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As we awoke from our slumber we looked around at one another, there was an eerie silence in the room as we all realised it may be the last time we would wake up together! We weren’t planning on going our separate ways we were going to do something much worse. Today we would attempt what man has wanted to conquer for centuries- FLIGHT.
The big revelation of the morning came from Gary in that he decided he would wait to skydive till Mr. Kieran Costello comes to Australia. We also didn’t want to let down our blog fans so if we failed to fly Gary could continue the story. After a few conversations over breakfast it was time to board our transport that brought us to the airport.
It’s often told by the dying that the moments before their death are the sweetest. We really got to experience what they meant. The sky appeared bluer, sun warmer on the skin and the sounds of the lake more mesmerising than ever before. It was an extremely enjoyable trip but it soon came to an end once we saw the sign for “Taupo Tandem Skydiving”.
The form was filled up which basically signed away all responsibility for what might have happened. At this point there was no turning back, we had to do it. The tour guides gave us a choice of what distance we wanted to fall from be it from 12,000 or 15,000 foot. The difference being that 12,000 foot “only” provided a 45 second freefall from the sky whereas 15,000 foot gave one minute of freefall. Being wild and adventurous there was only one outcome and that was 15,000 foot. We were then brought out to be kitted up. We said our emotional goodbyes to Gary before a harness was put around us and then we were told to wait for our call. It was time to go. As we waited for our plane we met the men that would be in charge of our survival and this time it wasn’t our fathers, these men would be our divers. My diver was Brad Rock, a South African superstar with over 11,000 sky dives. At this point I knew I was in good hands. Tom’s diver went by the name of Joel, an inexperienced New Zealander with a mere 1,500 jumps. The picture on the board made Joel out to be a psycho, I taught thank God I don’t have to trust my life on him. Mikes diver was a German called Albert with some 10,000 jumps. We had our gear and our dudes it was time to board the plane.
On the plane I started to panic when I noticed there was no Mike. What had happened? Had he backed out of the sky dive and decided not to tell us? No he had no shoes and delayed us all by 5 minutes trying to borrow some of one of the staff on duty. When he decided to join us, I had to get off the plane in order for as the camera men called him “The Beast” to board. We were all inside and ready to go. There was only one way we were getting back to the ground and that was jumping out of the plane.
The plane was cramped liked a can of sardines. I was sitting on top of my diver and there was a camera man between my legs. This formation continued through to the back of the plane. The flight would take 20minutes. A green light would signal we were in position. The conditions were as bad as the coffin ships bringing the Irish to America during the famine times. These conditions actually made me look forward to the jump. We were briefly instructed as to what we had to do when we were airborne. A camera man would jump along with us to take some photos. Green Light- Damn it was time to go.
The cameramen opened the door and it was time. Mike was up first. He moved slowly towards the edge like a snail, except this snail would fly today. Swish off he went. My heart stopped what had he just done. Would I ever see him again? I hadn’t time to ponder the answers to these as I was about to do the same thing. I looked at the camera and gave what could be my last smile. I put my legs under the plane and my head back it was time to fly. I raised my hands and it felt as though I was falling from the Heavens. The stars and Angels were almost in reach. Looking down gave an almost Godly feeling. It was like as though everything below me was my kingdom. I truly was on top of the world as the wind blew through my hair.
The freefall was finally over 60 seconds although it felt as though I had frozen time as I feel through the clouds. Bang out came the parachute. It was now time to view the beauty that Taupo has to offer. Taupo is considered as the Skydiving capital of the world and rightly so as the views were spectacular. Taupo Lake is the largest in New Zealand and truly a Godly creation. Mount Tauhara was also viewable in the distance. Brad increased the enjoyment by spinning around in circles. The land was in sight and at this point I knew I had to raise my legs and Brad would do the rest for me. I was back on land again which felt good. I thanked Brad and looked around for the others. No sign of Mike where was he? Tom was on the ground and described it as a “Super experience”. At last Mike landed and shouted “Unforgettable”. We were then escorted towards the video room to watch the DVD and meet Gary again. Watching it was proof that it had all happened.
