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Thursday 22nd January
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Hi Again
Back to fill in a bit more. No rush to leave Thursday morning so leisurely continental breakfast and drive down to Taupo. Next planned excercise is the 15000ft freefall planned for 2 o'clock. When I booked online they asked me to call them in the morning beforehand to check that conditions and everything else were OK. As I drove into Taupo I saw the sign for the airport so decided to call in rather than phone. Introduced myself, "just checking everything OK for 2"..."Would you like to go earlier, theres space on the 11 o'clock, in 15mins"
So thats how it was. Started with a video intro and then meet the buddy Amos who would fall with me and my camera person Jo, who would follow us down. I had to understand the banana position, Feet together, head back and hands tucked into straps. That would be for the exit. A tap on my shoulders after afew seconds would mean that you can open up and "FLY"!
14 crambed into the little plane with Amos and I being the last to load. We would be first out. As the plane gained height we were able to see from coast to coast from Mt Tarenaki on the west to Napier to the east. The weather was perfect. At 12000ft we went onto oxygen up to the 15000 mark and then the door was opened. Jo climbed out onto a ledge, I twisted my cramped legs out of the door, "Banana" said Amos "Geronimo" I shouted and away we went. Twisting down, looking up at the plane above and then in position to fly. Jo was right there same height and travelling so smoothly at the same pace. No real feeling of speed. Time to try to look around and take in the vista but Jo was there gesticulating to smile at the camera, make silly signals, shake her hand. No feeling of fear or concern. After what I am told was justt over a minute Jo signalled with a thumbs up that she was leaving us and the next moment a gentle tug on the shoulder straps and we were drifting down under the opened chute. Absolutely fantastic!!!
Part way down Amos gave us a twirl or two before handing over the reins to me. I flew the kite until moments before touchdown when the he took over for a bum sliding halt.
I recommend it to anyone.
My package included a video cd and lots of photos. When I showed them to Tim and Sylvia that evening they are both committed to celebrating their 70ths with a Taupo Freefall naxt year.
From there I went for a swim in Taupo bay. Another minor incident. No I didn't lose my car keys but I did manage to lose all my piccies of Tongoriro and the drive down through the hills. Bugger! The upside is that I must return someday..I now understand that when I wish to change the picture to wide format I must not press the 'format" button as. just like in a PC, reformatting scrubs the thing clean. I'm a bloke, I dont read instruction books...
Hopefully there will be some more recent piccies in the photo album before I finish tonight.
As I arrived in Havelock North on Thursday evening, I pulled into a parking bay in the pretty town centre. An attractive lady was bouincing off the pavement to her car and I wound down the window to ask directions, I was greeted by a lovely nothern accent. She described where I should head for to set me on my way. "Where do you hail from then?" I asked , Warrington she replied, how about you, where have you been how long are you over here. Quite a little chat. Mentioned the Tonrongiro crossing and the skydive, "ticking the boxes". Good on yer, enjoy yourself ticking those boxes, just like the Bucket List" Nice to have met you,, and you too, we both agreed.
Friday. Visited Napier, the Art Deco city. When the city was flattened in 1931 by a 7.8 earthquake, the city was rebuilt in the then style of the 30s and it is retained today and makes it a great place to visit. The earthquake museum was also very interesting and quite moving with video diaries from survivors of the quake.
Swam at ocean beach and then back for supper. Tim and Sylvia were joined by two local friends, Heather and Alan. The meeting of the Warrington lady came up in discussion. "That can only be Lorraine" they said. Our next door neighbour. May well meet her again on Monday evening. Alan and Heather have invited us to a BBQ
Good company and retired well fed and watered.
Saturday,,, today,, It's now 9 in the evening and we have had a very full day.
Golf ay Hastings GC, Cider lunch with Susie and Shannon joining us before Ocean Beach for a long paddle and a swim.
Tomorrow Cape Kidnappers, not golf this time but a beachside walk,,,before a winery lunch.... spk again soon
Back to fill in a bit more. No rush to leave Thursday morning so leisurely continental breakfast and drive down to Taupo. Next planned excercise is the 15000ft freefall planned for 2 o'clock. When I booked online they asked me to call them in the morning beforehand to check that conditions and everything else were OK. As I drove into Taupo I saw the sign for the airport so decided to call in rather than phone. Introduced myself, "just checking everything OK for 2"..."Would you like to go earlier, theres space on the 11 o'clock, in 15mins"
So thats how it was. Started with a video intro and then meet the buddy Amos who would fall with me and my camera person Jo, who would follow us down. I had to understand the banana position, Feet together, head back and hands tucked into straps. That would be for the exit. A tap on my shoulders after afew seconds would mean that you can open up and "FLY"!
