The Adventures of Barry: Bungeeee!

I swear I'm not trying to give you all heart attacks. It's just that Queenstown is New Zealand's de facto capital of extreme sport rides and as the next stop on the magic bus trail the game was rigged from the start. Magic Bus has partnerships with tourist attractions all over New Zealand which does result in some pretty good deals and opportunities. Unusually they just chat it up a little and offer a sign up sheet for those who want in. This one in particular was a little more blatant.

The drive to Q-town is nearly eight hours including breaks so people were getting restless when we stopped just outside town at the A.J.Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungy Jump. Where we were taken to the "Bungy Theatre" for a quick sales pitch followed by a short film in the tradition of your classic time share sale. It was actually too annoyingly hard sell for me.

Of course you're asking, "Why did I do it?" Well I "hemmed" and "hawed" about it for quiet a while so there was time for me to get used to the idea while several people off our bus went ahead of me but I was already tempted by the idea andQueenstown seemed the place to do it. Still I chose this opportunity because not only was it the original, not only were we already there, but A.J.Hackett in particular has a total of ZERO mishaps. No fatalities, no injuries, no one even getting sick. At least not during the jump, I'm sure there has been somepre and post nausea.

And yes this is actually THE original bungy jump. Initially they were only given a 30 day license (maybe it was 60, I forget now). The government figured no one would go for it but of course now it's everywhere.

Before you jump you're ankles are wrapped tight in a towel which is then wrapped in a harness. A back-up harness goes around your waist. You're trussed up in a near fetishistic manner by the time you approach the ledge. It's a very weird feeling and different than skydiving. Firstly you have to make yourself jump, that's pretty tough. They help to get you going because after telling you to wave to the crowd and wave to the camera they quite unexpectedly start barking out a countdown from 5. I think I jumped on 3, I certainly didn't hear 2 or 1.

When I did the whole landscape in front of me vibrated for a moment. I realized my head was shaking but then i got it together and enjoyed the ride down. Surprisingly, there is no point where you are jerked back. Thebungy eases your descent gently like someone who is very good at braking a car, but straight downward.

Than you fly back up ... twice, which is quiet cool. On the second I managed to spread my arms, arch my back and get a perfect little moment of zero gravity. In the end I think the hardest part was grabbing hold of the pole that they use to fish you into the dingy at the bottom. Admittedly it's stupid but quiet a thrill.