Sunday, January 17, 2021

AJ Hacketts Bungy Jumping Cairns





   In the late 1980s - early 1990s I decided the one adventure activity I really wanted to try was "bungy jumping." Aware it was launching at Birkenhead Point in NSW I looked forward to the chance until I tore a posterior cruciate ligament just as the opportunity arose and then a model was doing a promo jump as a duo and the cable was incorrectly attached so she hit her head (just) on the bottom of the river. I believe "bunny jumping is still banned in NSW.
   A little while later we enjoyed a QANTAS mystery flight to Cairns and the opportunity arose to take a trip and try the 70m drop over a small pond and it was aaaamazing! They hiked as they set up the gear, ribbed me about my rugby player size and told ne to jump on 1 counting back from 5... I knew if they got to 1 and I was frozen I wouldn't jump ever... I am pretty sure I went between 3 and 2 and the sensation is the most frightened I've ever been. A couple of seconds of total free fall, causing my guttural yell and slowly the bungy takes up like a rubber band and the bounce is nearly as high as the jump. Some get their hair wet in the pond but I suspect the rope was wound back a bit for me! It was exhilarating and a nightmare all at once!