The stunning Kjerag Cliff near the small town of Lysebotn, is one of the most beautiful base jumping sites in the world. Norwegian Stein Edvardsen, founder of The Norwegian Base Association and later The Stavanger Base Klubb, is credited with bringing Kjerag Cliff as a jumping site to the attention of the world. The Helicopter Boogie at Kjerag in Lysebotn began in 2000. Prior to that, base jumping from Kjerag meant a long 5 hour hike in. This year I was very fortunate to attend and see my little brother Simon participate. The weather was not the best, but the jumpers managed to find small windows of clear sky to sneak in jumps between heavy fog and drizzling rain. I was so excited about my first heli ride up to the top that Simon kindly gave me his GoPro. It was exilerating! Here is a video of the heli experience and watching Simon jump. It includes his Headcam view. Enjoy!
Heliboogie 2017
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Getting to Lysebotn
When my sister asked me if I wanted to come with her to see our brother jump in the Heliboogie, I instantly got so excited about the possibility!! Wow! The Heliboogie is a prestigious BASE event and one I have always been super interested in. Add to this I have always wanted to go to Norway — and 4 flights later plus a long, slow and scarey drive over the mountain — here I am!! Natalie picked me up from Stavanger. Here are some scenes from the drive over the mountain, and I must say I was pretty impressed with Natalie’s driving – not only on the other side of the road, but also in negotiating oncoming traffic in full on fog and mist on roads barely wide enough for one car. Continue reading
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Norge, her kommer jeg!
A new post for a new adventure! Well overdue. Not that I haven’t had many adventures since 2013 – just the adventures have been a little more dispersed and there are several posts owing here – very outstanding, you might say. But never too late to resume and what better than a trip to Heliboogie 2017! Will be meeting my sis there to watch our lil’ brother do his thing….. to give you a preview, here is Simon at 2’15” in the bright orange squirrel suit, in last year’s Heliboogie.
Watch this space for updates!!
Filed under ADVENTURES, Norway
New adventure in South Africa
I am currently on a whole new adventure involving 22 students from 12 different countries. We are working on building a kitchen for the Entokozweni primary school in the Kabokweni township, just outside White River in South Africa. We are also making major improvements to their vegetable garden and creating some educational murals. In addition we are teaching classes. It is not all work and no play. We have been on an outing to Kruger National Park and a panaramic tour of the Mpulalangu region. Please go to this site for updates and incredible photos and videos from this amazing project: Round Square International Service Project South Africa 2013
Here is a gallery of some featured images. Continue reading
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Kilimanjaro: meeting my limits!
I have wanted to climb Mt Kilimanjaro since I can’t remember when, and I have no idea why. Possibly something to do with the many documentaries on Africa I watched as a child. Long before I went trekking in Nepal or climbed in the Andes, Kili was on my list of things I really hoped to do one day. Well the day came! Continue reading
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A bumpy ride on the Tazara Express
Ever since I read Paul Theroux’s Dark Star Safari, I have wanted to travel on the Tazara Express – the railway line from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to Kampiri Mposhi in Zambia, built by the Chinese in the early 1970’s. Whenever I mentioned this to anyone in Kenya, I was promptly told I was mad and given a zillion reasons why I should NOT take this train. It was deemed unsafe and unreliable and I was sure to get robbed! The trip could take anything from 2 days to a week, depending on how many times the train derails! Continue reading
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Spicy Zanzibar
I admit to a mild sense of intrepidation as I boarded the ferry in Dar Es Salaam for Zanzibar. I still recall the 2011 disaster where it was initially reported over 2500 people were missing when a ferry sank between Zanzibar and Pemba! Reports still vary on this, but the latest ferry sinking was only a year ago! This was an ex Washington State ferry acquired by Tanzania in 2011 for the Zanzibar crossing, that sunk in rough seas in July 2012. It was allegedly overloaded! Continue reading
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Filed under Places of historical interest, Tanzania