Be Brave And Hang In The Air

A few months ago I wrote about ziplining and my plan to take my husband for our anniversary.  Then a friend mentioned an aerial ropes course nearby and told me that it was even more fun, so I made reservations for last Sunday.  And now we are not friends anymore, because I'm pretty sure she was trying to kill me. Just kidding, H!

According to the interwebs, a ropes course is an aerial obstacle course set 50 feet off the ground with a variety of activities that test your courage, balance and strength.  

We arrived early to check in and scope the place out.  From the ground the course looked simple, and perhaps even a bit....boring?  My guys stood around watching the group before ours and I mentioned that it looked pretty easy. Famous last words.

Soon we had our safety gear on and were ready to ascend to the course.  The only way up was by rope ladder, which the boys climbed like spider monkeys.

Then it was my turn.  I confidently started up, but within ten feet realized that I had seriously underestimated this adventure.  The rope ladder was swaying, I was feeling a little vertigo, and it was a long way to the top.  I considered turning around, but that wouldn't be brave. Best to not look down and just keep going.

I finally reached the "party" platform and an employee asked which way I wanted to go. Follow the teenagers, I thought.  Have I learned nothing in my twenty years of parenting boys?  They never pick the easy route.

The next few hours were physically exhausting, challenging, and at times, terrifying. Logically I knew that I was attached to very strong cables and couldn't fall far.  But stepping out onto thin ropes or swinging pieces of wood, with not much to hold onto, was difficult and required a bit of mental preparation.  I have a whole new respect for high wire performers and teams on the Amazing Race.

G and the boys were rock stars and maneuvered around like they'd done it a million times.

I spent a lot of time doing this.  Heeeeelp meeeee!!!!

Soon it was time to head down, which was accomplished via zipline.  Something familiar!  I volunteered to go first, because I'm nice like that.

It was wonderful to be back on terra firma, looking at my crazy family, who could have stayed up there all day.

Would I do it again?  Probably not.  I'm proud of myself, but next time I'm looking for something that doesn't require bravery five stories off the ground.