I have Zip-lined!

[Bob Wright]

Last Saturday night, Oct. 15th, my Sunday School class had a cook-out at my Sunday School teacher's home. Now my Sunday School teacher has several young grandchildren, and a very large wooded home site that sits on uneven ground. And he has constructed a Zip-line, maybe 300 feet or so in length, give or take a few feet. This very professionally done.

The start is from a tower which sits on high ground and the deck of which is about ten or twelve feet above ground. At the terminal end that is a Bungee type arresting gear to slow the rider down. The trapeze itself consists of a wood seat maybe 14" in diameter, with the supporting rope through the center. Above your head, when seated on that disc, is a pair of hand grips. One sits on the disc, holds onto the grips, and steps off the platform into nothingness.

The ride is altogether too short and speeds reach maybe fifty miles per hour, r so it seems. Well, I decided to take the ride, to the amusement of the rest of my class. I got seated, and just for safety, was strapped into a harness in case I bailed out of the rig.

So, with the Victory Class looking on, I zipped into fame. Was sort of the talk of the church yesterday!

Bob "Zip-line" Wright

Incidentally, my class is of the "gray/white hair generation, those who still have hair.

 

[Big Old Boy]

good job Bob you showe’d them old and carful rules the day.

 

[Enigma]

Good job, Bob! I may even try zip-lining at some point. No bungee jumping, though.

 

[blammer]

My wife and daughter did that in Idaho together. Had a great time. I babysat the grandkids who were too small. We got to drive around in rented Mustang convertible instead.

 

[sfhogman]

Made my morning, Bob.

Jeff

 

[Kevin]

Sounds like a blast!

Although I think I’d opt for the mustang convertible like blammer said he did.

 

[Danjet500]

My wife and I zip lined in Alaska a few years back. Whole lotta fun! After that came axe throwing!

 

[Dave P.]

Your adventure for next weekend...weather permitting.

Home - West Tennessee Skydiving

 

[Mike J]

I am glad that you are getting out & having fun. That is great!

 

[Armybrat]

Good stuff!

 

[Watchman]

Zip lined in Antigua a few years ago as an excursion from a cruise ship. Several different lines on a very steep mountain, with the last run a "YO YO" run that went uphill at the end, and then ran backwards to the bottom of the run. Great fun!

 

[Jeepnik]

Long, long ago there was, heck for all I know still is, a device called a Sky Genie. Basically it was an apparatus that allowed you to adjust the rate of descent while repelling or lowering some one in a stokes or harness. Cool little device and we played with it a bunch. one thing we'd do is climb the water tower and tie the line off on various objects at different elevations and angles. It was basically zip lining before it had a name.

Never actually used it to lower anyone, but if we'd have had to, we'd have been able to do it with our eyes closed. Oh, it also showed real quick if any of the newbies was afraid of heights. Two fobias a fireman can never have is fear of heights or claustrophobia.

 

[Ka6otm]

The last time I did it was in Jungle Warfare School in the Army in 1967.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I guess my riskiest venture these days (age 64) is still climbing trees with a two-piece climbing stand for bow hunting. With longbows and wood arrows. 😉

 

[Ranger]

Good job!

I've ziplined several times - mostly in the Philippines. Here's a link to video of someone else on same zip line as one I did.