On the 11th Nov 2009, while on holiday in South Africa, I was driving past the highest bridge bungy jump in the world. I have been talking about doing a bungy jump since I was at uni. My biggest fear was the actual bit where you need to jump. Would I do it ? Would I have to walk back past everyone, in shame, having bottled it. Well, thanks to the guys there, you don't get the chance. With the music pumping, the high fives and the count down you just jump and don't even think about it. The bridge is 216m high and you fall for about 140 meters, reaching speeds of up to 120kmph.
There is nothing like it, for the first 3 to 4 seconds you just get that falling feeling, then you feel the bungy cord kicking in and after that its just bouncing. That first few seconds though are some of the most amazing in your life. The fear, adrenalin rush, excitement all merge into one huge grin. I would recommend it to everyone. Well most of you anyway ...

Panticosa

At the end of January Su and I went to Panticosa for a week of snowboarding with Su's family. We stayed in Julio’s padres apartment which was 5 mins walk from the lifts. The resort is quite small with only a few bars and shops, but it is a lovely place and as there are only a few people there are no queues for the lifts …

This is the view from the very top ...




I was worried before I went that there would be no good places for boarding, but I can report that the resort has some good runs and some great off piste … As the only other boarders on the trip were Su and Toni, who were learning, I hired an instructor to show me around. This turned out to be a really good idea as I spent the first hour improved my carving and 180's and then we just played off piste for the rest of the time … If you go, ask for a guy called Alvaro … below are the tracks we made off piste ...



The only real problem is that the runs are quite short so you do spend a lot of time on the lifts … However the “L plate” learners, Su and Toni, found the place really good and liked the instructors they had … So if you want long runs and nightlife Panticosa is not the place for you, however, if you have kids, are learning or can stay for free in the family's apartment Panticosa is great fun for a week.

Now for some pics ...








this is Su boarding ...

More of Su snowboarding ... from the front this time ... at this point I would like to say for the record that she never fell over .. well maybe once ... but she definitely did not blame it on me for “talking” to her ...




















Now for the family standing around .... Pola .. the 70's still want their suit back ..










Su and little Juan ...










.... Su and Sabri















Paul, Toni and Juan (this was Juan's first time on skis) ...








All of us sitting around after lunch

..... Su and I with our boards .....


























And now a few pics of us all at the top of the mountain ...








This is Manolo, Paul and Julio






This is Su and I







Su again









This is me and Toni


If you are still reading this well done ... adios for now

My first test post

Well, this is my first test post. This is Su and I at a friends wedding earlier this year in Spain ...