Jump!!!!--Linden

5-9-22 (blog posted)

What I have realized ever since we got to Victoria Falls is that our travel has ended and the vacation is beginning. We have gone from hotel rooms with no bathrooms and very bad meals to staying at the nicest hotels at touristy areas. I feel like I am being very spoiled now that I have hot water, a nice bed, and amazing meals. Yesterday was supposed to be a “chill day,” but that did not quite happen. The kids, Asher and I turned out going on the biggest ride of our lives. The Victoria Falls Gorge Swing. On this activity, the victim walks out on a wooden plank above the gorge just past the falls, jumps off, then swings at the bottom. I pretty much always have loved things like that, but Asher has NOT. It came out of nowhere that he suddenly wanted to do it more than me! It took the parents about 24 hours to be okay with throwing their kids off a cliff, but finally agreed to sign the papers. Though, keep in mind that that was not without some epic and intense grilling the people in charge of it about safety and precautions. After all papers were signed and our age was written on each of our hands (not the right ages mind you), we started the walk to the plank. It was a small trail for about 100 yards over rock and fallen branches to the takeoff point. Asher and I got all harnessed up with two harnesses. Mom and Dad watched, still unsteady on their decision but Dad told us that he thought it was completely safe. Asher and I had signed up for the tandem drop, so we got clipped together and started our walk onto the plank. The person getting us all set up ushered us our to about two feet away from the edge and as all locks were in place, butterflies started taking over my stomach. He told us to put one of each of our hands on the other’s harness and the other on the rope in front of us, so we did. I did not notice in that moment, but the person clipping us in moved his position to behind us. He explained that he was going to give us some safety instructions on coming back up. But then, I felt a small pull on the harness, pulling us out, off the land. What about the safety instructions?! The rope pulled harder and harder while I fought it. Before I could even fathom what the heck was happening a voice behind me yelled 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, STEP! Soon, I was not on ground anymore, but falling. Down, down, down to the ground 120 meters below us. I could not breath, I held on to Asher so tight my hand hurt afterwards. I kept trying to yell, Asher, Asher, Asher! I had no air though, so it just came out as heaves. The drop of 70 meters only lasted about 4 seconds but felt at least like 10. I kept my eyes open and was looking at Asher the whole time, but he had his eyes closed. At the bottom, the soft tension of the swing started to catch us like an angel. Before I knew it, my lungs were full, and I was swinging about 40 feet from the murky water that had made its journey off the fall of the falls. Asher’s eyes were now open and I expected them to be completely wet with tears but were instead filled with shock and excitement. Mine were too. We looked up and saw the faint image of Mom and Dad waving their arms frantically at us while we gave a big thumbs up to the camara. Asher and I laughed and talked about our experiences, and both were pretty similar. As we were still swinging, the water below started getting farther away as we ascended still holding on to our sibling. The last five meters were the hardest because we had to basically crawl up the rock to the top. Asher later explained that his legs were jello while climbing up so I did most of the work. Since we were situated side by side, if I was pushing up the mountain while Asher was not, we would roll a few times. Always to Asher’s side. After that struggle, harnesses were taken off and everyone hugged. Another funny part was that at some time during the drop I had scratched off one of my bug bites with my shoe and it was bleeding quite a bit. All of the workers there were very surprised and wanted to help, while I explained that it was no big deal. For me, that was the scariest thing I had ever done, but the best and most fun ride I have ever been on. I think it also helped that I was with Asher for both our sanities. Asher said he would not do it again, but I would. I am so glad that I did it!