“Live Life Adventurously” is the tag line for the Go Ape Treetop Adventure company. However, it could really be the motto for my sister, Randi’s life. Most times I only get to relive Randi’s adventures after the fact. But on Saturday, August 22, 2015, I was a participant in one of them.
Randi sent me a text about the Go Ape course at Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, stating it would be a good “sister bonding” experience and something I could write about on my blog. I looked at the website, made sure that I was under their weight/size requirements and then agreed. I didn’t look at the video or the reviews before giving her the a-OK. I’m glad I didn’t because I might have chickened out!
We arrived for our scheduled time, signed a pretty significant liablity waiver (believe me, I know because I review contracts for a living) and waited for our safety training. When we got there, Ben, who signed us in, told us that Station 5 was closed. He said we would get a small refund because we wouldn’t get the full experience. We were a little disappointed, but also glad to know they would refund some of our money. Our training group consisted of 13 people ranging from all ages. I would say the youngest was 13 or 14 years old. I probably was one of the oldest. Erin, our instructor, was great. She had a quiet nature about her, giving instructions clearly. She also had an uncanny ability to remember our names. Not just during the training time, which lasted around 20 minutes, but throughout the day.
Once we were suited up in our gear — I was given a little extra support with a chest harness thing, we headed to the course. The course consists of 5 stations that are made up of obstacles like ladders, suspended bridges, tight ropes and zip lines. We started with climbing a rope ladder to a platform about 20 feet in the air. Believe me, I was winded and tired by the time I reached the top. There was a “bridge” to cross, a Tarzan swing and a rope net/ladder to climb. You see, when you go on the Tarzan swing, you need the rope net to catch you so you can bounce off of it once and then use it to climb up to the next platform. By the time I reached that platform, I thought two things: 1) I’m going to cry and 2) I’m never going to make it through 4 stations.
Randi was great. True to her word, she helped me through. Each time it was a little more challenging that this overweight, middle-aged woman thought she could handle, Randi just kept encouraging me. “You can do this, Wendi.” is something I heard often throughout our 2 1/2 hour course. She would go first through an obstacle and then give me hints of where to place my legs or how to use my arms or how to pull the swinging bridge next step toward me with my hand before trying to step on the wooden plank. Each station ended with a zipline over the wetlands. After the first one, you get used to what to expect, so they were all pretty awesome.
Bobby was following us most of the way from the ground. He got these great action shots of us doing one obstacle or another. We joked around that we had our own photographer/videographer with us. It is good that my husband is a “chronicler” because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to see any of this. Goodness knows that I was concentrating too much on moving from one platform to the other. I would never have been able to take pictures or videos along the way.
When we reached Station 4, we had the opportunity to go the moderate way or the extreme way. Before I even got to the first platform of Station 4, Bobby said I wasn’t doing the ring crossing. I had no idea what he was talking about. At the time I was facing my fourth and final ascent up the fourth and final rope ladder. When I got up to the platform, I saw what he meant. I called down to him and asked him if he was sure I shouldn’t try it. Randi had said she would do the extreme obstacles and I thought I would too. However, as she started the ring crossing, she called back and said it was really hard. So, since I’m no fool, I took the moderate way. Mind you, neither option was “easy.”
The final obstacle before the final zipline was another Tarzan swing. I could have taken the moderate way, but really, how can you not do the Tarzan swing? So after watching Randi, who navigated the swing and the rope net/ladder with apparent ease, I decided I would do the same. The swing was fun. You are caught by the net, tossed back and then slowly come back to the net again. That’s the easy part. The hard part is again climbing the rope net to the platform. Erin, who had encouraged me from the ground at several obstacles, was there again. She called up to see how I was doing. I told her that I was exhausted and didn’t think I could climb up the ladder at that time. I was suspended over the ground, just hanging there. My arms were tired. My legs were tired. And I was stuck. Thankfully, this is not new for the Go Ape staff. They have a system in place for people like me. Erin sent over this ring that I attached to my gear and while she pulled from the ground it gave me enough support and tension that I was able to climb up. Randi was there waiting for me and helped me up to the platform the last step. Talk about bonding!
We finished with one final zipline and walked back to the Go Ape building. We bought t-shirts and got a couple of stickers. The further away I get from the physical exersion, the more I am glad I went. While my arms and leg muscles are tired and achy, it is good. I did it! I went ape and lived life adventurously. Thanks, Randi!
After this we went to Heck’s Cafe in Avon, Ohio. That’s another story and another blog, so check back often. Hey, if you have a story of family bonding you want to share, please do so in the comments below. You might give Randi and me other ideas.
