From the Tip Top to Deep Below (Day 3)

Sunday was adventure day! I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my Easter away from home. I was with someone from my family and having super adventure in the land down under. We had a big day planned and got an early start as we had a bit of driving ahead of us. Our first stop was the Tahune Forest for an air walk and swinging bridges. I have had so many firsts down here on my trip that I have lost count. This day was a day of firsts for me. I have never seen the likes of this air walk before. A tall metal walkway through tallest southerly eucalyptus trees in Australia. We were so high up just looking out over the tree tops and the Huon River. I loved every minute of it and of course took a billion pictures. There was a little bridge part that stuck out facing the river and mountain and that view was just breath taking and amazing. After walking in the tip tops of the trees we came down off the air walk and walked through the forest to the swinging bridges. The walk in the woods was very nice, and although this was a tourist attraction, it was very quiet and peaceful. There were huge old trees and some that had fallen across the track that they cut a space to walk through instead of taking them out. There was one tree that Kim and I stood in and took pictures that just the stump was the length of our arm span. At the end of the forest walk we came to two swinging bridges that crossed two rivers. The swinging bridges weren’t too swingy, but were a big accomplishment for Kim who used to be afraid of heights. We made it across the bridges easy peasy and took in the views of the rivers. We were slightly rushing because we were hoping to catch a bus back to the start, but we later found out that the bus never showed anyway. It was no big deal though because it wasn’t too far of a walk back to the beginning but we were anxious to go to the next activity, HANG GLIDING!! Boo-ya that is right, we signed up for hang gliding over the Huon River.

Hang gliding was amazing!!! Now I should let you know that it wasn’t free style hang gliding or anything, it was attached to a cable line across the river, but that cable was 800 meters above the Huon River! I got all strapped up and hooked up to the glider then, the rather carnie type fellow running the ride, asked me what speed I wanted. He said there was one at 45km/ph or one at 65km/ph. My answer to this kind fellow was “I don’t half do anything bud, I go big or go home, and I came all the way out here give me the fast one!” After that he flipped the switch and a started to go backwards up the cable to the top platform. I started to climb higher and higher and as I looked down for the first time I did get a little nervous but that is the exciting part. Once I reached the top part and Kim looked like a tiny little person standing on the bank of the river, I did for half a second think, “Oh shit! What did I just do? I should have just done the slow one!” Then the brake let go and I was off! It was great! It was amazing, and wonderful and just awesome! I zipped down the cable across the river at 65km per hour and landed on the bottom, lucky for me you got two turns each. After the two turns I wanted more! I just wanted to go again and again. I think I might be a closet adrenaline junkie, lol. We not so much in the closet, hehe. After I had my go, it was Kim’s turn. I warned her that she may wet herself when she went up because she was formerly afraid of heights. She got all strapped in and headed up. I was very proud of her, and she did great. After doing the slow run she too tried the fast one. I think it is safe to say that a good time was had by both of us, that is for sure. I just loved every minute of it!

After gliding through the air and walking in the tip tops of some of the tallest trees in Oz we headed down to Hastings Caves to a journey deep below the earth. We had to rush a bit because it was Easter Sunday and most places had reduced hours. So we ate in the car and took off. We arrived at Hastings Caves just in time for the second to last tour of the day. I am sooooo glad that we made it! That was my first ever experience we caves with big formations like this. I had been wanting to go to the Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains but hadn’t made it yet, and it looks like I am not going to either, so I was so glad that we got to see this. It was just amazing to see all the formations and chambers of the caves. We went on a 45 minute guided tour of the caves and saw some pretty amazing sights. I even got to see glow worms! I took some pictures of the caves with my camera, but no camera could ever do that justice. The picture doesn’t capture the dampnes or the sound, the cool air, the hollow echo. It was just awesome!

Well there you go, I have just added some blog entries, but unfortunately I can not add them all right now. I will keep doing what I was and saving them and posting them when I can. I will keep you guys in the loop.