08.02 Tas: Dismal Swamp
We visited Dismal Swamp, a giant blackwood sinkhole! After questioning the admission fee ($20 each!) and whether we should go in, we decided that we should because we hadn't been able to see/do something else on our journey!
We walked in and were given the choice of how to reach the sinkhole, either by walking down or taking the 110m slide 40m down! Well, you know us, we wanted to take the slide, especially when we had 3 goes each! After we had put our hair nets on, and picked our (cycle) helmets we had to choose what type of sack/mat to use the 'slow' or 'fast'. So being the fearless souls we are, we both picked 'fast' ones!
Once installed in the sack/mat feet first, we were told to hold onto the straps, keep the elbows in tight, and head slightly up! That really wasn't enough to prepare you for the 'bone shaker'! I was wearing my glasses on the way down and thought that I'd lose them, as I didn't realise that corners of the slide were corrugated (not sure why they couldn't have been smooth?!), hence it now been known as the 'bone shaker'! After we left the slide, slightly jarred, we headed around one of the boardwalks to view the installation art, before heading back to the top of the slide!
This time Joanna & I picked the slower sack, as we thought that we might be able to enjoy the ride a little... hmm, the start was just the same as the fast one! The only difference was that you had to walk to the end of the slide, instead of sliding there! Joanna decreed that that was her last run, she was now suffering from whiplash to her head, neck & shoulders!
Being one not woose out too often, I thought that I'd go for glory on my final run, with a return to the fast sack! Just before I set off, my glasses removed, the chap radioed the 'receiver' at the bottom of the slide with 'have a 14'! He turned to me and said 'you'll probably be quicker than that', meaning that it would take me less than 14 seconds to cover the 110 metres! He wasn't wrong, and I even hit the crash pad at the bottom! However, I still wasn't able to control my head through the turns due to the g-forces and I ended up in the cafe with a bit of a sore neck and a slight headache! It was soooo worth it though!!
We walked in and were given the choice of how to reach the sinkhole, either by walking down or taking the 110m slide 40m down! Well, you know us, we wanted to take the slide, especially when we had 3 goes each! After we had put our hair nets on, and picked our (cycle) helmets we had to choose what type of sack/mat to use the 'slow' or 'fast'. So being the fearless souls we are, we both picked 'fast' ones!
Once installed in the sack/mat feet first, we were told to hold onto the straps, keep the elbows in tight, and head slightly up! That really wasn't enough to prepare you for the 'bone shaker'! I was wearing my glasses on the way down and thought that I'd lose them, as I didn't realise that corners of the slide were corrugated (not sure why they couldn't have been smooth?!), hence it now been known as the 'bone shaker'! After we left the slide, slightly jarred, we headed around one of the boardwalks to view the installation art, before heading back to the top of the slide!
This time Joanna & I picked the slower sack, as we thought that we might be able to enjoy the ride a little... hmm, the start was just the same as the fast one! The only difference was that you had to walk to the end of the slide, instead of sliding there! Joanna decreed that that was her last run, she was now suffering from whiplash to her head, neck & shoulders!
Being one not woose out too often, I thought that I'd go for glory on my final run, with a return to the fast sack! Just before I set off, my glasses removed, the chap radioed the 'receiver' at the bottom of the slide with 'have a 14'! He turned to me and said 'you'll probably be quicker than that', meaning that it would take me less than 14 seconds to cover the 110 metres! He wasn't wrong, and I even hit the crash pad at the bottom! However, I still wasn't able to control my head through the turns due to the g-forces and I ended up in the cafe with a bit of a sore neck and a slight headache! It was soooo worth it though!!
Labels: big_trips, dismal_swamp, dismal_swamp_slide, joanna, nathan, northwest, photos, tas_day_8, tasmania
posted by Nathan at
15:55
2 Comments Return to Top of Page
