SYDNEY/KIWI ADVENTURE-7: An expensive additction

Well now I know why they use the term "adrenaline junkie". It really is an addiction and although I honestly don't know what it's like to roll around on the floor, shivering, sweating and crying into my blanket as I try in vein to get to sleep after not being able to get my heroin fix, I have to admit that I keep wanting more and bigger thrills as my time on this adventure holiday progresses. Today I went skydiving and I must say it was one of the most arbitrary decisions I've ever made in my life!

The last time I went skydiving was in Hawaii and that was the second time I'd ever done it. Afterwards I told myself that if I did it again I would learn to do it solo instead of relying on a tandem jumper to strap myself to. However the circumstances that led me to today's jump were much more spontaneous and impulsive than that.

I had tried to book a paragliding trip up on the Queenstown skyline complex but the weather turned against me. It may have been a fantastic warm day with not a cloud in the sky but apparently paragliding is a sport that lends itself to very sensitive wind conditions and fate was working against me that day. Disappointed that I couldn't get my fix for the day I wandered around town asking various places if they had any spots open for any adventure tours. I reached a couple of places that were fully booked and the only free spots were the ones I had done already (such as jet-boating or Bungy Jumping).

I was about to give up and was feeling rather crestfallen about not getting my adrenaline fix when I walked past the NZone Skydiving centre. I approached and enquired about the availability of a last minute jump and as luck would have it there was a shuttle leaving for the airport in five minutes. Delighted I signed up without even the slightest consideration for the bloody good kicking my bank balance was about to receive.

Before long we were at the airfield and I was getting suited up, the only person who had jumped before. The others were all German exchange students still in high school around the age of 17 and it seems that skydiving was apparently part of their itinerary. All I can say is I certainly didn't do anything remotely that awesome when I went to high school!

It wasn't long before we were ascending to the heavens in our aircraft. As always the anticipation felt as the plane slowly climbs over the truly amazing scenery is almost as fun as the jump itself. Last time I jumped was in Hawaii which is also possesses a sublime landscape but this was spectacular in a very different way. Imagine endless stretches of snow capped alpine peaks going as far into the distance as you can see and you might get the idea. The visibility allowed us to see for miles in each direction. We reached the altitude of our jumps (12,000 feet!) and, as usual, I was the first out of the plane. I must digress to admit I would have liked to see someone else jump before me, just to see the expression on their face. After all usually tandem jumpers are first timers, most people who want more end up learning the sport. But anyway I was thrown out of the plane with cameraman in tow to witness the scenery rush towards me all whilst enjoying one of the biggest adrenaline rushes a person can get.

As with my previous jumps it was all over too soon. The tandem master yanked the cord and our descent was slowed from an outrageous 140+ miles per hour to a much more manageable parachute assisted glide. Coming in to land I was certain that the next time I took to the air, I would be on my own.

So there you go, being hooked on adrenaline rushes may not have withdrawal symptoms that are as horrible as heroin addiction but I've got to admit, it's still a damn expensive habit. It also got me thinking about the possibility of changing careers, after all musicians don't exactly bring in the big bucks. Perhaps in a few years time I'll be "Dan the world traveling skydiver" or something like that! I was giving some serious consideration to getting a diploma in skydiving, apparently the courses are quite affordable here in New Zealand and once you've got your foot in the door you can earn a nice little bit of money. But I'm not going to think about that right now, I'm still on holiday!

I wanna go again!