The big leap in Byron Bay!

The other day Teala and I went skydiving for the first time and all I can say is what a RUSH!!!  We signed up to go in Byron Bay which gives you amazing views over the ocean, the peninsula, which is Australia’s furthest eastern point, and the continental divide mountain range in the background. 

After getting suited up in our harnesses we met our tandem partners.  Teala had some British guy and I had a cool dude named Richard, who was a retired cop and did this for fun and then would move over to the U.S. in our summer and do the same thing in Pennsylvania.   Since this was a once in a life time opportunity we both decided to purchase the extra video option, which is our tandem partner shooting video on a GoPro.  Sorry we couldn’t get the videos to load!

There we were, hearts beating as we boarded this tiny puddle jumper loaded as full as it could possibly be with skydivers.  The flight up was amazing with the views of the coast line and mountains, but it was hard not to think that in a few minutes we would be jumping out of this plane.  Teala and I were the first two in the plane, so of course we would be the last two to go.  When we reached 14,000 feet the pilot flipped on the red light which I have seen all too many times in war movies that it is go time.  Slowly people were filing out and falling into the earth below. Teala would go right before me and to be honest I have never seen such fear in her eyes.  As her tandem partner scooted her toward the open door it becomes real that she is going to be leaping out of this plane.  So as they are sliding closer and closer, all I hear Teala say is, “OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” then silence as she suddenly disappears.  Then all I can think is “Damn, now it is my turn”.  Richard informed us before we left that you would slide to the edge of the door and literally be out of the plane for a few seconds while he made sure ever thing was all clear. 

So yeah there I was just hanging outside of this plane; I looked down and saw Teala, just a tiny ant in the sky.  It felt like minutes but only seconds, and then all of a sudden I was flying like Superman.  It was awesome!  Hair flying, cheeks flapping at 120 mph!  The 60 second free fall was over too quick but the parachute ride was just as good.  It gave you time to really look around and appreciate everything.  And then all too soon it was over with.  We both agreed that it was one of the best things we have ever done and definitely want to do it again… New Zealand maybe?? 

So be sure to ask when we get home to see our videos.  They are both pretty funny but I think Teala has me beat.  Her facial expressions are priceless.  I have a permanent vision now stuck in my head of her freaking out right before her jump and joke about it with her daily.   Needless to say Byron Bay was a success. We spent another day at the beach and then headed north. We made a few stops along the way to Fraser Island on the Gold Coast otherwise known as Surfer Paradise. The southern part of the east coast is not built up at all. There are tons of very small towns situated on the beach. The north is built up. There are lot of skyscrapers near the beach and big cities. But, also the biggest waves so there are tons of surfers here which provided us great entertainment, especially as the surfers were preparing for the PRO tournament in a week. It was pretty cool. Next stop… Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world!

 

A design on the beach in Byron Bay.

Byron Bay

The Gold Coast lit up at night.

The city in the distance is Brisbane

In the north the ocean can be a bit dangerous to swim in so most of the cities have lagoons. They are basically manmade pools, some salt water and some not, with a beach around them. They are pretty neat and free to everyone.

The lagoon in Brisbane.