ITS SKY DIVE TIME!!

hello again - ok, we so we left magnetic island quite early to catch the ferry across to townsville where we met up with our new oz driver to take us to mission beach. The only reason people go to mission beach is to either - go crazy and do a skydive - or the tully white water rafting river. Because me and bec are crazy - we picked the skydive. The hostel - scottys - was lovely, really really friendly and had a gorgeous sunbathing area which we took full advantage of for the afternoon. we got to see our friends - nicole and matt and another matt who we have done the whole east coast with - they had done their jump the day earlier and said they loved it.

I didn't really sleep that night because I knew we were being picked up at half 7 the next day - in the morning we got ready - were picked up and headed to the place where we would get harnessed up, meet our tandem partners and fly high up into the sky ( 14000 ft to be exact!!). i had andre as my tandem partner and I paid for someone to jump with us and film me jumping and take pictures ( this was worth every penny!!). I was terrified - and still coudlnt believe i was in the plane about to jump out. The plane journey up was beautiful - you fly over the great barrier reef ( which you jump over also ) and over the beaches and turquise waters. there were two girls that jumped at 11000, so i had to watch them first and it was the scariest thing i have ever seen.. then it was my go. I was the first one to go at 14000..i didnt really have much time to think about it - i shuffled to the edge, and 1, 2 , 3 rocking and your out - sucked under the plane and upside down - it was a blur and my stomach felt like it had fallen out - but after the first second - he taps you and you can spread your arms out - it was without doubt the best thing I have EVER done in my life and the scariest - although it isn't scary when you are falling because its too fun!! i free fell for 9000 ft in 60 seconds - and its really nice when the parachute opens - apart from knowing you will live - the view is beautiful!!

i advise anybody to do a skydive - and if you are near mission beach - thats the best place and scottys is the best hostel!!

em xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx