El Salto

      Yesterday we went on an eight hour tour to the El Salto Waterfalls, ( the jump) with several waterfalls ranging from 2-70 meters with jumps ranging from 2- 13 meters. I jumped from the highest point I was allowed to (all the ones I was allowed to) the highest point I jumped from was 6″ away from 30 feet and I have a video of me doing it.  There was a six meter (20′) drop down that I did four times because it was so much fun. 

      The only jump I didn’t do was the 13 Meter (43 Foot) one because it was too shallow and they didn’t think I could jump in the right spot, so they put me in a harness and repelled me down the slippery rocks, and, this would have been ok because I’ve done repelling down much higher places, if it had not been for the fact that they didn’t tie the rope to anything it was just them holding on tightly to the rope that made me think it would have been safer to do the jump than to repel down the side of the rocks.   

         The first jump was 3 meters, and, at first it looked as if you would have to get a running start because there were rocks in the way and I was thinking just how the hell I was going to do this. But with a little pondering on the idea, and the guide telling everybody where the real jumping spot was (which was only a few feet away) I knew I was sure that I would do it. I went third and it was, for the .2 seconds that I was in the air, scary. But as soon as I hit the water I knew I was going to do the next jumps. 

          The people in our tour group were a Sardinian man named Alberto who travels all over the world, for work and for fun. Most of the videos and pictures of the tour were taken on his waterproof still/video camera. The next four were from Denmark. They were two guys and their girlfriends and the guys did every jump, but Astrid who was Toka’s (I really have no idea how to spell any of their names) did every last jump several times. everyone had great fun and got a lot out of everything.

           The highest jump I did was 9 meters (30 feet) and it was located just after the big one that they wouldn’t let me do. This one was absolutely optional in the sense that, you had to do a little climb to do. I watched the two Danish guys do it first and then I went up to see if I could. It was a long drop down, but I figured, why not? I stared at it and paused and Alberto asked me if he wanted me to watch him do the jump first so I said yes. He did the jump, I watched him as he swam to the rocks and then everyone watched me as Alberto was recording the whole thing. Astrid started counting down from five and when everyone chimed in and I knew that if I didn’t I would dissatisfy the crowd (except my parents who think I’m perfect even in every way [despite my poor decision making]). When the gong sounded I paused for a moment and then knew the longer I waited the worse it would get, so, I jumped. As I was plummeting to what I thought was my rocky death, I has the real sensation of falling (you don’t say!) but it was so real and scary and all I managed to let out was a little squeal not like little kids being tickled squeal but the sound of a pigs squeal. I hit the water, smacking my arm on the water in the process and went down about fifteen feet, it took a minute to resurface but when I did I knew I had made the right decision. And I know that deep down in my heart, that I will NEVER, EVER, DO THAT AGAIN. Until next time.