baddad Report post Posted May 4, 2009 Ouch. Ouuuuuch Ouuuuuuuuuch. Anyone heard of 'Go Ape'? It's this marvelous highwire tree-top assault course thingy, and it's what me, Ben and his best mate L have been doing today. We saw it last week when we cycled round the pinetum and picked up a brochure. i was so proud of Ben overcoming his fear of heights last year with the zipwire and 'crows' nest' at Pontins i thought we should go the whole hog - and this looked like real 'Raven Challenge' stuff. And it was. only far, far, worse. It took us three and a half hours to get around the course (partly because i'd underestimated the mechanics of looking after two kids on my own and partly because the course is HUGE) - mosyt of which i spent in a state of absolute terror, as while ben might have mastered his fear of heights last year mine is very much still in evidence. My heart, as i remarked to ben (much to the amusement of the couple following us) was going like a jack russell trapped in a dustbin for pretty much the whole 3.5 hours, but did, i suspect, stop completely at a couple of points on the way round. I took the camera, but was too terrified and rushed to stop and take pictures... Ben and L loved it, of course, but i have sworn never again... until next time... On the plus side, I cannot begin to tell you how proud i am of the boy - it has taken YEARS of coaxing, cajoling, nudging, poking and prodding to get him to this stage... a couple of years ago he would have panicked climbing up the first stage's ladder (about 8 feet), let alone crossing a 20ft ravine on a tightrope no thicker than my thumb. I suspect by tomorrow I won't have a single muscle that doesn't feel like it's been repeatedly pummelled by a baseball-bat weilding psychopath. My knees, having traversed a 'crawl tunnel' strung 30ft in the air and constructed entirely of pine slats and steel bolts will probably never work again. The erm... 'package' has been trussed like a Matthew Bernard's turkey in a harness designed for a much smaller model (I ended up with a bulge at the front reminiscent of the codpiece worn by the lead singer of Cameo in the 'word up' video, but was sadly disappointed to see that everybody elses jeans looked the same - including the ladies!) and will probably never recover from the shock (I had visions of dear old mater and the day her rubber corset split when she was fighting her way into it)... On a more serious note - if your kids could handle this (and you could handle it too, because the rules are a minimum one adult to two children) it is a seriously good day out. I would definitely recommend a ratio of 1 - 1 because the safety lines etc are kept simple but still demand a huge amount of attention (and my son for one has the attention span of a goldfish) which seriously slows things down if you're playing catch up at every platform. On the plus side, they do offer a concession for kids with autism/disability where the second carer goes free, so two adults/two kids would cost the same as 1 adult/two kids. right - i think I'm gonna limp off to bed now... back to skool tomorrow L&P BD (aka King Louey) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pookie170 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 Oooo.....may all your various bits recover, BD!! (I winced whilst reading your post!! Albeit with a bit of a grin, heheh!) I'm planning to take my eldest and his cousin this summer, as we have a Go Ape near us too, and to be honest, I'm as excited about it as they are! Rawther intrigued by the disability concession you mentioned as its quite a pricey day out- what must you take as proof of disability? A dla letter? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diane Report post Posted May 5, 2009 We have done this in the days when my DS would leave the house. It was great fun loved every minute of it. Happy memories thanks baddad. Love to see the photos if you have any.lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Oooo.....may all your various bits recover, BD!! (I winced whilst reading your post!! Albeit with a bit of a grin, heheh!) I'm planning to take my eldest and his cousin this summer, as we have a Go Ape near us too, and to be honest, I'm as excited about it as they are! Rawther intrigued by the disability concession you mentioned as its quite a pricey day out- what must you take as proof of disability? A dla letter? Most of them have - but the muscles at the front of my thighs still not entirely happy at their workout! I'm guessing they're the ones you use for climbing rope ladder - 'cos all the general moving about/walking ones get a good airing most days! Concession: I asked at the local one and was told 'if a child needs an extra helper then the helper goes free' - I asked if showing his cinema exhibitor's concession badge (these have photo on) would do and that seemed fine... I thought that would mean I would go free, but on phoning to book via the h/o number they explained it would only apply to a 1-1 carer - i.e. a second, specific carer for the disabled child (which annoyed me - but makes sense if you consider that the rules state that every 2 kids need one adult escort anyway). So : If two adults and two kids going, and one of the kids is registered disabled and needs extra support, the 2nd adult will go free as his/her 'designated' carer... I'd phone and do the booking or book locally in advance, so you've got it sussed before hand. I really would recommend taking that offer up if one of the kids does need extra attention, as it really slows progress down if you don't. We worked with L going first (non-disabled, 12 and only really needing me on hand if he ran into trouble) then Ben, with L at the next stage to double check he used safety harnesses etc correctly, then me, ready to check ben onto the next stage. [hope that made sense!] The reason it's much slower is because the first person can't move on until the third person is in position, whereas working 'child/adult/disabled child/adult' (or even switching the 2 at the front), means the person in second position will be there to see the disabled child 'off' automatically... The centre near you sounds brill - it has the longest zipwire in the UK (430m), and goes over a valley and waterfall! Stepping off a towering platform with nothing but a couple of wires and an ill-fitting corset between you and a long drop is horrible, but whizzing along the line (once you've mentally adjusted to the idea that the line snapping is highly unlikely) is brill. And then you hit the bottom backwards and fill your underpants with woodchips! There's lovely Have a lovely day L&P BD Oh, BTW - on concessions again: If the peeps had any doubts about Ben they would have been dispelled as soon as he started asking questions during the 'run through' with the equipment. I'm sure you'll know what i mean. As far as the equipment goes - he did fine with it, but needed a few prompts & reminders at the end of the course when he felt more relaxed, because he would then get distracted by other stuff. Predictable in a way, and totally back to front compared to L who only needed to concentrate on the harnesses etc at the begining, and was doing it on 'auto-pilot' by the end. An on/off switch for