Ziplining! (And…spas in New Orleans?)

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

So here’s my post about my ziplining adventure! But first, a question from left-field for my f-list. Any chance anyone can recommend a good spa in New Orleans? My spouse and I are planning something to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, and we pretty much decided we want something centered around a spa - maybe 2-3 nights at one. A coworker recommended a spa in Utah. It sounds almost perfect but it’s a 4 hour plane ride to Las Vegas and then a 2 hour drive, so Doris had the idea of searching for somewhere closer and warmer. She wouldn’t mind a trip to New Orleans. I know we can Google away to find a place but any chance there’s someone who can recommend a spa in New Orleans?

Now, onto our ziplining adventure!



To sum up: it was very, very cool. It’s something that we kinda always wanted to do but were a bit afraid of. However, the clock is ticking given that there’s a good chance we’ll get a baby placed with us next year; we won’t have too much free time after that. And Doris found this place in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (about a two-hour drive for us) that has ziplining tours, Lake Geneva Canopy Tours, so we booked it and made it a day trip! (You can see some videos of people ziplining on their website.)

The tour was conducted very well; very professional and safe. We had two guides and six other people going with us. They suited us up in helmets, gloves, and harnesses and then we drove part of the way and walked the rest to a training site. They taught us how to stop, when to stop, and how to “self-rescue (if you accidentally break too early and need to propel yourself to one side or the other). We tested out all these skills and then we were off. One thing that made it great was that the first two zips were very small so we got eased into it.

All together there were eight different zips. There was a lot of climbing and walking and I got tired towards the end. But it was worth it. The scenery was beautiful and we had a perfect day with gorgeous autumn views. The actual ziplining was exhilarating. But almost too exhilarating. On one zip I “got lost in the moment” and when it was time to break, my breaking technique was wrong. The guide gently told me once I reached the platform that I could’ve hurt my fingers with the way I did it that time. (I had my hand in front of the mechanism instead of behind it). From then on, I made myself pay attention which obviously was necessary though I couldn’t really “lose myself” like I do on a great rollercoaster. Still, it was very fun and worth it.

On seven of the eight zips, you stand on a small stump, the guide gets you ready, and you go. It’s pretty easy. The final one has an automatic break at the end so you don’t need to worry about breaking technique. (Yay!) You just go as fast as you can, actually running off a platform at the start. I could’ve done that all day and in fact they have something (called “racing ziplines”) where you can take multiple rides of just that, in succession. I would like to do that again someday! Maybe make it into a weekend instead of a day trip.

I was never really scared because they make it so easy. During some of the climbing I was a tiny bit scared but it was fine.

One for the bucket list (or the “before children” list) and glad we did it!

Comments

[romennim.livejournal.com]

wow, that sounded awesome! it is something I'd really love to try and your post just made me want to do it more :)
it's good that you found the time to do something like that.. I usually keep postponing, and then I find myself with a lot of things I'd like to try and a few years have gone by :/

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I really do recommend you give it a try. It was worth it.

[romennim.livejournal.com]

I will :) what else do you have on the 'to do' list? if you'd like to talk about it, of course :)

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

You know, we actually don't have anything else. We had decided we wanted one more 'big' vacation before kids and we wanted a wedding before kids, and we had both of those earlier this year. We've been together almost 10 years and already done a lot of what we want to do.

If the adoption doesn't happen this year - which it's looking like it won't - then I definitely would love another nice vacation, though it might not be as big as the cruise to the Mexican Riveria that we took earlier this year.

[romennim.livejournal.com]

well, I think it's good that you have done what you wanted to do.. life is better when you don't have regrets of any sort :) it's good, isn't it? I would like the same for myself as well :) maybe not the kids part (I don't think I'll ever want children), but arriving at a point in life where you have got and have done what you wanted sounds very nice.

when did you start the adoption procedure? here in Italy adopting is a bureaucracy nightmare

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Please do make that list of things you want to do, so you can make sure to enjoy them!

Adopting here is also a mess of paperwork and waiting. We've been on the list for almost a year. We've been told it could take up to 2 years but some say it would likely be more.

[romennim.livejournal.com]

the problem is that a lot of things I'd like to do require time: I have wanted to take singing lessons for ages! and riding lessons as well. but it takes money and time.. sometimes time that I don't have :/ but for this year, I've decided to try for the singing lessons! I'm already looking at the local music schools to see what kind of course I could take

I hope everything goes well (for the adoption) and that it won't take too much time..

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with the singing lessons! It sounds like fun.