So skiing didn’t go quite according to plan. I hoped that was all my bad luck right there as I was about to swing across a canyon!
I walked over to the meeting point and joined the others from the bus. Everyone was giddy and excited whereas I felt like I was going to throw up. My mood lifted slightly when I weighed myself as I was 2kg lighter than when I was last weighed (skydive). It could be dodgy scales but they’d have to be pretty accurate for something like this right? I’m going with that.
The meeting time passed and my tandem swing partner was nowhere to be seen. At first I was a bit disappointed. I was nervous and having someone with me would help. Someone pointed out that it would be a greater achievement doing this alone. In the grand scheme of things it would fit in with my trip. I have conquered many fears on my own, why should this be any different? Let’s do this!!
Being the only one from the Stray bus doing the swing meant that I had nobody to make sure that I did this. I needed a pep talk at that moment.
Driving up was quite calming looking out at the fantastic surrounding views. Then I saw the bridges for the bungy and swing. Eugh. What am I doing? Why am I here? How did I ever think that I would enjoy this?
These questions buzzed around in my head and were left unanswered as I didn’t have time to register anything. I was being led out to the drop off point. There was only me and another couple that went out first.
Just in case you can't quite see, that IS a long way down
For some reason, I thought that watching someone else do it would help me. It didn’t. The Scottish couple were nice and really encouraging. They loved it. It was my turn. Ah!
I did not make things easy for myself. Sully helped me through it and secured my harness. He was abrupt and quite pushy but in a friendly way. That sounds contradictory but he’s done this hundreds of times and knows that once you get out there you love it so the more you sit and think about it, the less likely you are to actually do it.
In his own words, he politely told me to suck it up and get out there and stop being a fanny. I trusted Sully. Perhaps I warmed to him as he shared the name with a cuddly Pixar character. Man I love Monsters Inc.
We went through the process in stages. First, all I was doing was getting the harness secured. Then I needed to sit down in the harness. I’m not going anywhere. It was time to get lowered out. Ok this is a little scary but I’m not going to drop yet so I can just breathe and everything will be ok.
“Ok Danielle, it’s going to happen.” What!? Oh dear……..
Waaaah!
This is fricking awesome!!! Don’t get me wrong, the drop was intensely scary but as soon as that second was over the rush went straight to my head. I flung my arms up like I was on a roller coaster and enjoyed the ride.
Just like when I did the skydive, I panicked yet everything turned out to be brilliant. Even if I could predict the future and see that I was smiling at the end of it, I’d still be bricking it beforehand. I think it’s a natural reaction for most people who don’t have balls of steel.
The Scottish couple didn’t think I’d go through with it. As I babbled excitedly, a couple of girls came across to do their swing. One girl was fine and the other was freaking out. If it’s possible, I think she was worse than me. The girl wouldn’t let go of Sully as they were lowered out. I’m not sure whether she enjoyed it or not but I think she was happy that she did it.
Whilst they did their jump, I decided to do it again. It only costs $40 to jump again. That’s 20 quid which is a ridiculously low price to ignore. I wanted to go backwards this time.
Starting off cockily, I got strapped up. I knew what was coming this time so all was good right? Well, sort of. My brain was still getting over what I just put it through last time so I think it was protesting.
Before, I just shimmied forward and was eased off of the platform. This time I had to walk backwards. Despite being strapped to a harness, I knew that I was walking backwards off the edge. It was weird and I didn’t enjoy that much.
Sully said I could put my arms out like wings but I was still a bit nervy going backwards. In hindsight, I should have done that. Boom, off I went.
Going backwards gives you a bigger thrill but swinging forwards means you get to see the surroundings. You get thrown about a bit going backwards! Wow, what a thrill.
We all went back to look at our videos and photos. I couldn’t choose which package to get. In the meantime, the Scottish couple came over to show me their photos. At first I just focused on them and said they were great. It was only as they pointed me out in the background of each photo that I laughed. In each one, I was stood there with my hand across my mouth in shock. The rest were similar shots of me looking dumbfounded. I’ll forever be in their memories, sorry!
It was time to head back. I’d spent far too much money on the videos but I was happy that I got two swings for less than the retail price for one.
When I got back to the hostel, I started to think about how I could round of this fantastic day. But of course, I needed a Fergburger.
Everyone who has been to New Zealand will have heard of the Fergburger as it is a rite of passage for anyone coming through Queenstown. For those outsiders, a Fergburger is not just a burger. It’s a thing of splendour, of pure yumminess. Well just look for yourselves…
I included my phone for perspective.
The burger was massive but I still managed to cram it into my mouth. On a different occasion I had a Cock Cajun FergBurger. It was twice the size and I had to squish it down slightly and even then I struggled.
My brain was happy still and my stomach was blissfully happy if a little bloated (Ferg baby!). I settled down for the night with a massive grin on my face. Next on the list - Milford Sound. I’d be catching the bus at an ungodly hour the next day.
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