Adrenaline, the natural high that can become ‘Oh so addicting’, and particularly when you are in South Africa. The country is chocked full of adrenaline packed activities for the souls delight. Upon arriving to South Africa for the first time, I had no idea that this all awaited me. Suddenly though just touching down on South African soil made me yearn for some adrenaline. Funny that. Like my little adrenaline loving soul could sense it.
The Bloukrans Bridge, is where the worlds ‘highest bungy jump off a bridge/highest commercial natural bungy’ is located.
Sitting at a height of 216 meters. Up until this point I had never bungy jumped in my life, however I knew as soon as I found out about it, that it was something I had to do. A check on my list in life that absolutely had to be checked off.
Residing in Jeffrey’s Bay for quite some time, a stunning little world renowned surf town, which is only a 1.5 hour drive from the Bloukrans Bridge, the day came where myself and a few friends decided to make the trip and conquer this feat. During the drive we had the music cranked and were getting ourselves pumped. Everyone was saying how nervous and excited they were. When it came to me however, I was saying ‘I don’t really feel anything at the moment, I am not sure what to feel really…’ That is until we arrived and I seen exactly what I was getting myself into.
Reality hit like a ton of bricks! ‘Oh dang I thought, when I looked at the size and height of this bridge. Am I seriously signing up for this?’ The day before the trip I had it in my head that I was just going to be awesome and leap off this bridge like no big deal. Just like a rock star.
Yes, that mental picture changed pretty quick when I seen the bridge, my non-existent balls fell straight to the ground. Suddenly I was feeling some freaken emotion all right. I ain’t no quitter though, at least I try to make it a point not to be. So I got all geared up and started making the trek on the see through suspension bridge out to the jump location.
The adrenaline and fear were already setting in. Once I was at the location, I was instantly thinking, ‘I must be crazy to have signed up for this?!’.
At that point backing out was very much on my mind. I was trying hard to self talk and get my head in the game, but really was on the verge of peeing my pants. Totally opposite to what I thought I would be like.
They did have a DJ there though and lots of good beats to get you pumped up. By time it came to my turn and I was on the ledge, I was still trying to back out. I didn’t care about my money, I just did not feel like hurling myself off a bridge. It didn’t help that I kept looking down when they kept telling me not too. ‘How the heck can I not look down, when I am on the ledge of a 216 meter bridge?!’ I said to them. I mean really, it was too darn hard not look down.
The guys running the bungy were not taking me backing out as an option. They were doing some really good motivating chat such as when I would say ‘I don’t want to do this, and I do not care about not getting my money back’, they would respond. ‘You do want to do this, or you wouldn’t be on the edge attached to a bungy, you wouldn’t have come this far if you did not want to do it’, and also telling me ‘Of course it is scary because its not normal to throw yourself off a bridge’. They had some very valid points, and even in my fear filled state, I couldn’t help but agree.
With a bit of motivation, and possibly a small nudge, I had no choice but to leap off the edge and was free falling faster then you could say ‘jump‘, AND loving every second of it!
It was so crazy, and amazing. The feeling off falling through the air so fast, with the wind in your face and the ground coming at a ridiculously fast speed towards you, until the bungy cord gently grabs and pulls you straight back up. When this happens I instantly tried to grab onto to something that wasn’t there.
So basically I was grabbing on to thin air. Once it pulls you back up you free fall again. The rush was like nothing I have ever experienced in my life.
Finally I was just hanging there suspended in the air at the end of the bungy cord, taking in every amazing second of being there. They say a lot of people get scared at that moment, so when the guy comes down on an abseil to get you, they make it clear that you are not to grab onto him, as it can turn into a dangerous situation. This turned out to be one of my favorite parts! He comes down and latches onto your waist and takes you off the bungy cord. As he pulls you back up, you arrive to a once again see through platform, which I basically scrambled on, because I was afraid of falling.
Once I was up, I was pumping with adrenaline, and when they came to ask how it was, I was so pumped up that too many swear words from excitement were coming out of my mouth to describe how incredible that experience was. Not my usual classy self, but hurling yourself of a 216 meter bridge will do that to you. I was profusely thanking the guys for helping make me do the jump. The feeling was beyond words.
Here are the 5 things I took away from doing the bungy –
1.Clearly I am not super human. Even though at times I like to think so, put me on the edge of a 216 meter bridge attached to a bungy, and I will freak the heck out.
2. Yes it’s true, it really isn’t normal to jump off a bridge. There was no pun intended in that one. Although I am sure it will be easier now if I will ever do it again.
3. Gosh if I wasn’t attached to that bungy, I would have splatter like a bug. Even though at times I like to think so, put me on the edge of a 216 meter bridge attached to a bungy, and I will freak the heck out.
4. Listen to them when they say don’t look down. Seriously, as hard as it may seem, DON’T LOOK DOWN, it will just freak yourself out.
5. Face your fears. That was definitely life changing, and the hardest part was getting off the edge. The feeling of accomplishment from facing a fear like that is indescribable.
That was by far one of the best experiences of my life. The location was amazing, the people were great, and the adrenaline rush was EPIC. If you ever have a chance, go for it! Face your fear. I would love to do it again, and this time, like the rock star I envisioned.
A Pursuit of Life - Barefoot& High Heeled 