I've been away this weekend, but not far from home. With a group of International students, I've been staying in Llanberis (at the excellent Dol Peris Guesthouse) and have been sampling some of the region's tourist attractions, in between teaching a few little life skills. Spring was in the air when I took a morning run from the bunkhouse along the lakeshore on Sunday morning. It actually felt quite mild and there were plenty of snowdrops alongside the trail - the first I've seen this year.
The highlight of the weekend was going on the Zip World zip wires. Unfortunately, the biggest one (near Bethesda) was closed for maintenance, but we were able to go on the ones near Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was super misty, damp and much colder than Llanberis. Once togged up in red jumpsuits, helmets and goggles, we had to ride in the back of a truck up to the top of the mountain, where the first of the two zip wires started. I think the staff (well, me anyway) were more excited than the students.
Things have changed considerably since my first zip wire experience (previously known as 'Death Slides' until this was deemed an inappropriately titled activity for youngsters by HSE). On a Scout camp, somewhere in Derbyshire, in the early 90's with an inch thick rope tensioned from the towbar of a transit minibus, I travelled, untethered, at great speeds sitting on a wooden swing seat and hanging on for dear life. The breaking process was somewhat of a hit and miss affair, involving other Scouts charging uphill towards the incoming 'death slider' pulling a rope and carabiner that would halt the descendant in a somewhat abrupt fashion. The rider could (and several did) perform a full loop the loop at the end of the slide if they were of a heavy enough weight and were stopped dead in their tracks by the gleeful uphill pullers. Spectating was almost as thrilling as taking part. I don't think helmets had even been invented...
With this in mind, the company slogan of "Experience Adventure" felt somewhat stunted, once we'd been strapped into the latest safety kit, checked twice, had helmet straps clipped up, wind speed monitored and individual riders weights calculated to allow for smooth deceleration. However, the thick mist did add an element of excitement as the properly tensioned wire vanished off into the gloom at the launch site! What was exciting though, was when the safety gates opened at the top of the ride and I slipped on the wet metal floor and shot off down the wire as the instructor was about to start his countdown to zipping!!
I'm not sure 'adventure' is the most accurate description, but it was great fun none the less - even without the views...
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