Go Ape

After deciding that we weren't flying out of London for the weekend, Smee and I decided to take advantage of the weirdly excellent weather and get our chimp on at a Go Ape ropes/zipwire course.  I first went two years ago and it was super super fun!  If it was possible, I would do this every day!  Smee couldn't make that occasion and had to run away on a jet place back to Oz.  His fear of heights certainly caused an excessive reaction.  But just recently, Smee had decided that Go Ape was 'easy'.  I showed him clips - 'Easy' he said.  I showed him the Tarzan rope - 'Easy' he said.  I don't disagree at all, it is easy!  But for Smee, I was a bit worried.  

We initially wanted to do the Leeds Castle course but it was booked out for the day :( so we headed back to where I first did the course at Bedgebury.  A word of warning when travelling to Bedgebury.  Give yourself a buffer of about 30 minutes 'getting lost' time because the GPS will direct you to the wrong entrance of Go Ape!  (Don't worry, the correct entrance is just a few hundred metres down the same road.)  This is what happened to us and we ended up arriving 15 minutes late to our safety briefing and understandably annoyed many of our fellow climbers.  We can also blame the extra slow service of the Park Gate Inn who took far too long to serve our food.  Nice surroundings in the pub though.  

With the harness and carabiners on the ready, we started on the first section which involved a short six metre rope walk and a zipwire with a maximum height of I dunno, two metres.  Smee initially got off the zipwire and said 'I'm going home'.  We didn't end up going home - he then decided he wanted to prove he was more manly than me! 

The second course.  So tough at the base of the rope ladder.  Smee found the rope net quite comforting.  Smee giving me the thumbs up from the ground.  

Smee's nervousness eventually gave way but only after verbally abusing the ropes.  'This is bullshit', 'Wtf', 'I should be home playing computer games'.  All lovely things to be heard by the very confident seven year old girl behind Smee and egging him on.

Smee goes across the wobbly planks.   

Hmmm.  They should probably think about replacing some of their ropes.  

There are some videos of today's adventure but they are full of expletives.  Anyway, we completed the course and had HEAPS of fun.  I got a few bruises from bumping the ropes too hard and Smee ate too much tan bark from his bumpy landings but all in all, a good day out.   More importantly, Smee is less scared of heights and wants to do the course again!  :D 

Hurrah! 

Seriously peeps, get your butt down to a Go Ape course.