Ziplining Continued

Once you get familiar with how the ziplining feels, you get more comfortable with the experience and start to enjoy it more and even look around at the amazing birds-eye views you've never had the opportunity to see before. It also seemed to be a well-run operation and I think it was relatively safe. As you can see below, we were even strapped in for a walk across a suspension bridge.

Possibly the scariest part of the canopy tour was the longest zipline (#6 or so). Before they sent us on our way, they mentioned that this zipline was a HALF MILE LONG!!!! I was going to time how long it took to get from one end to the other but when I was getting strapped in I completely forgot due to the need to focus on other more important matters (like, was I securely fastened to the cable!!!). I am not sure how fast we traveled on the cable but I'm guessing that it was in the range of 30-35 mph. On this zipline we must have been a couple hundred feet above the ground. Below is a photo of Laurie taking off on this LOOOOOOONG trek.

The other scary thing about this zipline is that they told us, due to the wind slowing us down, we should not brake at all. So, instead of having the comfort of your back hand on the cable to brake you just had to let go. This would have been fine except that when you don't hold gently to the cable, the wind can turn you around so that you actually are travelling backwards!!!!!!!!!! I like to see where I'm going so flying through the air backwards at 30mph, 200 feet off the ground, just about freaked me out. I tried to enjoy the unbelievable views toward the Pacific Ocean but when I got turned around I found it hard to concentrate on the views. I was picturing myself smacking into the tree on the other end. As it turned out though, they were right. Even without braking I didn't make it all the way to the other side. I had to pull myself back up to the end platform.

Thankfully, we had the foresight to ask someone to take a picture of the four of us. This was taken before we had done any zipping so we all had smiles on our faces. The 'after' picture might not have been so uniformly smiley. Our eyes would have been bigger, our mouths wide open, and you might have seen Laurie giving me an evil glare.

It sure was an adventure we'll never forget. I'm not sure any of us feels the need to do it again tomorrow but it was worth doing once...and we have the pictures to prove it!!