After our super interesting guinea pig/alpaca lunch, it was time to go 4-wheeling, so we headed down to the tour shop where they outfitted us all in bright orange vests (similar to our construction worker outfits) and hard hats and we were on our way. Harry suggested we have a safety prayer before we left, so we all bowed our heads and said a quick prayer. I was so glad we did, as you will see later.
We had three 4 wheelers between the 6 of us. Adam drove one with Ady, Harry drove one with Dawson, and then Jamis and I took the last one. Our tour guide Juan rode up front on his motorcycle and took us through the city to the outskirts of town and then up a steep dirt road on a nearby mountain.
We stopped at a little shack halfway up the mountain and it was there we all got outfitted in rock climbing gear (harnesses, carabiners, ropes and so forth) Then we had to hike for about 25 minutes up a steep hill to get to where the zip line was. This zip line was very different from the ones we did in Costa Rica, and was over 1/2 mile in length and over 1 minute long. There was also only two zip lines as opposed to the 12 we did in Arenal.
Because the zip lines were so long, they needed more weight to get enough speed to make it across, so they doubled each of us up in pairs. Harry and Dawson went together – and they went first, which they were none too happy about seeing as they were TERRIFIED of how steep and long the zip lines were, but they were brave and did it! Then Ady and I went, (which I will admit was more scary being so high up and having the zip line be so long. We also turned around so we were going backwards half the time!) Adam and Jamis came last. But that is where the crazy began.
Apparently the weight with both Adam and Jamis was too much, and when they came down the line, they came in super hot. So fast that they both ran into the safety net! I was taking video of them coming down at the time, but realized once they zoomed past me that something wasn’t right. When I looked up from my camera all I saw was my husband and baby boy slammed forcefully into the net and then thrown around like rag dolls into the wire above! It was terrifying! All I could do was scream!
When we finally got them down off the wire both Adam and Jamis were super shaken up and we found that Adam had scratched and bruised both his shoulder and cheek pretty good. Jamis was crying hysterically and said his hand hurt. We think when he and Adam came up after slamming into the net that the wire got his hand as well. But it took all of us a good 10-15 minutes to calm down. I was near tears just thinking about seeing my baby boy and husband thrown around like that. It was one of the most traumatic moments of my life.
But we also realized later that the accident could have been much worse. As Adam and Jamis came down the line, they too turned around like Ady and I, and came in backwards which made it so Adam took most of the impact on his back. Had they not turned around Jamis would have taken the brunt of the impact, and I am almost sure Adam’s weight and the momentum would have seriously injured him, and possibly killed him, or at least broken some bones, so we felt like it had been a tender mercy that they hadn’t gotten more hurt.
Going down the 2nd zip line now all the sudden got way less fun. But it was the only way down unless we wanted to hike a long long way, and we’ve always taught our kids to face their fears, so we all went again. But this time we mixed things up a little. Jamis ended up going down with the guide (who was about half Adam’s weight) and who was skilled at slowing himself down, and then the boys and I went. Adam once again came last, and I offered to help pull the safety rope with the guide, but he had set the device that slows you down way further out so Adam would have more time. But this meant that he stopped Adam much earlier than the rest of us and Adam Egbert still got thrown around like a rag doll. The video is below. But wow! What a day!
Needless to say we all said a lot of prayers of gratitude that night for watching out once again for our family. We were so glad we had said a safety prayer before going or otherwise we think it could have turned out much worse. But Adam’s last comment of the day was, “perhaps it’s time to give up both zip lining and paragliding.” Needless to say I don’t think any of us will be zip lining again anytime soon.
We ended the night eating more yummy Peruvian food, and then headed to the same bakery we went to for lunch for dessert where we each got something that sounded good to us and then we shared. We ended up with chocolate flan, lemon meregue pie, ice cream, and 2 different kinds of cake. All for $4 total. Then Adam got a $15 hour long massage to try to work out all the kinks in his back and shoulder. Another Crazy day in Peru!