concentration/focus is something those who have it can take for granted. Parenting a kid who hasn't got it can be heartstopping in these kinds of situations Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mumble Report post Posted May 5, 2009 I love Go Ape - my sister took me two years ago for my birthday If you're taking a kid who can be 'distractable' I would definitely ensure 1-1 support because you are responsible for attaching yourself to the safety lines etc. I'm not surprised you hurt, BD, it sounds like you did it properly - I however found out how to cheat when I really couldn't be a**ed with another horizontal cargo net scramble - once you were clipped to the safety line, if you launch yourself sideways from the platform it acts like a horizontal zip-line and gets you most of the way across with no effort at all We did it in a torrential rainstorm (that's where advanced booking isn't good) with the imminent risk of evacuation if the lightening storm got much closer - but it was still good. We were going to go back this year for my birthday but I'm currently not allowed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Most of them have - but the muscles at the front of my thighs still not entirely happy at their workout! I'm guessing they're the ones you use for climbing rope ladder - 'cos all the general moving about/walking ones get a good airing most days! Concession: I asked at the local one and was told 'if a child needs an extra helper then the helper goes free' - I asked if showing his cinema exhibitor's concession badge (these have photo on) would do and that seemed fine... I thought that would mean I would go free, but on phoning to book via the h/o number they explained it would only apply to a 1-1 carer - i.e. a second, specific carer for the disabled child (which annoyed me - but makes sense if you consider that the rules state that every 2 kids need one adult escort anyway). So : If two adults and two kids going, and one of the kids is registered disabled and needs extra support, the 2nd adult will go free as his/her 'designated' carer... I'd phone and do the booking or book locally in advance, so you've got it sussed before hand. I really would recommend taking that offer up if one of the kids does need extra attention, as it really slows progress down if you don't. We worked with L going first (non-disabled, 12 and only really needing me on hand if he ran into trouble) then Ben, with L at the next stage to double check he used safety harnesses etc correctly, then me, ready to check ben onto the next stage. [hope that made sense!] The reason it's much slower is because the first person can't move on until the third person is in position, whereas working 'child/adult/disabled child/adult' (or even switching the 2 at the front), means the person in second position will be there to see the disabled child 'off' automatically... The centre near you sounds brill - it has the longest zipwire in the UK (430m), and goes over a valley and waterfall! Stepping off a towering platform with nothing but a couple of wires and an ill-fitting corset between you and a long drop is horrible, but whizzing along the line (once you've mentally adjusted to the idea that the line snapping is highly unlikely) is brill. And then you hit the bottom backwards and fill your underpants with woodchips! There's lovely Have a lovely day L&P BD Oh, BTW - on concessions again: If the peeps had any doubts about Ben they would have been dispelled as soon as he started asking questions during the 'run through' with the equipment. I'm sure you'll know what i mean. As far as the equipment goes - he did fine with it, but needed a few prompts & reminders at the end of the course when he felt more relaxed, because he would then get distracted by other stuff. Predictable in a way, and totally back to front compared to L who only needed to concentrate on the harnesses etc at the begining, and was doing it on 'auto-pilot' by the end. An on/off switch for concentration/focus is something those who have it can take for granted. Parenting a kid who hasn't got it can be heartstopping in these kinds of situations Thanks for the information.So that would involve me being responsible for my lads safety on the end of harness some distance from the ground........job for dad I think whilst I am sedated in some nice room somewhere.You would not get me up there for anything. After several years work I can just about manage the bridge beside the South Bank centre without getting anxious.Karen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearl Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Mr p & JP did it for JP's 18th birthday. I reluctantly stayed on the ground taking photos. They were really lucky with the group they were in - nice sensible peeps, whereas following were a group of stupid young men doing dangerous things which would have freaked him. And the group ahead were a disabled group who needed very close supervision. I was lost in admiration at their bravery, & the concentration of their helpers who ensured their safety when they got distracted etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted May 5, 2009 (edited) I would so loved to have seen that! Scrambling up Effortlessly scaling the High Rocks...the pole thingy at Drusillas...Go Ape... Where will it all end?? Boho Edited May 5, 2009 by bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted May 5, 2009 (edited) Thanks for the information.So that would involve me being responsible for my lads safety on the end of harness some distance from the ground........job for dad I think whilst I am sedated in some nice room somewhere.You would not get me up there for anything. After several years work I can just about manage the bridge beside the South Bank centre without getting anxious.Karen. Ahhhh... now there's the rub, you see, because I'm actually terrible with heights In gay pareee in the winter when the lift froze on the eiffel tower I made it up two flights on foot, looked over the edge and had a dizzy spell and made my way (very) slowly, clinging to my ex for dear life, back down again! Similarly, she once did an abseil for charidee and I missed her doing it because i couldn't even look down the side of the wall she was descending... She could hear my screams of encouragement from a very safe place in the middle of the building's flat top roof Worst thing of all - If I could have overcome my fear years ago I'm sure I would have enjoyed it - I'd have been the Jack Osborne of my day! Amazing what we'll do for our kids, isn't it? Where will it all end?? In tears, I'm sure... "You have nothing to fear but fear itself" said our instructor, moments before hurling himself off of the safety platform and plummeting to his death. "Fear itself, and that flimsy overhead lighting cable running alongside the zip wire that you fixed your lines to," I shouted after him... PS: Love to see the photos if you have any.lol Well, as I said i didn't take any myself, but I got a phonecall from the Go Ape peeps earlier and they took a piccie they'd like to use in their next promotional video - which is nice... Boys Keep Swinging Edited May 5, 2009 by baddad Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
