30 January 2008

B for Bloukrans Bridge and Bungee Jumping

On a recent trip to Knysna we stopped at the recreation area at the Bloukrans Bridge, in the hope of finding a restaurant that would cater for my new "heart friendly" eating habits.
Alas, there was no suitable eating place, but I took the opportunity to take a quick snap of the bridge.


Aside from its architectural appeal, the bridge also has the distinction of being the world's highest commercial bungi jump. The bridge is 216 m high but the jump is only about 160 m, from the arch support of the bridge. Here you can see some intrepid people preparing for the jump.



Jumper being hauled up



There were a lot of adrenalin junkies wandering about when we were there, kitted out in their harnesses, patiently waiting for their turn to jump. Would I do it .......... I don't think so.

But then who knows what could happen. There is the delightful story of a prim and proper lady from Port Elizabeth, in her mid sixties, who drove past the entrance to the recreation area on her way home, having no intention of bungi jumping. She was probably the least likely bungi jumper in the world. That was the theory anyway, but she had a sudden rush of blood to the head, did a u-turn and yes, you guessed it did a jump.

41 comments:

photowannabe said...

Great B post but no thanks for me. I don't do heights and would probably have a heart attack right on the spot.

Mr. Mapper said...

wow, quite a bridge!

Nessa said...

Cool looking bridge. They can keep the jumping.

dot said...

I love the bridge but no jumping for me!

Sharon said...

That is a beautiful bridge and a great post full of "b" things! How in the world did they get there?

Neva said...

I love visiting your blog!! I am always learning things I did not know. If I ever make it to your part of the world I am sure I will still be amazed! Great "B". I posted a bridge similar to this here. Must be a popular style for certain places!!

Anonymous said...

Wow what a bridge. No way would I jump. I don't like bridges or heights.

Anonymous said...

Now thats a scene to give me a heart attack. I can't imagine hurling yourself off a perfectly good bridge as being something that would ever take my fancy.
But double B for wednesday so two gold stars.

RUTH said...

Great photos and all praise to those who dare jump. Not something I'd fancy...I'd be convinced the rope would snap :0)
Rx

Tom said...

I've seen this bridge many times on the TV... and each time it had something to do with jumping off the thing... mad as hatters the lot of them ;o).. but I bet it's fun.

Anonymous said...

Great images Max. I couldn't even cross that bridge let alone willingly jump off it. My vertigo starts as soon as I even think about it. Scary stuff.

FO - 2 said...

A BIG bridge. To much adrenalin for me..... ;)

DeeMom said...

Neat, we have a place here in my state that thisis done. Beautiful bridge, etc as for me I just watch.

Enjoy the history behind these pictures.

ArneA said...

No please - no jumping. Enough adrenalin already

Rune Eide said...

A very nice bridge, but you'll never get be to do any of those jumps.

Paulie said...

Beautiful bridge! That's one sport I won't bother to try. . .

Silly Goose said...

EW! Very scary!

Pete M said...

Mad, crazy, people but I love em for their spirit

Andrea said...

Love the bridge. No thanks on the jumps.

Dragonstar said...

Great post, but no jumping for me - I might be a crazy old woman but I'm not that crazy!

Daryl said...

Excellent photos .. but I dont think I would ever ever ever jump .. nope

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

What a wonderfull shots of Bungeejumoing for ABC wednesday! I don't know if I ever do that...

See what I made for ABC wednesday,
Greetings form JoAnn Holland

Edmund (the explorer) Nesbitt said...

hello Uncle Max, mummy was telling me about you, it is fab to know you are a lot better and getting about! Yes I know about eating the proper food...me being an explorer I have to follow strict guidelines so I can keep fit. Perhaps me and you can keep each other well informed of the latest healthy stuff eh?

Great to join in ABC Wednesday. I have just started this week!

Love to Auntie Suzi!

Edmund (the explorer) Nesbitt!

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

not for me - I passed the famous one near Quuenstown NZ and just drove on by - couldn't even watch. Visited the one at the Verszaca Dam in Italy that features in one of the Bond movies. No-one was jumping at the time so I did enjoy the walk along the top and the view.

kml said...

great post! No jumping for me though!

Digital Flower Pictures said...

Nice pictures, Max. I don't particularly like bridges and I am certainly not going to jump off one.

Alan said...

Count me among those who have no desire to bungee jump - pretty bridge, though. :)

imac said...

Great B post but not for me - to high.

My ABC is now up.
also next post =they are real

Petunia said...

I never, never never would do that..never:) But I like the bridge

Kerri Farley said...

Very neat Bridge....Great "B" post!

And it would be the last thing in the world I would do :)

Daryl said...

max-e . here's a link to TLB info
http://www.kubota.com/f/products/tlb.cfm

bonnie said...

Oh, I don't think this is something I will ever do. That is a wonderful shot of the bridge.

Argument Cottage said...

I would like to think I could do a jump but having done a parachute jump just once I know I have not got the nerve to do anything as scary again, but what a fantastic view!

Maria

VP said...

Ohhhhh - I get vertigo just looking at this!

myonlyphoto said...

Max-e glad that you are enjoying and getting out to travel, I find it often too that when I travel I tend to eat more junk because that is all they serve - French fires. However, one of the things we did, we pack our food if the trip is longer thank one hour. Nice photography, thanks for sharing, Anna :)

Lilli & Nevada said...

Great B and no Jumping for me either eeek!

MedaM said...

The bridge is great and it would be good to take some landscape photo from it but to jump from there, no way.:-)

Max-e said...

DOESN'T ANYONE ONE TO JUMP!!!! CHICKEN!!!

That includes me :)

Katney said...

Not only would I not do the bungee jump, I would have to have my eyes closed to cross that bridge. I am getting better, though. I can now drive across normal bridges. But I have been known to drive quite a long distance around in order to avoid driving over a very high very long bridge on my own. (I did cross it with my husband driving and my eyes closed.)

Mike said...

I'd be worried just driving over it, let alone jumping off with a piece of elastic fastened to my ankles.

Kate said...

Oh, to be young and foolish again! Or perhaps to have a rush of courage to sharpen the wits and soul. Gotta love the woman who decided to jump, despite her age.