It was cold this morning as Marcia and I started out to Ottawa Illinois to skydive for the first time.
We Arrived at the airport before it was open, The sun was shining and the air was clear. We had to watch a video about the risks of skydiving which border-lined on satire. The main speaker looked as though he was in disguise. Our group gathered we numbered about 16 with one passenger on the plane and my cousin Jim choosing to remain on the ground taking pictures instead of jumping from a perfectly good airplane.
We were given suits to jump in according to weight was the color of the suit. I started calling us power-rangers.
Our time arrived to board the plane and we taxied out and immediately took to the skies. We got to 13000 ft. and since I was the biggest jumper (at 225 lbs.) I was nearest to the door and was to be the first one out.
Skydiving rules are for the first 10 jumps you must go tandem. As I walked on my knees to the door I was able to look out and see how high 13000 ft really is. The view was spectacular to understate it. Told to go. I just without hesitation rolled right out the door we immediately was hit with this rush of cold air which we were told was 28 degrees. I don't recall ever feeling cold. Adrenaline pumping falling at 120 miles an hour what a thrill.
Looking around what a sight. After 1 minute of free-fall the chute is release, the initial jolt you feel is the chute opening and beginning to slow you down. The instructors are great and I think they could land us in a bucket if they had to. Coming in to land I thought we were coming down pretty fast and since I was taller that my instructor I had to lift my feet and land sitting down. At the last minute he pulls the chute controls and almost brings us to a stop in mid air. We landed so soft it was like sitting in a chair. Talk about a thrill. We decided that this was not to be crossed off the bucket list just yet and when we got home the next week we signed up to jump again. This time in the summer and not at 28 degrees. I loved it. Sharing this with the others made it all the better.
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| Mission accomplished |
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| Group Picture |
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| Trish & Rachel |
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| They made me wear the hat |
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| Coming in to land |
