Skyways...

One of our many adventures on our trip (probably the most adventurous) was a tree top canopy tour just outside a little town called Graskop, where we spent 2 nights at the Graskop Hotel. Skyway Trails comprises of ten foofy slides (or cable slides) from platform to platform, over and then through a forest. It takes about 3 hours to complete and is a MUST for any adventure junkie, like my son. They start you off getting kitted out with harnesses, hard hats and gloves, give you some training to explaining how to brake and then take you off to the start. My mom, unfortunately had a panic attack and my dad cut his arm quite badly, which obviously put a bit of a damper on things, but we still had fun and both my parents still managed to finish the trail. Although, that said, once you start, you have to finish. I'm so glad we all did it and Jake loved every second, it was a real highlight of our holiday for both of us...

Here's me getting ready. Ron, remember Eve?? This is Gift...

Jake all ready to go, waiting on the training platform...

Folks ready to go. At this stage, my dad was nervous (he's afraid of heights) and my mom couldn't wait...

This is one of my dad's snaps (I've been told to point that out)... Mom took this one... Jake wanted to go first on the training slide...

Ready to go. How cute is that little bum...

My dad heading down the first slide. This one was 180m long and pretty high. The legs of the second base still go down into the trees...

Meeting Jake and Gift, who later carried my mom across each slide, at the 2nd platform...

The speed (and I guess adrenalin) makes the wind rush at you, which makes your eyes stream. Jake looks like he's crying here, but he was shaking with excitement and couldn't wait for his next turn...

Jake heads across to platform 3 with Given...

Off he goes again...

Another of my dad's photos - that's me with the white hat waving goodbye to my baby...

And here I go...

This was Jake's first slide on his own. My nerves were shot, especially since he wanted to go ahead of me, which meant I couldn't test the cable first...

At another platform, this time much lower, beneath the canopy, but probably still about 10m up. Jake dangles, unperturbed, waiting his turn...

Heeee-ha...This is the view once we were below the tree canopy...And at the end, I had to find something pretty and peaceful to settle my nerves...It was dark by the time we got back to the 'base station' and we were all feeling pretty exhausted. Everyone, except Given, travelled on with us to Kruger. Back row - my dad, Joanne, my mom, Kathy, Chris, Evie and Given, Jake & I in the front...

I'll end this post off apologising for putting so many pictures of Jake up, it was just so cute watching him go for it in such a big way.

Also, before I go, I wanted to share these photos that my dad took of their hotel room in Graskop. The Graskop Hotel is famed for having had it's rooms decorated by different artists from the area. Between us, we had 4 rooms and it was very interesting to see how daring some artists can be. My parents room was by far the weirdest, so I'll share theirs. Plus the photos of my room didn't come out that well and it was really boring next to this. In amongst all that busy above the bed, were little eyes and green buck and barbie doll ladies...The bathroom...The dressing table across from the bed...Oh and these, because they're funny...See how fast Jake moved? He thinks this one is hilarious...OK, that's it. I'll post more photos later if I get a chance. Hope every one's doing OK, enjoy Heritage Day tomorrow, nothing like a day off work...

Sue XXX