One scaredy cat

We were out to watch birds on the Hotel feeding tables by 6am. It was worth it as the colours and varieties of birds were fantastic. I’ll have to download an app to see what they were.

After breakfast we went out in the rain to plod around the cloud forest, looking for birds which didn’t put in an appearance due to the weather. I admit to being a bit bored of being dripped on from tall trees and giant ferns, pretty as they were. On the way back we had a more enjoyable time looking at humming birds coming to feeders outside the coffee shop. (By the way, the coffee here is excellent - they don’t do Nescafé - they are very proud of of their excellent coffee, rightly so.). The humming birds were stunning. So fast, so tiny, so pretty. We took endless photos though not many are sharp as not only were the birds fast, but also the feeders were moving in the wind.

When we got back we had a rush to get to our next activity - the trip had rather lacked excitement so we signed up for a zip-line experience. Yes, even me, scared of heights. We got kitted out with gloves, hard hat, harness and carabiners etc, got our instructions from the 2 guides/minders, and walked up the hill from the lodge for the first part, the Tarzan Swing. I was really quaking - we climbed up to a high platform, got clipped on and had to jump off it, then we started swinging high, back and forth till eventually we slowed down and the minder grabbed our legs and got us off it. I had to shut my eyes as I jumped off. I thought if I bottled out there, I’d not do the rest of it. This comprised 14 zip lines, of differing lengths and at different heights above the tree canopy. Once we were clipped on, we had to put one hand behind the pulley, hold the strapping from the pulley to our harness with our other hand, bend our knees, cross ankles and GO. If we were to just go to get across we had to let the wire slip through between the circle shape we made with thump and forefinger, but if we needed to slow down not to hit the landing platform it was necessary to pull hard on the wire. One minder went first to make sure we made it to the platform and the other came behind after making sure we were securely fastened. It was really good fun, but I didn't like standing on the 2foot landing platform attached to a tree swaying in the wind, having to shuffle round to make room for the other 3 people. That was the really scary part even though I was clipped on. We had 7 wires and platforms in the first part then started on the really long ones. The penultimate one was 800 metres which took 35 seconds. We went over our hotel, over a valley (till then it had all been above or in the cloud forest) and we saw over to the Pacific. It all took 2.5 hours and cost £38. It was a challenge but I enjoyed the whooshing over the treetops, if not the landing platforms. I’d do it again in other places if the opportunity came up.

When we got back we only had time for a quick shower before we went out for supper. Phew a long and very varied day!

This is me looking terrified on the first zipwire. Unfortunately there’s no photographic evidence that I enjoyed it. Mostly. Oh there were pictures of President Jimmy Carter doing the same thing and he looked very relaxed. I bet 45 wouldn't havevth3 bottle to do it!