Day 19: Oahu, Hawaii – SKYDIVING

Today was our last full day in Hawaii and it couldn’t have been better. I got high. Over 14,000 feet high! It was THE MOST AMAZING THING I’VE EVER DONE YET! I can’t even describe it.

 

The first reservation I’d made got cancelled because of the Tsunami, so I rescheduled with a different company. We were supposed to be picked up at 10. However, I got a wake up phone call at 7 asking where we were. I told him we weren’t scheduled ’til 10 so after some rearranging and coaxing, he kept our 10am appointment. Had a few nervous flutters in my stomach when I woke up remembering what I was doing today, but they went away pretty quick and I was purely overwhelmed with excitement. We showed up at the hotel. 10am struck, phone call came from our driver…and we were at the wrong hotel. We were 7 blocks away…but he agreed to come pick us up. A little bit of a stressful start. But that was the only stressful bit. The rest was just signing our life away (4 pages of initialing), waiting around for our turn (3.5 hours), and then suiting up. It was strange how I really wasn’t nervous. I was purely excited and couldn’t wait to get up. I’d been waiting to do this forever and now I was, in the most beautiful place I’d ever visited.

 

We suited up, got matched up with our tandem instructor guy, and loaded up in the plane. …Oh and I got scolded for being heading up to the plane too soon. “you could’ve walked into the propellor. You don’t leave your instructor’s side.” ..I should’ve known! ….But the instructor in front of me had waved me on I thought. Anyways, the ride up was awesome. Such anticipation. My instructor hooked me up to him on the way up. He showed me the altitiude on his watch. Over 14,000 feet above the Hawaiian mountains and coastline, we slid forward on the bench, and leaned out, and fell. And fell fast. 120 mph! The best part was the leaning out of the plane and instant natural panic that comes when you’re suddenly falling out of safety. It only lasted milliseconds and I was filled with thrill and sheer exhilaration. It was the best feeling ever! We had a minute of free fall. Then the chute opened up. Quite a jerk. And I much rather preferred the free fall then the parachute ride. I have the video…so I won’t explain anymore. I just know nothing will ever be as fun, as thrilling, or as adrenaline rushing 🙂 This is a picture tease of the dozens I have. Can’t share them all and spoil my fun of showing them off. 🙂