Friday, September 10, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Big Bubbles and Ear Troubles
I really enjoyed this dive and now know that scuba is something that I want to do for a very long time to come!
***I want to send out a special thank you to Shad for taking these pics for me. Didn't he do an amazing job? And he was even using a disposable waterproof camera from Wal-Mart! I'm pretty impressed with how they turned out!***
On the way to the bottom of the quarry, though, I had trouble with my ear again. I tried and tried but was still unable to equalize my left ear. As I was trying to do that, my weight belt started sliding off of my waist and before I knew it, it was around my knees and impossible to recover. The weight belt finally slid completely off of me and floated to the bottom of the quarry, as I, having no weight to keep me down, began to float to the top. Mike, one of the instructors, dove down to the bottom to recover my weights (SORRY MIKE !!!).
I have to tell you though, despite having trouble with my ear, I had one of the best times of my life my first time diving. I can't wait until my ear has cleared up to finish up my certification and to begin a LONG journey under the sea.
Labels:
Adventire. Experiences,
Living,
PADI,
Quarry,
Scuba diving
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Earning My Fins
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX0-a1LoftNKM3wI8_GRSudE_A4YdgngJxH21kvn9ZIi7rcJ_dmg6neHXY2uNTpq3rIE6ON7pll3uUBAjudIZlfE7J-SjhxB42wzanT8V2il-LLKZQFWtfJ9vCKBnIzM7zdK8J7qzeL8b/s320/jacques-cousteau.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGlDFjPPIGQK_LzqLwoisnoS86WvvVQ87BhFJl27VxIXAiS1KP147in2E9o9uW4xJRqbDRo6aeLsp8uLzDJPuzWBqFS-9FFysYnne5LJrDabqvw8SzJU55wvJLa-6G9HEAu7N-tWadavA/s320/math_image-300x269.jpg)
Im kidding :P
The book is well written, easy to understand, and is interesting. Most is pretty much common sense. I don't forsee any trouble passing the tests.Back to the dive shop...
We filled out a mountain of release forms and applications, almost as many as I signed when I went skydiving, and then began the fun part... shopping :) After the cost of certification, you have to have a few basic pieces of equipment. My husband and I each got a set of fins, boots, a mask, and a snorkle. The other equipment can be rented for very reasonable rates until we are ready to purchase our own. J.D. Emerson, the owner of BCXtreme Sports took good care of us by making sure all of our equipment was sized correctly and fit well. This is my bounty that I returned home with:
I will be testing sometime next week. Wish me luck on the dive table questions!!! (EEEeeeekkk)
.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
New on the Horizon...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR8P5eHIQ0luxzAk5kER2aHMppDhkTuKpCh6dSJq1haNNioj6mpnHNqsCbLrCcbDInBVlpGZelE1VN7pBT6qKb7z2FGoMf-DejEgDBe2IFRHAqyfz5km77cEHG4exO_fDcaFKPEUq5bED/s320/scubadiving-225x300.jpg)
I picked up up the phone yesterday and called up the local dive shop to ask about taking scuba diving lessons. The total for the class is $450.00 which includes the PADI course, closed water class, four open water dives, and certification. After speaking with J.D. Emerson of BCXTreme Sports in Danville, VA, I find myself even more excited about taking this class than I was originally.
I will definately be updating when I start my classes!