14 crambed into the little plane with Amos and I being the last to load. We would be first out. As the plane gained height we were able to see from coast to coast from Mt Tarenaki on the west to Napier to the east. The weather was perfect. At 12000ft we went onto oxygen up to the 15000 mark and then the door was opened. Jo climbed out onto a ledge, I twisted my cramped legs out of the door, "Banana" said Amos "Geronimo" I shouted and away we went. Twisting down, looking up at the plane above and then in position to fly. Jo was right there same height and travelling so smoothly at the same pace. No real feeling of speed. Time to try to look around and take in the vista but Jo was there gesticulating to smile at the camera, make silly signals, shake her hand. No feeling of fear or concern. After what I am told was justt over a minute Jo signalled with a thumbs up that she was leaving us and the next moment a gentle tug on the shoulder straps and we were drifting down under the opened chute. Absolutely fantastic!!!
Part way down Amos gave us a twirl or two before handing over the reins to me. I flew the kite until moments before touchdown when the he took over for a bum sliding halt.
I recommend it to anyone.
My package included a video cd and lots of photos. When I showed them to Tim and Sylvia that evening they are both committed to celebrating their 70ths with a Taupo Freefall naxt year.
From there I went for a swim in Taupo bay. Another minor incident. No I didn't lose my car keys but I did manage to lose all my piccies of Tongoriro and the drive down through the hills. Bugger! The upside is that I must return someday..I now understand that when I wish to change the picture to wide format I must not press the 'format" button as. just like in a PC, reformatting scrubs the thing clean. I'm a bloke, I dont read instruction books...
Hopefully there will be some more recent piccies in the photo album before I finish tonight.
As I arrived in Havelock North on Thursday evening, I pulled into a parking bay in the pretty town centre. An attractive lady was bouincing off the pavement to her car and I wound down the window to ask directions, I was greeted by a lovely nothern accent. She described where I should head for to set me on my way. "Where do you hail from then?" I asked , Warrington she replied, how about you, where have you been how long are you over here. Quite a little chat. Mentioned the Tonrongiro crossing and the skydive, "ticking the boxes". Good on yer, enjoy yourself ticking those boxes, just like the Bucket List" Nice to have met you,, and you too, we both agreed.
Friday. Visited Napier, the Art Deco city. When the city was flattened in 1931 by a 7.8 earthquake, the city was rebuilt in the then style of the 30s and it is retained today and makes it a great place to visit. The earthquake museum was also very interesting and quite moving with video diaries from survivors of the quake.
Swam at ocean beach and then back for supper. Tim and Sylvia were joined by two local friends, Heather and Alan. The meeting of the Warrington lady came up in discussion. "That can only be Lorraine" they said. Our next door neighbour. May well meet her again on Monday evening. Alan and Heather have invited us to a BBQ
Good company and retired well fed and watered.
Saturday,,, today,, It's now 9 in the evening and we have had a very full day.
Golf ay Hastings GC, Cider lunch with Susie and Shannon joining us before Ocean Beach for a long paddle and a swim.
Tomorrow Cape Kidnappers, not golf this time but a beachside walk,,,before a winery lunch.... spk again soon
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4 Comments
Reply
sarah
8:09 AM on January 24, 2009
Lovely photos, fantastic views. Shame you lost some of the earlier pics, but you still have the memories.
Enjoy Cape Kidnappers. We look forward to hearing more.
Love Sarah & Co
Enjoy Cape Kidnappers. We look forward to hearing more.
Love Sarah & Co
Reply
Carolyn
4:12 AM on January 25, 2009
Hu Bert. Just reading your latest blog and see that you said you were going to a BBQ in Napier on Monday night which would be the 26th. I thought that was when you flying down here that day and were staying with us or has that changed?
Hi Bert, well done you are certainly packing the adventures in, can't wait to see the video. Any sightings of the bouncy lady??
Cheers
Stef
Cheers
Stef
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