Itinerant's Itinerary: Jumping from an African bush plane

     What is it about milestone birthdays that makes us take inventory of our lives?   It's often said that milestones force us to face our mortality.  And when we face our own mortality, we reassess what we have done and how we have lived.  But if recognizing our mortality is the reason, why do we do then celebrate milestone birthdays with risky adventures?  Maybe because it makes us feel so alive!
     Mrs. Itinerant Traveler was in South Africa for her 50th birthday and learned of a pair of bush pilots who also took people up for parachute jumps.  Naturally, she jumped at the chance to jump, especially since she had never done it before.

     The pilots ran their operation from a bush camp outside of Capetown.

Mrs. Itinerant Traveler in the bush camp waiting to get started.

     After a few brief instructions, she was suited up for her jump.  She was slated for a dual jump with an experienced instructor.  

Her instructor cinches her into her jump suit.  Watch your hands there, buddy!

     In a dual jump, she would be tethered to the front of the instructor, as they would descend under the same parachute.

The instructor demonstrates the position for a dual jump.  Watch your hands there, buddy!

     She and her instructor then boarded a single engine plane for the trip into the skies.

    

 She and her fellow jumpers board the plane on a dirt runway, soon to be airborne.

     And then she jumped!

Soaring a few seconds after opening the chute

Descending to the landing zone

Preparing for landing

A perfect rump landing

A good landing is any landing you walk away from

The triumphant 50 year old jumper

     Mrs. Itinerant Traveler has subsequently jumped again here in the states, and vows to jump again to celebrate her 60th birthday.  Bon voyage!