Yesterday was the first practice session there for me to get ready for Verzasca.Arriving by car the night before, I woke to a very cold day and windy. It was - 3 celsius on the tower with high winds. I had to take measures to stay warm and not let the muscles get stiff. There was even light snow at one point.
I had not jumped in 12 years so the purpose of the session was to shake the cobwebs out and get "back in the saddle" as one crew member put it.
Its funny how the nervousness is the same as if doing it for the first time. But at 11:00 am sharp the first jump was done. It was great to get the momentum finally going and move past just talking about doing jumps again. Battling high winds and cold all day, I was able to reach the days goal of getting six jumps done. The crew at GCB are one of the best in the business. They work so hard at making everyone comfortable and let me tell you, its not easy being up on that tower all day in that kind of weather. Many thanks guys!!!
Throughout the day, I sent updates on my Blackberry to everyone on Facebook who were following my progress. You have no idea how encouraging it is to get messages from so many people from as far away as Spain, Columbia, Finland, United States, Iran ( seriously ) and of course, the folks back home. All of them wishing me luck and urging me on. That was incredible and very emotional for me. Thanks guys!
There is a superstition that I had when I did multiple jump days at GCB. Before the first jump, I take a small rock from the base of the tower and I sit it on a rail and leave it there. The point was that I would leave the rock there until all jumps were done. If I dont make all the jumps, the rock goes back on the ground. If I do all the jumps, the rock leaves with me and I write the day's date and the number of jumps on it. I have never put a rock back on the ground and it was very gratifying when I took another one home yesterday. On my last jump, cold and tired, just before takeoff, Rob, from the crew said "come on...gotta get that rock!"
