Pictured: Hendrik, Sam and Dan at Addo National Elephant Park.
The adventure continues with your three protagonists slowly making their way through the Garden Route of the southernmost road of South Africa. We entered the Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park in the early afternoon. We did a hike through the park before the sun down and proceeded to have the worst barbecue ever. It needs to said that South Africans take their barbecue or as they call it their "braai" very seriously. Hendrik had offered to cook the food for us to show us how it is done in South Africa. Though Hendrik now lives in North Carolina, he still thinks that South Africans have a better barbecue style than Americans. In Hendrik's defense, we did buy the chops at the local gas station since everything else was closed that day. Needless to say, the chops were tough and we needed a few bottles of wine just to finish the food. Dan and I relentlessly made fun of Hendrik for his barbecuing skills. To be more accurate, Dan was trying to be polite while I continued to rip on Hendrik for the rest of the night.
The next morning we took a boat trip through the river that ran through the national park. After the very slow leisurely boat trip, we decided to dial it up a few notches by going to the world's highest commercially operated Bungy Jump. I will safely say that this is by far the scariest thing I have ever done in my life. I do have a fear from falling from heights. I have always thought you should face your fears which is why I have tried parachuting and paragliding on this trip. There were a few points that thought about heading back down and forfeiting the fee that Dan so generously picked up. In the end, I knew that I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't go so I talked myself into it. The jump itself is 708 feet!
The bungy company was called Face Adrenalin and this description is from their website---Situated along the Garden Route at the Tsitsikamma Forest Village Market, just 40km east of Plettenberg Bay along the N2 Highway you will find the highest single span arch bridge in the world. This is the ultimate thrill! This IS the highest commercially operated Bungy Jump in the world. We secure you in a full body harness and proceed to walk along a specially designed catwalk (216m long), which is suspended beneath the road surface, which will then lead you to the top of the arch - 216 meters above the Bloukrans River. Here you will be given final instructions by highly experienced staff, a countdown and off you go! Bloukrans utilizes pendulum bungy technology ensuring you the smoothest, most comfortable bungy jump possible.
For the record-mom's will be mom's regardless how old you are or where you are in the world. After I posted these pictures to Facebook, I received an e-mail from her suggesting that I should cut the journey short and come home.
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