Add this to your 'To Do' list

Shayde on 7/11/2006 at 08:22

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy4.jpg

Karkloof Canopy Tours near Howick in KwaZulu Natal.

The tour starts as you sign the indemnity form and get all kitted up. There is something about wearing a harness and helmet that makes you feel extremely capable and strong.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy8.jpg

You catch a ride on a large game viewing vehicle which struggles its way up the mountain. Stunning views and a brief prayer of thanks to the inventor of the sports bra.

You arrive at the top of the mountain and have a short briefing session. Which consisted of "hold here, use the glove to brake, don't do this or you will get badly hurt." The guide announces "ladies first" and every other woman there takes a step back.

I get hooked up to this thin metal line, take a deep breath and jump. Then it is hurtle so fast blurry trees can't breathe branch in face oh shit there's the platform use arm to break damn this is fast brake harder muscles burning guides hand grasping my own on the platform safe solid ground is so good feel light headed remember to breathe. And that was the shortest line at only 4 metres. Of course 4 metres feels a lot longer when you are 30 metres up in the air.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy6.jpg

Also they lose serious confidence points for signs like this!

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy3.jpg

The tour continues with 8 slides, the longest of which is roughly 170m long.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy9.jpg

to be continued

Shayde on 7/11/2006 at 08:32

Now I don't really like heights, but compared to the actual slide I felt nothing but superconfident standing on the platforms.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy13.jpg

Jumping off of them was difficult for the first 2 slides but after that it was just pure joy. The smell of the forest, sunlight through the trees and the screams of (mostly) joy of your group.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy10.jpg

The guides were wonderful and knowledgeable about the bird life and the flora in the area and inspire real confidence. Imagine the skill and strength to do tricks on these wires.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy11.jpg

Slides vary in distance, steepness and obstacles (dodging trees and docks on a mad descent is breathtaking!) and by the time you have finished all 8 your arms are shaking, your knees are knocking and you can't keep the idiotic grin off your face.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy2.jpg

The day ends with a short hike back through the forest which was a worthwhile experience all on its own.

Inline Image:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/LadyShayde/canopy5.jpg

So that was Africa's biggest canopy tour. I can't wait to try the ones in South America.

Fafhrd on 7/11/2006 at 09:13

that sounds really cool.

I can't for the life of me figure out what the last paragraph of the cliff to waterfall sign MEANS. Do they WANT you to lift your legs to avoid the vines and smash them into the platform causing multiple fractures and excruciating pain, or are they saying NOT to lift your legs to avoid the vines, because you will inevitably break them against the platform?

Scots Taffer on 7/11/2006 at 09:56

Awesome. Good description, cool photos, especially the last one; definitely the sort of thing that'd be up my alley, but my wife and little babe ... not so much. Seriously cool, although I worry I've largely missed my chance to do a lot of daring adventure stuff unless the opportunity presents itself. :erg:

Shayde on 7/11/2006 at 10:05

Scots I recon that you shouldn't wait for opportunities to present themselves.

Just because you are a daddy now doesn't mean you can't do these things. Take the family with and they can do the walks, or chill in the gardens.

I certainly don't do all the things my husband does (Rapp Jumping SHEESH!) but I can still enjoy watching.

Scots Taffer on 7/11/2006 at 10:41

Oh yeah, that's not really what I meant - I guess I'm thinking about the whole Africa/Safari type holiday gig. I really want to do it at some stage but figuring out the when and how would be the harder part given that there's a child in the equation. And shit, you're a woman, you don't need to tell a cow how to chew grass (no implication intended) - my wife could easily while away hours as I did all manner of dangerous and life-threatening things. :D

Shayde on 7/11/2006 at 10:49

You also have to take vaccines into consideration with Evelyn. A lot of places in Southern Africa require malaria meds or yellow fever injections etc which can be done for kids but I know I wouldn't take the chance.

That said there are a lot of baby friendly locations over here if you have the money. I suppose the moral of the story is when you win the lotto, come on over, I'll buy you a beer.

Scots Taffer on 7/11/2006 at 11:40

I might not hold out for the lotto but I'll definitely wait until Evelyn (and possibly brother or sister by that stage) is of an age where she'll understand and remember it. I'll take a raincheque on that beer, perhaps in favour of a South African red instead. ;)

Jennie&Tim on 7/11/2006 at 14:56

Oh, that looks like fun! My husband would be the one on the ground though, he and heights don't get along.

Aerothorn on 7/11/2006 at 16:28

The prevalence of Hands for a Bridge has unfortunately left me with a fairly warped (or may unusually non-warped) view on white South Africa, and I don't know if I could handle going there.

Looks cool (and scary!) though.