Are you jumping alone?
Yes, I am.
Is anyone watching from down below?
No, there’s no one.
So, you traveled all this way by yourself?
That’s right.
That’s quite unusual.
At 7:00 am, I found myself in a conversation with the jump instructors at Great Canadian Bungee as they prepared me for my jump. They seemed perplexed that I was bungee jumping alone, a rarity they had not encountered before, yet they were more than willing to keep me company as I awaited my turn.
At that moment, their curiosity didn’t bother me; I’m accustomed to people being intrigued by my preference for solo travel. However, I found myself reflecting on it later that day.
Was bungee jumping—especially engaging in such an unconventional and extreme activity—something that required companionship? Did it need to be witnessed? It made me wonder: if a person jumps off a bridge in Seattle and no one is around to see it, did it really happen?
Honestly, I didn’t care if anyone believed I had done it; I was doing it for myself.
When it comes to bungee jumping, you should be doing it for yourself, not for anyone else.
That said, I can definitely see how it would be an amazing experience to share with someone else. Perhaps next time.
Solo or not, I am thrilled that I went through with it; it was undoubtedly the most exhilarating, thrilling, and intoxicating experience I’ve ever had. Almost immediately after landing, I felt an urge to do it again. I was hooked.
I recall the experience very differently than what the video showed; it seemed to last only a few fleeting seconds.
Sure, I leapt without hesitation, but I had plenty of time to think.
I had time to reflect as I hiked up the rocky hill.
I had time to think as I climbed the platform stairs.
I had time to consider the safety instructions.
I had time to think as the staff secured my harness.
I had time to contemplate as I walked across the narrow grated bridge.
I had time to think while a girl in front of me screamed uncontrollably below.
I had time to think while they secured the large cord around my ankles.
And, I had time to think as I stepped cautiously through the open gate.
But those thoughts were filled with excitement and anticipation; never once did I doubt my ability to follow through or question my decision.
While it might have happened quickly, I felt capable of analyzing each step leading up to the jump.
It’s hard to describe, but it felt like I was about to leap into a vast black void. I could see my feet and the water below, yet somehow my mind transformed that distance into a thick emptiness.
5…4…3…2…one!
And I jumped.
It wasn’t until I was wide-eyed, staring at the ground rushing toward me, that the reality of that emptiness became clear.
My stomach was the first to make the connection.
I was silent as I plummeted toward the quarry, feeling no fear, almost too engrossed in the moment to make a sound other than a brief, choked “woo!” as the bungee cord tightened and propelled me back into the sky.
The rebound was just as electrifying as the initial leap.
As soon as I thought the excitement was over, I was pulled back up for another round—two, three, four times. I’ve never felt freer than in those moments suspended in mid-air, teetering between ascent and descent, my stomach in my feet and arms outstretched.
Jumping from a plane is another thrilling experience but can feel a bit overwhelming. Your brain often doesn’t register that your body is falling at a perilous speed, tricking you into a sensation of flight. You don’t get the same rush of adrenaline as when you consciously decide to step off a platform over a visible ground.
I might have convinced myself to ignore the distance while on the bungee platform, but the moment I stepped off, I felt it.
This is why I prefer bungee jumping over skydiving.
I plan to continue experiencing both of these extreme activities worldwide when I can, but I often find myself daydreaming about bungee jumping.
I absolutely cannot wait to do it again and might just return to Ottawa for another jump at Great Canadian Bungee. It was an incredible adventure that I highly recommend.
Who else had no idea that bungee jumping was available in (well, just outside of) Ottawa? I only discovered Great Canadian Bungee the day before my arrival and was so excited that I booked my 7:00 am jump the evening prior at around 5:30 pm.
Not only was I shocked to learn that bungee jumping was available in Ontario, but it’s also the highest bungee jump in North America at an impressive 200 feet.
Have you ever been bungee jumping?
—
This trip was made possible by Ottawa Tourism.
All opinions are my own.
