve got such a great singing voice! They loved my version of humming the jaws theme tune.
One day, three jumps, 30th March, 2010
1First jump of the day was the Nevis Bungy, standing on the edge of the hanging cage platform and facing my fear, for what is one of the greatest personal challenges of my life and the most terrifying. It’s something I’d recommend you never do, but you really should do it!
My second adrenaline rush of the day was the Nevis Arc, mildly less frightening, which I decided to do backwards. What a drop, blink and you might miss it, while more timid than the Nevis Bungy, it’s still a feat in it’s own right as you swing across the canyon.
Sky Diving from 15,000 feet, 29th March, 2010
0Why jump out of a perfectly good plane? Now I know, what a range of sensations! Such a thrill and range of emotions as I was shuffled towards the open plane door, leaned over the edge, facing downwards towards my descent. Unceremoniously pushed out, hurtling towards the ground below for some 60 seconds at 200kph, terminal velocity.
It takes a certain kind of person to jump from an aircraft at 15,000 feet into thin air. It takes courage.
Walked Franz Josef Glacier, 23rd March, 2010
0One word from walking this glacier, surreal. One moment your in town, supping on a hot cup of tea, travel a few miles, sorry I mean kilometers, and you’re at the base of a huge glacier… would you like ice with that drink Sir?
What a fantastic experience, squeezing myself through cracks and crevices in the ice, attempting to not fall down shafts, while it sported slight rain, it only made it that much more spectacular, giving it a fresh blue twinge to the ice’s colour.
Swam with Hector Dolphins, 7th March, 2010
0I’ve always dreamed of swimming with wild dolphins in their natural habitat. I had a unique opportunity of a life time, being able to swim with the smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hector Dolphin. Akaroa Harbour boasts it’s the only place on the planet where you can swim with these small and rare dolphins.
Such an amazing experience, I was very lucky to encourage the most attention from a few Hector Dolphins as we huddled together in a circle in the sea, making noise to keep them interested – having a pair of Hector’s circling me on several occasions. It was a dream fulfilled and it really was an experience of a life time.
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