The Mind Creative OCT 2013
I stepped into a NASA designed
parachute harness and pulled it
on, amidst jokes from other
tourists regarding the fatal
space shuttle crash, which had
occurred only a day before. A
single steel rod was the only
connection from a clamp on my
back to the flying fox wire.
Soon, instructions in relaxation
and safety were duly given and
a gentle push from one of the
operators sent me flying slowly
across the ravine.
This Pipeline suspensions
bridge was a “new’ bridge
when it opened in 1901. It
is 96 metres in length
supported by 14 wire
cables weighing seven
tonnes each. This
suspension bridge was used
in one of the most dramatic
scenes from the movie The
Fellowship of the Rings.
After a homely cup of billy
tea and hot damper bread
served by a childhood
playmate outside her gold
miners' museum, I
prepared for my flight
across the river. I weighed
in for eligibility for the
flying fox. At 55 kilograms
in weight, I was acceptable.
At a 130 kilograms, my
husband was well over the
limit!
“What will I do with my arms?”
I called out to my husband,
who was filming me with his
feet firmly planted on the
bridge.
“Spread them out like
Superwoman!” he yelled back.
I obeyed, not realising that I
had also spread out my legs!
My awareness of brilliant
colours nature created in the
water below and the terraces
of land on the other side of the
deep narrow gorge heightened
to a level of pure exhilaration.
47