Labels:
Adventure,
Classes,
Experiences,
Extreme Sports,
PADI,
Scuba diving
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Ohhhhh That Water Looks Cold
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-iWwNITxip-KR_dDhK1A9w9uGja4Slj2QN79zK0GFUeTcaa2xemMtNxgj_kfwkQs_69aZN9BdHzx214v1AFPogMB_3JwxTEG_hPBs8-OdvfbD9hoG2sLdDzzSK-YPGfM2GN78aDxOiLR/s320/30300_1453232486415_1101363563_1318282_2366903_n.jpg)
We watched as several kayaks and canoes floated down stream while enjoying a beer on a picnic bench. Before the beer I was consuming was even half empty, I realized I had forgotten my pack with all my stuff in it. In a rush, I went searching for it, never to finish my poor, over priced beer. I did find my pack (thanks to honest tourists) and we made our way to the rafting site.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88wRPNpCP4c0ceGf-bDye2QeZaJQHqb1r78ayKeI0sdfgQJdPqQURxH0HE96YV9j2McyKxSOSltN3Jz-Ti7Y8SJgozHgGUxKqg_8EU5MGtkP9Yv28RQzAbJr-_vHFC8DNJcA3ag5ldcJE/s320/30300_1453169684845_1101363563_1317977_2047441_n.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtseMJAAjUzvLbWNLG1bYbkWM86S1tjRq08euMFBe52j6mS6rNermsW_F7cWD0I5GFHiT5Y49xzRkllkaSIey8m2H5w4tVpUxKegxcLmPbGk9ycZ6GWKe3CKNm48vUwSnXtfBEUCTSv5rL/s320/30300_1453190325361_1101363563_1318086_5623602_n.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9U8prsGcnOGazdoBAOk8uA3TKi258xDVpyW2oX7__wxK0QKvMVOszVgSRWhOYb_S9EpIrp_9VPbQiET6EUN3lbrZuZQbpQ7C9TnvhJezZzQXlUFuNQonaHyR8d9L-jvYyNM89StGdhgJ/s320/30300_1453169404838_1101363563_1317974_1397725_n.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM7ZLs66kxnti2MtwqRtm6CsQq5ixJhyphenhyphenFjIbo90DWb1dkeETOdidC1q3E8VPFF3sqS6DynDFjjj_So8zsRzxNA89rRBBzklxqj7Ed8gSVQVNR1oEtMvfZd2_a2c7BqwWuRw2-m95pf5xW/s320/30300_1453164724721_1101363563_1317965_4166050_n.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWfdf-qiavHFO3l2UZz2S2V6C9MU2kII4UYv_rGlcXZnxviqEcsIEGr3yomoCYgR_jEmnorPMxKwWID3gMvevWxB4OOZp4rxuNTFS72QaPmfbmansRR67vtj9EPeHBxRb7Og_2DHQHttX/s320/IMG_4824.jpg)
The last rapid we descended was the most fun, but ended our trip down the Nantahala River. I was soaked to the bone, cold, and waterlogged, but at the same time I had a great first time experience with whitewater rafting. I'm definitely ready to go with Boots to a river she has braved with much bigger, stronger rapids. I just hope the water there doesn't *look* as cold as the Nantahala.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Feeling Zippy
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cfGMhoZ7SqdbpQvuJdDmYKPzJtOQprZgTGENnCIuFnxnWEvK3BWm6asJ6hgBbpiGUn6-13LKf6PE3W_tWHuXgW679mnGjwHap_1KT0qcOgVXfLRh-tSLzpjf2uS0GV7zbdWH87_W8JVy/s320/30300_1453143684195_1101363563_1317860_6650171_n.jpg)
My husband Tim and I were wanting a short getaway this past weekend. He called me from work and asked me to google the Nantahala River in North Carolina and look into whitewater rafting. I immediately pulled up my trusty search engine and within minutes was on the Nantahala River Rafting site. I looked around a bit and found the whitewater rafting but was sidetracked by something unusual. There was a link to a zipline canopy tour in the area. I texted Tim back to call me when he got a free miunute. I had found another adventure!
