Skydiving 2007

So... I've been trying to update my bucket list and link to the things I've crossed off - some are as simple as linking to a photo I've taken at a place, others link to blog posts describing the event or whatever... so this post is going to be picture heavy and from 3.5 years ago.


One of the things on my bucket list was to skydive - so dive I did!  Joining me was my friend Amanda, who had jumped with this place before, and my good buddy Morgan.
Back in September of 2007 I was offered an opportunity to skydive at a place in Wisconsin.  Wisconsin is not my first choice of places to jump, especially after my (at the time) platonic friend, Steve, had just jumped in the Florida Keys (imagine how beautiful that was), but it would do the trick!
The plan was to arrive, jump, set up camp, enjoy the big party, and then camp overnight - all on their grounds.  The place is quite awesome, they have plenty of room to set up a tent and they offer grills for you to cook your own food on.  Alcohol is allowed!


So we get there and watch the safety video, get suited up, sign our lives away, and get into the plane.  ey, ey ey! I was excited - I had adrenaline racing through my body - I was set!
So we get up in the plane and up and up and up and up we go.... way up!  13,000 feet up!  We are quickly reminded of how it's all going to go down - then we mount up to our tandem partner and walk to the edge of the plane... I don't remember the actual moment we stepped foot off the plane and I don't remember the spinning in mid air that I know took place - I opted to jump facing forward (unless requested, they have you fall backwards out of the plane).  I do remember the moment I first saw something - lots of farm land in Wisconsin, but still beautiful to be amongst the clouds!


Then the moment came when we pulled he cord - the instant it caught I heard my spine crack from the tailbone up to my neck... OUCH.  Instant pain.  Falling out of the sky I couldn't exactly assess how bad I was hurt, so I just continued to fall... and we landed safely and soundly.  I wasn't dying but I was experiencing noticeable pain.
I go on with my day - take some drugs and begin setting up camp.  As the day drug on the pain grew, but nothing bad enough to need to get checked out or anything.  So we walk around, drink our beer, cook our dinner, enjoy the time we have there - it was an all around pretty great day/night.


The pain in my back took MONTHS to go away - it was more of an annoying dull ache - but it was always there.  It finally went away and I'm fine now (3.5 years later) - lol.


Here are all the pictures - all of the in flight pictures are taken with a disposable camera: