My First Time
I am so excited to participate in the first #TotalSocial link up put on by Sarah from Venus Trapped in Mars and Helene from Helene in Between. The first month's link up...your first time. Anything about your first time. So I am going to take it way back. Way back to 2005. My first time skydiving.
I have always been an adrenaline junkie and pushing the limits a little too far. So it makes sense that I had always wanted to go skydiving and bungee jumping. So far I have checked one off that list.
Back to the story...two of my guy friends (Anthony and Matt) and I drove the two hours from Reno to Lodi, California. After arriving in Lodi, I was a little apprehensive since we would be skydiving next to the freeway. But the staff reassured us that we wouldn't get THAT close to it. I wish I had a picture showing how close we were. We went to Parachute Center by the way.
After signing our lives away, getting suited up, learning breathing and posture techniques, they started filming us and taking pictures. My camera guy was awesome. He even linked my video up with some Offspring music (taking it way back). I believe he was Australian. And you know how beautiful Australian men are (HOT).
I should also mention that I had the oldest guy ever as my tandem partner and my friends thought it was funny to joke with me that he was going to kill over on me mid dive. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Side note: I really need to get the VHS (yep that long ago) converted into a dvd so I can share it. It is pretty amazing.
Soon enough we were off to the plane. The six of us, including our tandem partners and a formation team. I watched my camera man's altitude watch slowly climb to 13,000 feet before the door opened and the tandem team literally flew out of the plane. It was incredible to watch. Next up was my tandem partner and myself. It is hard to describe the feeling of standing on the edge of the planes open door getting ready to jump. Huge adrenaline rush. Best feeling ever.
And we dropped. My stomach felt like it went into my mouth and for a second I forgot how to breathe like they instructed. You have to breathe through your nose, not your mouth, otherwise you just gasp for air. And then I enjoyed every last second of the 45 second drop sans parachute. It was beautiful, scenic and freeing. Then my partner gave me the signal to pull the cord and the chute went right up. I was able to control the levers as we descended. You can put one arm up, one arm down and you spin in circles. You can put both arms down and you almost stop mid air. Or you can put both arms up and you fall a lot faster.
I don't remember how long it took to get to the ground after the pull, but I am guessing it was a few minutes. Plus I had a perfect soft landing. I can't say the same for Matt. Think tumbling.
Notice the no shoes and stomach hanging out. I wish I would have found the other photos where they are face on and you can see how tight the goggles were and gravity at its best.
Skydiving was everything I hoped for and more. And I want to do it again. Maybe for my birthday this year? Maybe for another special occasion? My husband would NEVER do this with me. He is afraid of heights. So friends, someone please go again with me. It has been far too long.
Want to join in on the Total Social link up? Anyone can join, via instagram, blogs, facebook and twitter.
awesome! i don't think I could ever do that but it looks so cool! you're a bad ass!
ReplyDeleteAww thank you. I am a thrill seeker and loved it. Though I have never used that much adrenaline in my life.
DeleteHoly cow! Skydiving is not something I ever see myself doing, but I guess you never know?!? I didn't realize that you could maneuver so much in the air? Pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteYou may want to try it later on in life, but if not, no biggie. It is a crazy feeling though. And you can do so much in air. My friends flipped out of the plane. Not my thing. Especially on the first attempt.
DeleteSkydiving is definitely on my bucket list! Sounds like you had an amazing time. Now I'm itching to go! :)
ReplyDeleteYou should go. I paid $100 for the dive, photos and a video. I know it is a bit more now, but still very reasonable wherever you go.
DeletePart of me is dying to skydive... the other part of me would probably wet my pants... and in turn, the poor guy I'd be strapped to's pants! haha! I'm impressed by you!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, that would be funny and embarrassing, but it would make for an awesome blog post!
DeleteOh Sista you are BRAVE! Hahaha. Round of applause for you because I'd seriously wet my pants! I'm joining in from the link up #firsttotalsocial, nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you as well! I must check out your blog now!
DeleteI want to try skydiving. It looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteI've seen where they skydive up near Lodi. It's RIGHT next to the freeway. Those people are crazy!
Do you live in Northern California? It was a thrill of a lifetime and maybe twice in a lifetime if I can get the courage to do it again.
DeleteAmazing! I don't know if I'd have the courage.
ReplyDeleteI did it 10 years ago and I want to do it again, but I am not sure if I can get the courage again.
DeleteLooks like an awesome experience but I'm way too chicken to jump out of a plane plus being afraid of heights, I think it would be a panic attack waiting to happen! I will just have to live vicariously through others like you!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, You can live through us. I am sure there is something you have done that I would be scared to do too!
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