Feel the Fear...

... and do it anyway! Yes I know it's a very popular self help book, but today those words went through my head a million times! I have read the book and I think it had a huge impact on my life and I think I proved that a little bit today. People who know me well would probably imagine that I wouldn't do anything like this two years ago, and even today I didn't think that I would do it all! What am I talking about? Aerial Extreme!

Even I will admit that it is not as extreme as it sounds so I shall describe it a little bit. Basically you are harnessed up given a safety helmet and a rope and then you are clipped onto a safety wire and make your way around a medium and high level ropes course. Oh yeah I hear you say, that sounds easy, you can't fall and you have something to hold onto, what's the problem! Problem is, the first course is 5m off the ground, if you only rely on the rope to hold onto you are a little more likely to fall off and some of the obstacles wobble, swing, sway a LOT! There are also 4 flying fox's on the course, this was originally a big thing for me as I don't think I have ever been on a flying fox and when Peter asked if I'd like to go, my first question was "Will there be any flying foxes?" He said no! Anyway, by the end of the course and doing two at 10m up, they were the easiest bits by far. My favorite bits, after the flying fox were the swing type things that you had to step from one swing to another. The bits I hated the most were the ones where you had to jump the gap.

However I don't think there is anyway I could have done this without Peter's superb encouragement and support, although he had a vested interest in me getting it done as he was behind me and couldn't overtake so if I got stuck he had to wait for me. The final bit of the course which I just couldn't do was a fan descender where you jump of the platform and free fall letting the fan slow you down, that was just far too much for me!

My hands are sore, my body is aching but I am so proud that I did it! Now what's next...

This photo mainly shows the flying foxes which finish up in a cargo net that you have to climb across and along.

Peter and I on the high course (10m above ground) and me venturing out on to the two ropes.

This one shows the two courses quite well, one above the other. I quite liked the hanging rope loops on the top course.