Thursday 13th November

Not too early a start today bus picked us up at 9am from Rotorua. The Magic bus takes us to places and can organise activites and hostels for us which is great so we have a wee book of activities to chose from. I had already decied to skydive and Claire was unsure so i knew i could book it today with the driver for later in the week. Once on the bus the driver tells us the days itinerary and he mentioned skydivers will be picked up at 2pm.......... wait a minute i can skydive today! Oh dear! didnt think it would be today so signed up and so did claire(after a bit of persuasion)

First stop was Lady Knox Geyser to see it explode at 10.15am. The park ranger puts some soap power in it to cause the eruption. Not very spectacular but good to see. Next onto Wai-O-Tapu Thermal wonderland to see all the mud pools, craters and lakes.

At 2pm 7 of us skydivers were picked up and taken into Taupo to the airport to skydive. Claire was already feeling very nervous, as for me i just tried not to think about jumping out at 15,000 feet. A few went before us so we had to wait about and get kitted up in the jumpsuit and harness. Then it was our turn. My tandem master was Albert for Germany. We were first onto the very small plane and i waited to see Claire get on but she was last meaning she would be first to jump not a good idea for the nervous flyer. Took us about 15 mins to climb to 12,000feet where one guy jumped at then up to 15,000 feet. Door open and away she went. I was last but it all happen so quick, shuffle up to the door, turn for your exit photo and Albert just pushes us out. Think my heart jumped in my mouth. The view was amazing and we were falling so fast and the camera man was trying to take my film i was too busy looking at the ground and trying to catch my breath! Next thing the parachute is up and we glide down to land next to the lake. I really want to do it again and i was very very proud that Claire did it. Our DVD is so funny mainly because Claire looks like she screams the whole way down and i just look like i have my eyes shut but i promise they are open. The wind was so hard against the goggles i could hardly open my eyes. Claire felt rough for the next few hours poor thing but after a nice dinner of bangers and mash she was fine. I have posted the dvd home and the photos!

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the sky dive....what can i say....was kacking my pants before hand- didn't realise i would be first to jump- only noticed when the plastic door went down and then thought crap that means i'm first!!!!!! probably a good thing else i wouldn't have wanted to do it if i had to wait!!! my jump master was called marcus and he was the newbie- started 2 days ago- great stuff just what i need to hear to settle my nerves!!! he was playing with all the straps and saying hmmm where do these go...not what i want to hear!! the plane ride was ok actually quite smooth....the first guy jumped at 12thou ft and marcus shoved my hand out the plane......YIKES!!!! very fast!!!!!.......sweaty hands, dry mouth......ok so my turn to jump- i'm all strapped on so i can't not jump- we shuffle forward, legs dangling out the plane....i look down....shouldn't have done that.....hearts beating overtime.......smile at the camera...then POW down we go head first......holy moly......i just scream my head off!!!! still screaming when we flatten out.....great views once i stop screaming....do some swimming moves- hard to as the wind is so strong- then flip up we go and the shoot comes out....THANK GOD! float down- that was cool- swung round a bit- that made me feel sick doh! then down to land...i'm still shaking!!!! brilliant but terrifying!!!! Claire