Bungy

You can't come to the birthplace of commercial bungy and not do one. Well, I can't. Especially when the winery you just busted your ass for consults its connection Rolodex and hooks you and the your fellow harvest assistants up with a free jump. What a perk, huh? Thanks again Claudio.

The best was Ebbers' reaction to hearing that we were going bungy jumping. Almost 24h of sheer mental torture I think. Me? Stoked. I was thinking about how I was gonna jump off the ledge. Did I feel confident in my flipping skills? Should I do swan dive? How about backwards? Could I do a Triple Lindy? In the end I elected for backwards. It wasn't as pretty as I'd have liked but still it was sheer bliss. Talk about disorienting. The momentary alienation my brain went through with a "what the hell's going on? Where's my perspective?" There was no perspective on that gray May day. Next thing I know I'm under water. I couldn't come all this way and not be dunked in the Kawarau. Bobbing up and down on the end of latex strands was very strange. I couldn't figure out which way was which. Then I was lowered into the boat at the bottom and it was all over.

There's video of my jump but I can't figure out how to get it to upload from the DVD. There was a bit of a mix up when Claudio was taking photos so I've got Pete's jump on my camera and he has mine. Gotta say that it's the anticipation that seems to get everyone. Except for maybe people that have a fear of heights. I'm over 2m tall, so could you imagine me being afraid of heights? It's definitely a experience worth having I'd say. 43m (141ft). I'd definitely do it again. I wanna do the Nevis Bungy-134m (440ft)-now but I don't think I'll get to it. A couple of years ago I probably would've had a reaction similar Pete's upon being told that I was going bungy jumping, but now...it's...I don't know...a piece of cake that I get to eat.

So Friday was my last day at Gibbston Valley Wines. It was one of the best last days of work ever. Bungy. Beautiful sunny day. Not a lot to do. Ended by tasting through all the ferments that were finished. Technically, there were some that still had to finish primary fermentation and some that had to go through malo-lactic fermentation (secondary fermentation) but it was great to taste what we'd made those past 7weeks. This barrel tasting session was definitely more formal than last year's with Brian. Too bad there's no photographic evidence of those sessions. We still have our end of harvest party to attend so I'll see all my GVW friends again this week. It's already sunk in that harvest is over here in NZ but I think it'll take that party for it to really sink in that I'm leaving here (besides the fact that I will truly be leaving Central Otago post party). This chapter ends and a new one begins. I'm really trying to get my head around havin' to hustle once again, but I hope to get it all pointed in the right direction by the end of next month. A trip to Vanuatu, Samoa, or Tonga should help.

There'll be lots more pictures once I can collect them from everyone else.

Peace fam. Stay frosty.