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and discussing what had happened. In the evening we went to see Body of Lies. Taupo truly is a fantastic city and provided us with an experience we would never forget. That night we all slept well knowing we had conquered what Leonardo Da Vinci described in the 15th century
The big revelation of the morning came from Gary in that he decided he would wait to skydive till Mr. Kieran Costello comes to Australia. We also didn’t want to let down our blog fans so if we failed to fly Gary could continue the story. After a few conversations over breakfast it was time to board our transport that brought us to the airport.
It’s often told by the dying that the moments before their death are the sweetest. We really got to experience what they meant. The sky appeared bluer, sun warmer on the skin and the sounds of the lake more mesmerising than ever before. It was an extremely enjoyable trip but it soon came to an end once we saw the sign for “Taupo Tandem Skydiving”.
The form was filled up which basically signed away all responsibility for what might have happened. At this point there was no turning back, we had to do it. The tour guides gave us a choice of what distance we wanted to fall from be it from 12,000 or 15,000 foot. The difference being that 12,000 foot “only” provided a 45 second freefall from the sky whereas 15,000 foot gave one minute of freefall. Being wild and adventurous there was only one outcome and that was 15,000 foot. We were then brought out to be kitted up. We said our emotional goodbyes to Gary before a harness was put around us and then we were told to wait for our call. It was time to go. As we waited for our plane we met the men that would be in charge of our survival and this time it wasn’t our fathers, these men would be our divers. My diver was Brad Rock, a South African superstar with over 11,000 sky dives. At this point I knew I was in good hands. Tom’s diver went by the name of Joel, an inexperienced New Zealander with a mere 1,500 jumps. The picture on the board made Joel out to be a psycho, I taught thank God I don’t have to trust my life on him. Mikes diver was a German called Albert with some 10,000 jumps. We had our gear and our dudes it was time to board the plane.
On the plane I started to panic when I noticed there was no Mike. What had happened? Had he backed out of the sky dive and decided not to tell us? No he had no shoes and delayed us all by 5 minutes trying to borrow some of one of the staff on duty. When he decided to join us, I had to get off the plane in order for as the camera men called him “The Beast” to board. We were all inside and ready to go. There was only one way we were getting back to the ground and that was jumping out of the plane.
The plane was cramped liked a can of sardines. I was sitting on top of my diver and there was a camera man between my legs. This formation continued through to the back of the plane. The flight would take 20minutes. A green light would signal we were in position. The conditions were as bad as the coffin ships bringing the Irish to America during the famine times. These conditions actually made me look forward to the jump. We were briefly instructed as to what we had to do when we were airborne. A camera man would jump along with us to take some photos. Green Light- Damn it was time to go.
The cameramen opened the door and it was time. Mike was up first. He moved slowly towards the edge like a snail, except this snail would fly today. Swish off he went. My heart stopped what had he just done. Would I ever see him again? I hadn’t time to ponder the answers to these as I was about to do the same thing. I looked at the camera and gave what could be my last smile. I put my legs under the plane and my head back it was time to fly. I raised my hands and it felt as though I was falling from the Heavens. The stars and Angels were almost in reach. Looking down gave an almost Godly feeling. It was like as though everything below me was my kingdom. I truly was on top of the world as the wind blew through my hair.
The freefall was finally over 60 seconds although it felt as though I had frozen time as I feel through the clouds. Bang out came the parachute. It was now time to view the beauty that Taupo has to offer. Taupo is considered as the Skydiving capital of the world and rightly so as the views were spectacular. Taupo Lake is the largest in New Zealand and truly a Godly creation. Mount Tauhara was also viewable in the distance. Brad increased the enjoyment by spinning around in circles. The land was in sight and at this point I knew I had to raise my legs and Brad would do the rest for me. I was back on land again which felt good. I thanked Brad and looked around for the others. No sign of Mike where was he? Tom was on the ground and described it as a “Super experience”. At last Mike landed and shouted “Unforgettable”. We were then escorted towards the video room to watch the DVD and meet Gary again. Watching it was proof that it had all happened.
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and discussing what had happened. In the evening we went to see Body of Lies. Taupo truly is a fantastic city and provided us with an experience we would never forget. That night we all slept well knowing we had conquered what Leonardo Da Vinci described in the 15th century
“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. ”
Stay Posted,
Conor
Stay Posted,
Conor
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