We set up reservations on Wednesday and I called up my friend Boots. This was something that she hadn't experienced yet either. She was up for the challenge and on Friday afternoon after work the three of us made our way to Bryson City, North Carolina.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn8DbTNx-ZK5JQ7POnE60LXBOyf6RBSFZLN7_J_Puj6YOPxcb4Qi7f_8maCNYppNGqoRZKbVjuPfM6dxyRBXChqQh0UyMXuaEHyhpUdk1LgOuu_aOAJ4sKsBugWSM3Ia8AKTHll4rl42_/s320/30300_1453143964202_1101363563_1317862_408596_n.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhsavrWVoKLCwHsxyDnHeQBC-sT2W9uFcCnvYTJIfsyr1m1e-CsvO8cIXG8lbhsjPoarni2zUxLHqZL_YXfQrw_Nw61wuRsMjwiGlDwTve1-8TGfSFihNca_WxTXeYqn48u5KV19DLHEo/s320/30300_1453158284560_1101363563_1317926_2741246_n.jpg)
The transfer bridges were what I worried about the most. I had sprained my ankle two nights before while taking the dog out. One of the requirements was that you were in good health and had no casts of any kind, hard or soft. I had been using a gel cast the day before just to stand. I wasn't afforded that luxury on this trip. I had to hide my injury and did so with the help of Boots' injinuity. She suggested I duct tape my ankle and cover said injury with a sock. Everything went well though and I was able to complete the course with the exception of one zipline and one bridge before I rolled my ankle again. I was in a bit of pain but wasn't able to let anyone know as we were all in tight proximity.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO98OPYAiS6-MjdrsPI11lKODUWxK8j0EDL6eLVkwqEm5WfnlsBizyis0ML78pdouV5Dd7DNevDZo1s7MexYoa6J2liBolSfasgLnum44zv3zgX3aFq0nHZC1AvTEEwAkqJ_CpqeQMMIT/s320/30300_1453158364562_1101363563_1317927_168899_n.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGUm8iGqMy0u9ROYe-f4fYcauEGmLvg0O9kw5i4E-Zb7-3qJREKVpTpDD7nCCwRgFruc54QhywXqPUdXQcu78RWqIhjGqZ6sKgYhJZ-FUcUK6onVdBAJbMSA_ai0w7fjnZESkrJsailLr/s320/30300_1453144084205_1101363563_1317864_7418322_n.jpg)
We all zipped safely to the last platform, and posed for a group picture that our guide, Dion, graciously snapped for us. From left to right... Me, My husband Tim, and my friend Boots.
We were now off to the next adventure of the day... Whitewater Rafting. Post to come.
Labels:
Adventire. Experiences,
Bryson City,
Canopy Tour,
Extreme Sports,
Fear,
Friends,
Fun,
Heights,
Life,
Living,
Outdoors,
Recreation,
Vacation,
Zipline
A Life Changing Experience
My best girlfriend Boots said to me a few months back, "Go skydiving with me". I smiled and told her that it was something I had always wanted to do. My husband and I had been to Las Vegas several times and I had actually called about pricing for a tandem jump. When the voice on the other end of the phone cheerfully said "300 dollars", I said "Thank you" and promptly hung up the phone. I told my husband I couldn't see spending $300 dollars on something that would only last a few minutes when we could see "Sigfried and Roy" or "Mystere" twice for that.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAED3kBGNbiDp4rdVb3r7AnYsU6gxnNlrsI0-S0tW9Sd1_R4MqWLMt2R-80OX3nFn3bXt6ySH7QxaQy7WJFsPAYpFchTOakmBDovapunbPpYYRwrAgRPVbauf62QHLN0gUFsU3e4LAwFjF/s320/siegfriedandroy.jpg)
Fast forward to May 16, 2010. My friend, Boots made reservations for us at Raeford Parachute Center and I found myself suited up in a gawd-awful looking blue jumpsuit, a less than flattering padded "helmet", and a harness that made my body crimp and fold in all the wrong places. I was, however, going to be attached to a real cutie of a tandem instructor :P
The flight up was long. It took us three solid weeks to get to altitude. Well, not really. It took maybe 15 minutes but it did seem like three weeks. I was so excited I could barely stop grinning. That, combined with the uber-ugly jumpsuit made for some really goofy looking pictures. I watched out of the open door of the plane as the earth slowly moved farther and farther away. I anticipated what the initial drop would feel like. I wondered how the long, steady free fall would make me feel. I wondered what terminal velocity would actually be like. Then, I wondered if I was normal, as I hadn't yet been nervous.
The tandem instructor hooked me up to him and tightened down all the connections. I was attached to him tighter than I had expected to be. It was a really secure feeling. He then instructed me to position the two of us in front of the open door. This is the first and only time I actually got nervous. I'm naturally clumsy, and could see myself slipping and causing the two of us to fall out of the plane before he was ready. Then, I realized that although it wouldn't be the ideal way to go out of the plane, that is where we were going to end up anyway. I slowly and carefully positioned us in front of the door. "Are you ready?" he asked. "I'm ready", I said with a grin. He bent forward and we tumbled out of the plane into the clouds.
The first few seconds I was disoriented, but quickly found myself facing the earth. He tapped me on my shoulder, which was my signal that I could open my arms out and experience the free fall in the correct position. This didn't feel like falling. It didn't feel as if I was in danger. All I felt was wind and total freedom. I screamed out "WHOOOooOOOOOOo" to the top of my lungs. I decided during free fall that this was the most awesome thing I had ever experienced in my life.
