Go Ape.....!

So.... here we all are... me and my wonderful family about to 'Go Ape"!!!

This story starts back last Christmas when I decided that instead of buying 'things' for the children that they would use to clutter up their rooms and drive me to distraction, I would take them out on a family adventure! Surprisingly, they all thought this was a good idea. Now, I know that Christmas, last year, is a long way off, but to be honest I have found it difficult to find something that we could all do together.... that is until last week when I was walking on Haldon Hill near Exeter and was shocked to see people flying above me, screaming loudly and landing in a crumpled heap some distance away in fits of laughter! Well, that was it, I had to investigate... I wanted to have a go!

... so that is how we ended up here yesterday! I decided that it would be a great thing to do before we take Josh to Uni on Sunday... more memories for the journal and happy times to share together in the future..

Of course, plenty of cheeky comments passed our lips as we saw this chappie on arrival.... now, who does he remind you of??

Time to get kitted out in our harnesses by John.. ooo errr this is beginning to feel a little scary!

All togged up and ready to go......

..after a very clear safety briefing we were off into the forest to begin the adventure...

.... wobble wobble...... The main rule was... 'stay attached at all times'.. do you think we were going to let go at this height??

This might look easy, but I can assure you that at this height, with the platform waving about all over the place, you didn't always feel that comfortable!... much nervous laughter was to be heard!

... and she's OFF!!! This is the first of many really long zip wires that are strung through the tree tops.. get attached and then throw yourself into the air... WHEEEEEE! I can't tell you how much fun it was, the feeling was exhilarating, the views... if you opened your eyes... were stunning and the adrenalin was pumping... BUT it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!! ...

Josh getting ready for the off whilst rosie waits her turn...

This was hard work... suspended above the forest floor swinging about trying to place your feet into the rings and move along to the next platform.... really helps if you don't have big shoes on doesn't it Josh??? He managed to get his foot stuck whist swinging in mid-air... we all just laughed at him.. well, what else can you do?

... he did make it...

... and so did I...

I think the idea here was to cross this bridge without holding on...

I was there.... see!... this one was easy!

CRASH landing!!

... here comes Rosie.. she took to it like a natural.. I've always thought she'd be an adventurer!

.. and here's Harriet...

... and guess who?

Ok.... so I didn't get the landing quite right, but what I did get was wood chips in a very uncomfortable place.... Was fun anyway!

Apes or family??

This was probably the most scary part of it all... the tarzan jump! Bearing in mind I jumped out of a plane at 30,000 feet in January, you would have thought that I would take this in my stride.. well, it took a lot more courage to throw myself off of this than jump out of that plane I can tell you! You attach yourself to a rope that's suspended from a wire, then you launch yourself off the platform.. not just any platform, but the highest one of the circuit... free fall until the slack is taken up, open your eyes just in time to see a huge rope net looming towards you.... let go and grab the net, climb up to the safety of the next platform!

So here is Josh preparing to go..

.. made it! Believe me, I have many more photos with just the net in it as when he hit the net he was travelling at such speed they both disappeared out of the shot!

Looking back over some of the course... see how high up we are?

Final zip wire to the end of the course..... looking good!

... there she goes......

... last ride for Rosie...

... BYEEEEEEE........

We made it... Hurrah!

Can we go again????

This was such a brilliant morning..... we all felt we'd accomplished so much and pulled together as a family.. so many memories and so much laughter!

Smiles and certificates all round... by the chief gorilla himself!

I LOVED it and am looking forward to going again... who wants to come with me???