When I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, I dream of rappelling down it or climbing up it. When I’m high atop a building, I envision a zipline to whisk me down to the ground. My mind is always focused on the extreme adventure; I feel most at home when my adrenaline is pumping and my heart is racing. I long for the unknown. Being at a place like Cape Enrage in New Brunswick that offers wild adventures is my idea of home.
We started the day today with rappelling and I’d forgotten how comfortable I was in uncomfortable situations.
Standing on the platform with my feet wide and my legs straight, I prepared myself to step off. I was about to rappel 148 feet to the ground and as much as my mind was telling me not to look down, I wanted the added fear of seeing just how far I could fall. I had to do it. I looked. For several seconds, I soaked in the intensity. It’s never that I’m not afraid to do something; it’s that I revel in the fear. Looking added to the fear. It delayed my movements, yet added to the adventure at the same time.
Once over the edge, my uncomfortableness calmed and I thought about how to get it back. I reached another ledge and swung my feet up on the line. Continuing the final 40 feet upside down increased my adrenaline.
The climb back to the rappel included roughly 150 steep stairs, but I had just rappelled down a cliff. I could have run up the stairs with all of the adrenaline pumping through my body.
Each of my rappels was similar but I added an additional element of adventure to each decent. Taking larger leaps, hanging out on the edge, swinging, and spinning upside down kept me excited about every second of the adventure.
I would have been beaming for a week after such an eventful, exciting experience but without even missing a beat, we were geared up for ziplining and the Cape Enrage thrills continued.
Since it’s already 12:35 am, though, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to experience it with me.
Thanks Captured Emotion Images for freeing me of a camera today and getting some sweet action shots.
Bucket List Publications 
Fear and excitement… such a thin line. Great description of a great adventure. Thank you.
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While I love the fear, Cape Enrage is such a safe place that children as young as 12 can rappel. I was most impressed with the procedures and equipment that they had for ziplining (after doing it in several countries, this was by far the safest). I’m sure I’ll include several more posts for Cape Enrage shortly 🙂
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How interesting…comfortable in chaos. We could all use a little more of that. I think we are not comfortable in chaos for the most part but when we put ourselves out there, it is magic.
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It’s that moment when you conquer the extreme fear that is bliss. Heights can sometimes stop me in my tracks with fear but pushing those limits regularly is an amazing feeling. Saturday, I will be making my way out of a plane again with Skydive Moncton. The anticipation is building! 🙂 Do you fear heights or is it something else entirely?
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well, jest use the rope ya went down on to get back up, if ur dat pumped lol…kewl on 🙂 keep on keepin on an keep enjoyin all dem rides,,, u’ll have to try a sailplane ride sumtime i’d say.. over an out frum Q
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I’ll save rock climbing for another day, but they do offer it at Cape Enrage.
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Wow, great pictures and a very interesting perspective you have.
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Continuing upside down! Wow! I guess you’re right – sometimes we put our daily stress aside when there’s an adrenalin rush!
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Everything else is forgotten when you’re rappelling down a cliff 😉
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Awesomeness! 🙂
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I salute your zest for life!
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O WoWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW………………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahhhhhttttaaaaaa adventure… totally awesome. Very well written … I cud feel u rapelling down. Supah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Never a dull moment around you!
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I am so not like you. I have a fear of heights. Somehow I think it is tied to my vision. There is something about the space between distances, where there is nothing to hang onto. It is like the sensation of pulling you toward the next point, which is far away and below. The feeling is like surrendering or shutting down. I climb to the edge and want to fall. It is akin to being buried under the snow or sand upside down. You spit and where it goes, you go in that direction.
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This is the most enjoyable piece of writing, that I have read. For me it is great to hear the motivation behind another person doing what they love. You should meet my Son, he’s a freerunner, constantly pushing himself to the limit, embracing fear as part of living. Great Post Lesley. Thanks 🙂
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This looks great. 🙂
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Rappelling!! Very adventurous. I would like to try this. How safe do you feel when you go rappelling?
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Brings back memories of exploring caves when I was in the Cave Club at Va Tech in late 60’s !! Add darkness to your adventure, and see how great it is !!
Blessings in Christ, bruce
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Interesting rig with good redundancy. Looking at the added protection (against bumps/knee scrapes) at the overhang I think this operator is very professional! I would love to know why they use two completely separate attachment points on your harness – I would have attached both ropes to one point on the harness and make the rig possibly neater…?
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Wow! That looks amazing fun! Freedom!!!
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Wow ! looks fun&dangerous though if you look at your face of calm&terror one might choose not to partake … (^:
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Wow, and I call myself a brave woman for daring to ride a motorbike…
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As a climber, love that they had a back up belayer. Looks too much fun.
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I know the feeling of looking down from a height, pretty thrilling I’d say.
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Wonderful pictures, great narrative. you make it look so easy.
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You have more guts than I have spit. Holy Moly.
BTW, what kind of shoes are you wearing on such an adventure. Are they safe. Just worried.
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Looks like fun! Keep on enjoying.
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Serious thrills and chills. Loved this!
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Lesley, I love traveling with you. Your latest experience sounded amazing! Thank you for taking me around the world and back from the comforts of my desk chair! I nominated you for the WordPress Family Award. The details are here. http://ellynbaker.wordpress.com/
I look forward to your next adventure 🙂
Ellyn Baker~
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Ohmigod brave!!
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Today my little brother says to me… did you notice that in the most intense situations you are calm as a cucumber and have it under control and then something minor and relatively stupid happens and you flip out… what I’m saying is, I guess I relate. I didn’t think about it until he put it in perspective for me. I think some people are just more comfortable (as you say) in different environments. I seek out adventures, new experiences and just try to push the comfort zone. This keeps me happy. Thank you for this great post. Inspirational!
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Leslie, we think they really lost, by not hiring you at that BBB contest. This is, probably, the most exciting travel / adventure blog that we’ve ever seen and you are probably the most exciting / tallented travel author / blogger that we’ve ever read. If we add to all that your vast and loylal audience (including us), we can’t stop asking ourselves: Why? Why were you not the best possible candidate, after all? It is so obvious that you are born for this lifestyle! Anyway, things are where they should be, Faith has its own ways and we wish you good health, plus tons of love and enthusiam, so that you can enjoy the life that you’ve been born for! And to share it with us, of course! With love, GGSisters
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Reading this makes me want to do something dangerous…
I would say that you would approve but knowing my own productivity for accidents I’ll have to look into the investment of a helmet and some knee pads! 🙂
Ill be keeping an eye on your blog. It certainly is an enjoyable read!
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I’ve Dove this on a climbing wall, but would love to give it a go down a cliff.
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A little older, carrying the injuries of years of self abuse, I do miss the extremes, flirting with disaster, body shivering from adrenalin OD, questioning whether you have pushed past the limit this time around. But I do have years of memories to revisit whenever the urge to push the limit raises its welcome head.
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You are quite obviously having a wonderful time, I love that you share your adventures. Though for myself…I think I have to pass on the rappelling 😉
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Another wonderful adventure for you. Enjoy.
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wow you did this one too! Excellent. I dont think I could do it so I just watch a couple of ladies did this too while we were there yesterday.
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You’re extremely brave for doing this! I would have probably went potty on myself. But one day I’m going to commit to doing something wild, crazy and exhilarating like this or hey maybe even sky diving! I’m not going to get to crazy just yet though–I’ll start small, maybe repel down from the side of my house first.
♥Egypt E.
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Yay, adventure! Not that I don’t enjoy mommy/family-angled posts, but I prefer the adventurous stuff you do!
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