When the chute opened there was an amazingly relaxing silence. I felt myself glide and soar in the sky. It was peaceful and relaxing. The instructor told me to grab the yellow straps he was holding and proceeded to show me how to speed up our decent, how to slow it down, and showed me how to steer left and right. I was actually maneuvering the parachute on my own! As I pulled down on the right strap, the chute angled and turned right. I pulled down on the left strap and we turned the opposite direction. I was actually flying; soaring like an eagle.
The drift down lasted maybe five minutes and we landed back on the ground. The second I stood up, all I could think was "I wanna do that again"! I was so excited, I was pumped up, I was full of adrenaline. I had actually loved doing what I had put off for so many years and regretted not doing it sooner. The $300 is a very small price to pay for such an amazing experience.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAED3kBGNbiDp4rdVb3r7AnYsU6gxnNlrsI0-S0tW9Sd1_R4MqWLMt2R-80OX3nFn3bXt6ySH7QxaQy7WJFsPAYpFchTOakmBDovapunbPpYYRwrAgRPVbauf62QHLN0gUFsU3e4LAwFjF/s320/siegfriedandroy.jpg)
"Its a life changing experience", she assured me. I mulled over this "life changing experience" and decided that she was exaggerating. I would jump from an airplane, experience free fall, float down to earth, and when I got back on my feet my life would just pick up where I left off. Nothing will have changed after a skydive. My same old job would still be waiting for me. My same old home would still need to be cleaned. My husband and dog would still need to be fed. How life changing could this really be? After a bit of coaxing (I still couldn't see paying that kind of money), I decided to go along with it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy6UI8IaKYjiGrItBrfmfGnr3_HAxpXtfEmJc7IrEyXOzv37YhCn0obU0KQL8IYg0A4l9Qf8-YEI4EH7lSZKJG24yMkySOgp1sO72Ehv7TaGrdQNz3LnPyqexbdQUVESbKPgtT9llBHab/s320/IMG_0982.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wbkWHJBWH9QBlJrb-lt1n4OVoGwPxhed4apIvOR6scZT4n2crxRVi4694iGZmYOYG4ADadRFEmh_CTI2DzuLNoyxXd-4-1O4XAZMQgnRaq9sRwzZ3jXbn3xuhZdG7w9DYqn5qg1F-odx/s320/IMG_0995.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjOTiBGpaVTt4Hgv4_5XbjmZlMzuh2QpNwb8bJCklpqdbmVrMMrLXLT0Zh2vA6dynIN74w5kR1Jg-zBsRr-DOGRm0ZqvN9N20_Nb7mli3_XClDYt1QQPup-ycei-W2t2UgKGhUZqEIykT/s320/IMG_1001.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqy9P7yBwYUelkoNptCTCNJUM5ypaS495Vu-AyF-YjeLbwYNA6pEtgrh7vnTBowygDxzmmtIFizzOIX_j0UZAySz2mZFwCiZMTZ-SSkQLz6hSx1EzsgfEs2AFRtbntMfUn1HU6gINq5TM/s320/IMG_1015.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ29sgZs1pLAnJfmxsORiLBtf3tvBLiARmMnHfAtnn24AJesS3XJVf14y7ndD3gEEejftolfHJmS8dLm3H30LDSJoSgEw-OOp6iX9hOdzvLz7UCsSxphesBPqOwH7sman2fF_I6i0Hd9np/s320/IMG_1033.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3lN3o8LKVrZlJCLppBPdREucJLTrkHaXW5AgK6hBNFEKcqSmEGh9opwIrtc7Ygg2LM3vDgfd6wMVbl4bC8d00BiGA4AEceEGV6u9xNq7UocahKrzoOdtbQ6i9545F8MwwScP7MB5XZWC/s320/IMG_1057.jpg)
I made that jump one month ago. Since my feet hit the ground after that jump, I have wanted to experience so many other things I wouldn't have been willing to do before. I want to go hang gliding. I want to go scuba diving. I want to go kite surfing. I want to... well, you get the idea. Skydiving really IS a life changing experience.
Labels:
Adventure,
Experiences,
Extreme Sports,
Fear,
First jump,
Flying,
Fun,
Life,
Living,
Parachute,
Recreation,
Skydiving,
Tandem,
Vacation
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)