Out n' About Treesort full day 1

Today we spent the day enjoying the sun and 85 degree weather. We all went at 10:00 this morning to go on the Zip Lines. All 8 of us gathered at the Treesort zip office, and got suited up in gear. Gear for this adventure included helmets, leather gloves, and a harness. We started on the bunny slope of lines, to learn how to hold our bodies - and stop.
I remember learning to drive, with my mom, who told me all about putting teh car in gear, lightly stepping on the brake and how to turn the wheel to go the direction I wanted. I seem to remember that she did not mention ANYTHING about the braking system. I knew there was another pedal down there, but not what it was or how to use it. The guides this morning made sure we knew how to slow and stop. It takes a little getting used to it, but it is fairly simple - use your gloved hand to pull down on the wire without grabbing the wire (which would stop your arm, but your body keeps moving - "an object in motion" and all that).
Carissa was the first to try the bunny slope and she did great. Loved it! Nick was next, then Dave and I was last. Once our little group of 4 went, Tressa went - and she looked nervous at first. Connor was next, and you can imagine his red hair flying out around his helmet as he smiled his way across. Jean and Ian came along and we were ready to go. While Tressa seemed the most nervous at first, by the second line she was a pro! You couldn't wipe the smile - grin - off her face!
There were 5 zip lines we all did. They started lower and went higher - and they were a blast. The last two were high up in trees, and to access the little metal platforms you had to use ladders. The ladders did not impress Carissa who became increasingly anxious about the climb. She saw me come in hard to one of the tree platforms, and at that point she was ready to be done.
However, she loved every zip line and was glad she did it! After the Basic Lines (6 in all) Carissa, Jean and I headed out. The rest - Ian, Tressa, Connor, Dave and Nick - all stayed to go to the Advanced Lines. There were all tree to tree lines, no feet on the ground after the first climb up. They stated that it was AWESOME!
At that point, the 5 of them did the Tarzan Swing. Now Nick has apparently done something similar in D.C. with my sister Laura and her husband Mike. But none of the others knew what to expect other than watching others do it first.
This is a rope swing into which you are harnessed both by lower body and chest harness. You are pulled 50+ feet into the air along the trunk of a tree, at which point you are told by the guide to "let go!" From there, Newton takes over and gravity swings you down and out - then back and forth till you slow to a stop. It is similar to bungee - but swinging not bouncing. Tressa again went first, then Nick, Connor, Ian and Dave. Each person got to have two swings, and you thought on the first one they were all ready to throw up. By the second swing, it was like this was what life was meant for!
While I did not suit back up to go on the Tarzan Swing, it was so worth it to see the quickly changing expressions on their faces as they fell to the earth and then back up again!
This is a wonderful resort, with roosters, chickens, horses, treehouses, indoor plumbing and sun/shade/natural pool. I love it here.