The names Bond, James Bond.

I’m back in London having successfully completed the ‘Goldeneye Bungee Jump’. Once I got over the initial moment of uncertainty I actually found it easier to do than I expected. When I first got to the dam I watched a few people do it and what was putting me off was that after bouncing up and down, you have to dangle for a little while while they send a whinge down, which you grab and hook to yourself. It was the dangling that was making me have a few moments of unease.

Deciding to do it and paying for it was the hardest bit. After that it was actually relevantly easy. I had to wait for about a dozen people to go before me. The basic process is that they weigh you (the limit is 110kgs) take you through the safety briefing and then lead you up to the platform from which you jump. Once on the platform they connect you to the bungee rope and lead you to the edge of the platform so that you toes are dangling off. They then hold of the back of your harness and count down:

3

2 {They let go of the back of your harness.}

Bungee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As they were counting down I thought to myself if I stop and think about it too much, that is when it is going to get hard. So I jumped as soon as they said bungee. That was how easy it was.

The jump itself was completely different to what I was expecting. After I jumped off the platform I remember thinking something along the lines 'Not much is happening' and then all of a sudden gravity took over. The dangling at the end of the jump wasn't too bad, actually after I had finishing bouncing up and down it was actually really peaceful just hanging there, taking in the scenery. One thing that really struck me was the silence after the wind noise created by falling.

All-in-all it was great experience and I would definitely bungee jump again.

We flew into Zurich on Friday night and stayed near the airport. We then hired a car on the Saturday morning and drove to the dam. Had a small diversion to Lucern (which is a pretty looking city). Made it to the dam about about 3:30pm.

Driving on the other side wasn't too bad, but does take a little more concentration. The first time you do it I would recommend that you get an automatic car. I had a manual and that took a little getting used to, as every time I needed to change gears my first response was to look for the gears on the left side and not the right. The other thing that takes a little getting used to are round-abouts. You tell yourself to give way to the left, but if a car comes from your right as you are entering your first reaction is to give way.

The Swiss love their tunnels. I went through tunnel after tunnel, many of them being kilometres long. In particular, the Gotthard Tunnel is 17kms long. 17kms may not sound very long, but it does seem like it is never going to end. We had to sit in it for 30/40 mins when going through it on the Saturday as a car had broken down.