Number four on the list is to skydive. Now I've done this five times back in 1993 from a skydiving center in the Mojave Desert called California City. The system then was a lot of instruction followed by a jump at 5,000 feet from an Otter twin engined plane. You were fixed to the plane with a line of about six feet and it pulled the 'chute out as you exited the doorway. It's a really frightening thing to do. But once you're out it's easy and not scary at all. You just float down with a little loudspeaker attached to your belt, and the instructor on the ground talks you towards the circled landing zone. Steering the 'chute with the ropes is also very easy. I never got the landing quite right though.
After four jumps I did a free fall, where an instructor jumps out with you - usually holding onto your clothing and making sure you pull the 'chute yourself at about 5,000 feet - you exit at about 12,000.
Quite honestly I never got used to the fear of it all, plus it was a heck of a long way to drive. Skydiving is also one of those activites of "hurry up and wait!" So I stopped. However, I recently did an article on Perris which is one of the best places to jump in California and I have to say I would like to do it again. However the fixed line system is not used any more and now you are strapped to an instructor doing a freefall. Maybe for my 80th birthday, like George H. Bush.
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