We usually barbecue with some family or go for a bike ride.
This year we didn't have a fixed plan so I looked around for an adventure.
Sundance had a two-for-one Zip Line deal so I checked it out.
For the usual $120 for one, both of us could go.
It looked like fun. something new and out in nature.
There are five segments of zip and it promised to be good weather.
Marc and I have done zip lines before so it didn't scare me.
(In Mexico, it was only scary when the line shook and the workers shouted out "Grande!" when Marc came down.)
It didn't occur to me that maybe I would be asking too much of my recovering left shoulder.
My rotator cuff surgery was clear back in December and I'd been faithfully going to physical therapy for months. My manipulation surgery was much simpler and I felt pretty good about my range-of-motion.We prepared for the day, anticipating cool temperatures at the top of the lift and wearing thermals, good shoes, jackets and helmets.
We paid our money, signed our waivers and boarded the ski-lift up to the top of the mountain.
The employees packed our backpacks with the equipment that would hook onto the line.
We headed up, up and more up.
When we reached the top, they told us we would do a short 100-foot demo ride to get us prepared.
The girl clipped me on.
There was kind of a wedge thing that I had to hold onto and pull down.
I tried it.
It didn't move.
I tried harder and with both arms.
It still didn't move.
Oh dear.
It seems my arm strength hasn't returned.
I couldn't make it go. I was literally in limbo.
"Sorry, you'll have to come back," said the girl. "This is why we do this first. If you can't hold it down, you don't go."
I realized later that it's a good thing to fail at the demo run because if I got going on the real zip line and got tired, I would stop and be stuck up there somewhere scary for who knows how long.
I told my 5-year-old grandson about it later.
His eyes got really big.
"Grandma!" he said, "You would have been hung up there!"
Sundance is now holding my ticket for a future attempt. If I work out a lot I can try again.
In the meantime, I'm safe on the ground and I'm just celebrating that I didn't get further than I did.
Marc had a great time. I saw him flash by and met him at the bottom after I rode the lift back down.
He says I ought to try it.
It'd be fun!!!
