Thursday 13th Apr 2017 ‘The Eagle Has Landed!”…up early this morning to travel to the airfield for my skydive (as mentioned in the previous post).
It was a bit of a long day, hanging around after my training session, as the weather was proving problematic (lots of cloud around)…but at least this gave me plenty of time to get thoroughly (totally nervously!!) excited (gulp!).

If you’re not someone who is particularly comfortable with the safety briefing on board a regular commercial airliner, then skydiving might not be for you, as this briefing tends to start along the lines of “although you’re gonna have the best fun and greatest excitement of your life, do bear in mind that skydiving is an extreme sport and carries with it the very real risk of serious injury (or worse!)…so your fullest attention is required throughout your training session”.
I really wanted to scream “TAXI!!” at this point…but somehow resisted.

…later up in the plane, it was time to prepare for exit. As the clear, perspex door rolled open to reveal the clouds and earth way below us, it was time to shuffle down to the exit point and what seemed like oblivion!! (I was first to go).
As I sat on the edge of the aircraft, I summoned my best ‘Buzz Lightyear’…”to infinity and beyond!!”

…within a split second we were hurtling towards the earth around a staggering 125mph….rapidly freefalling (a completely intense and insane experience, for which there are no words to accurately describe).
Within less than a minute, the parachute then deployed and my feet (which had previously been stretched out behind me – star shape) came swinging up to meet me (such was the intensity of the braking sensation).
…A further five or so minutes of blissful (wonderfully noiseless) gliding down towards the landing zone…before a few more, somewhat dizzying, final twists and turns….and then – bump!!

Finally back on the ground, it was amazing to look skyward and see so many parachutes following behind me….we’d made it and it had been an amazing and totally unique experience!

…If you get the chance then try it!…just be aware that it’s not for the faint hearted LOL!
A big thanks to my GoSkydive skydiving instructor Gary Chapman ,for keeping me safe throughout…:)

…back home now and looking forward to snuggling up in bed for a peaceful nights sleep (there wasn’t much of that last night!!! LOL).

Hope all is good with you.

Sending much love….. J xx