Lately, we've been traveling so much, it doesn't really feel like we have a "home" drop zone. We've got friends at Virginia Skydiving Center and we also have friends at Skydive Orange. I wasn't sure where to do my 900th.
Either way, we could sleep late and avoid the morning chill. I made a yummy breakfast casserole and we watched an episode of Family Feud. Steve Harvey is hilarious!
While we were cleaning up, we talked about where we might go. It was hard to choose! I absolutely love the landing area at VSC and the King Air is super fast, but the door is small.. Right now, they are flying a Caravan at Orange - a large door and heat on the plane. But if we went to VSC, we might get to jump with Carolyn and her super experience belly group. Those jumps are always a blast.
In the end, we picked Skydive Orange on the off chance that we'd be able to jump with some of the staff at the end of the day. It was just after noon when we got to the drop zone. My first jump of the day was a low pass. Just before we left the plane, I asked Adam to get a good picture of my exit and he did!
Jump 899: The 2nd jump of the day was a 3 way with Kevin Gibson! I met him in 2004 when I showed up for my second tandem. Even though I have known Kevin for nearly 12 years, we only had one unimpressive freefly jump together. Today's belly jump went great and we got 12 points!
As we were walking in from the field, Tina yelled to me from the boarding area. She was finished working for the day and could go with us for my 900th! Woo hoo!
Earlier in the day, I sent texts to a number of my friends from Orange. I was hoping they were planning to come out. Unfortunately, most of them were busy with family, etc. Once Tina was on the ground, she and I discussed the jump and she rounded up a few belly fliers to join us.
I really wanted to do an 8 way so I asked Chuck if he would come. Chuck has a gazillion jumps, but he rarely does RW. I was thrilled when he said yes! But, we were one person short. When I asked Lambert to come with us, he offered to do video. Awesome, but STILL one short! That's when I ran into Tammer. He was getting ready to do some freeflying, but when I told him it was my 900th, he said he was in! Yay!!! 8 way with video!
The base was perfect! Tina, Chuck, Max and Geoff did a wonderful job!
With the exception of the delay hitting my camera leaving the plane, the first point was quick and easy. However, the second one was a little more work. Instead of letting us break into the four way, the base released grips and separated. So, it took us a little longer to get the second point. But we did it! Check out the video!
It was an awesome day at Skydive Orange! Can't wait to come back!
From left to right: Max, Chuck & Tina, Geoff, Pete, Tammer, Lambert with me and Matt in front. Thank you Larry "Pinecone" for this great photo!
Oh...and when I went to thank everyone for jumping with me, Chuck said he also paid for my jump! Sweet!!!
