Challenge 100 - Crazy Canyoning
We're going to attempt the hardest Canyoning trip available in Goa. Apparently, this will include free jumping 30+ feet, scaling massive cliffs, freezing waters and abseiling.
We're going to attempt the hardest Canyoning trip available in Goa. Apparently, this will include free jumping 30+ feet, scaling massive cliffs, freezing waters and abseiling.
January 11th 2008
One of the challenges we're looking forwards to most is Crazy Canyoning. The organiser, Emmanuelle, has bumped into us a few times over the past few days and keeps reminding us of the difficulty level we've opted for. He then laughs and walks off. Naturally, we're now getting a bit scared. But as the old saying goes "You'll never grow taller if you don't stretch".
One of the challenges we're looking forwards to most is Crazy Canyoning. The organiser, Emmanuelle, has bumped into us a few times over the past few days and keeps reminding us of the difficulty level we've opted for. He then laughs and walks off. Naturally, we're now getting a bit scared. But as the old saying goes "You'll never grow taller if you don't stretch".
January 16th 2008
Yesterday was a huge day for us. We had to get up at silly o'clock in the morning (6:45 am to be precise). Yeah, we know that's very early but as Jimmy Cricket would say, "come here, there's more". Ahead of us, we faced a full day of Crazy Canyoning.
The day was to begin with a 1 and a 1/2 hour 4x4 journey to our starting point. We then had to face a grueling 3 hour jungle trek to the top of Goa's National Park (The Jungle)
We eventually reached the top of the mountain - 1700 feet above sea level. The river bed at this height was dry. When up so high and surrounded by wild anything's and everything's you start to have slight concerns. Ours was - if we run out of water, then we might die. Very quickly though, we realised there was no risk of that ever happening. If we became stuck, lost or injured, we could survive forever by licking up the sweat that was torrentially pouring down our faces in full waterfall style.
Then our canyon jumping commenced. We had 8 jumps to do. The first was a "mere" 2 and a 1/2 meters and went without any problems or fears. The second, a 6 meter jump, brought a "no bloody way is that just 6 meters" response from us.
A shared fear then set in. This alleged 6 meter jump was reasonably high. The last jump of the day (which is compulsory if you don't want to spend the rest of your life in the jungle) involved a minimum jump of 12 meters with an optional jump of 21 meter available to you if you felt confident and Emmanuelle felt there was a chance of you doing it without dying.
Onwards we went and completed jumps of 8, 10 and 11 meters with the butterflies in our bellies - fighting manically with the ants probably. It was after these jumps where we came to the crescendo of the trip.
It was decision time. Could we jump from 21 meters or would we take the "easier" option of climbing down to a safer level of 12 meters? All we will say, is at that particular time we were very scared. We were sick to the stomach at the thought of it. Unsure of our ability to do it and really questioning the stupidity and/or necessaryness of it all. The outcome has been saved for the telly show. Sorry to leave you on such a cliff-hanger (pun intended)
We eventually reached the top of the mountain - 1700 feet above sea level. The river bed at this height was dry. When up so high and surrounded by wild anything's and everything's you start to have slight concerns. Ours was - if we run out of water, then we might die. Very quickly though, we realised there was no risk of that ever happening. If we became stuck, lost or injured, we could survive forever by licking up the sweat that was torrentially pouring down our faces in full waterfall style.
Then our canyon jumping commenced. We had 8 jumps to do. The first was a "mere" 2 and a 1/2 meters and went without any problems or fears. The second, a 6 meter jump, brought a "no bloody way is that just 6 meters" response from us.
A shared fear then set in. This alleged 6 meter jump was reasonably high. The last jump of the day (which is compulsory if you don't want to spend the rest of your life in the jungle) involved a minimum jump of 12 meters with an optional jump of 21 meter available to you if you felt confident and Emmanuelle felt there was a chance of you doing it without dying.
Onwards we went and completed jumps of 8, 10 and 11 meters with the butterflies in our bellies - fighting manically with the ants probably. It was after these jumps where we came to the crescendo of the trip.
It was decision time. Could we jump from 21 meters or would we take the "easier" option of climbing down to a safer level of 12 meters? All we will say, is at that particular time we were very scared. We were sick to the stomach at the thought of it. Unsure of our ability to do it and really questioning the stupidity and/or necessaryness of it all. The outcome has been saved for the telly show. Sorry to leave you on such a cliff-hanger (pun intended)