This morning as we assembled for our Zip'n'Dip adventure, things started off badly as we realized the configuration of the group: the 4 of us, a nice early-20s guy who is a friend of one of the guides, and three families traveling together, with 5 tween-teen kids between them. They were from California. Southern California. Malibu. With all that you might think that entails. There was some unfortunate plastic surgery on the ladies, some unfortunate superiority on the men, and an unfortunate sense of entitlement on most of the kids.
When we were able to ignore them, the ziplines were tons of fun!
We went across 8 lines of varying heights, lengths, and speeds. I couldn't get the steering down in order to land facing forward, so I mastered landing backwards sliding on my feet instead of my rear.
(For those of you with footwear interests: my Keen Newports were the perfect shoes for this trip. Good traction, good ventilation, and good for sliding up landing ramps made out of Trex.) There were long waits between each line because each of us had to get hooked in and back out at each one. But it gave us plenty of time to make fun of our traveling companions.
Near the end of the trip we hiked down to a little pond for lunch. We had just been visited by a particularly strong passing shower, so we were soaked and muddy. Most of the Malibu cohort was dry because they were huddled under a small roof during the rain, but they got just as muddy hiking down the trail. Did that keep them from taking off their dirty shoes and putting them on the few benches in the lunch area? No, of course not. Individually, the adults seemed nice, but as a group, they just seemed like idiots.
In the end, the hard rain seemed like enough soaking for me, and the pond looked stagnant and disgusting, so I didn't go in the water. Of course the kids had all tossed their inner tubes aside when they came out of the water for lunch. One of the dads said that wouldn't be a problem because the 4 of us could get them when we went in after lunch. When we weren't going in, one of the guides pointed out that someone needed to fetch them. I suggested that maybe whoever left the tubes in the water might be responsible for going in and getting them and this struck some of the kids as a radical idea. When I have children, they will not be allowed to play with those people's children.
Overall, we had fun with each other
and with our guides (Victory, a local student, and Mike, a NJ transplant). Ziplines: fun! The ride to the ziplines in the Pinzgauer open-sided transport lorry that Victory was just learning how to drive: fun! The ride back, after the day turned hot in the van with the A/C on: fun! Having the entire Malibu group in the other vehicle on both trips: fun!
Comments (3)
why no dip? that zipping looks like SO much fun! i'm jealous. though i don't know if that sort of activity is recommended for women in my "frail condition." ;)
how's matty's back? and your back, for that matter?
Posted by khya | August 22, 2007 6:32 AM
Posted on August 22, 2007 06:32
The water was kind of still and icky. Not appealing. And it didn't seem worth getting wet when we were going to get back into our harnesses for one more zip after. Oh, yeah, and they make it clear that pregos are not welcome.
Matt's back isn't perfect yet, but it doesn't seem to be restricting his activity much. The pain in my back has been completely usurped by the yoga recovery I'm going through. I'm sure I'll be fine soon.
Posted by Danika | August 22, 2007 6:52 AM
Posted on August 22, 2007 06:52
good to hear about your bodies. sorry to chris and brooke if they feel left out... how are their bodies? ;)
well, i guess i will refrain from jumping on a plane today for a ziplining, hawaiian adventure. maybe jan 5th?
Posted by khya | August 22, 2007 9:59 AM
Posted on August 22, 2007 09:59