Fun/Crazy Stuff

This page has information and pictures from:

Ziplining at Banning Hills, Georgia

Dialog in the Dark

4-Highest Peaks World Record Tour

My First Triathon

Also see fun stuff on these pages: Roller Coasters and 9 beaches and 4 lighthouses in one year.

Ziplining at Banning Hills, Georgia

I did this October, 2008

What a blast! For more information check out their web site at http://www.historicbanningmills.com/

First you climb up lots of steps. Then you zip line to the first platform:

Then you have to get from platform to platform on scary bridges:

Wire bridges !!!??!!!   Then you zip down.  The last Screaming Eagle zip is 2400 ft.  It has one of the world's highest timber pole towers.  You look down at Snake Creek almost 300feet below. It's like stepping off a 30 story building.   Awesome fun!!!

Zip Lining at Banning Mills, Georgia  http://historicbanningmills.com/canopy.html

Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5h-jQJ0KEE&feature=related

Also take a look at these...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQvjGaPZVa8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cISUDSn6Bc4&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzhR8xdU4Zo&NR=1

NY Times Zipping Through the Treetops http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/travel/escapes/17leaves.html

This also looks like fun! http://www.ziprider.com/home.php

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Dialog in the Dark

I did this November 2008 (and again in 2009).

From their web site http://www.dialogue-in-the-dark.com/ paraphrased:

Dialogue in the Dark is an awareness-raising company. We offer exhibitions and business workshop in total darkness. Through these perspective-changing experiences, we create jobs for blind, disabled and disadvantaged people worldwide. 

In the exhibition, blind guides lead visitors in small groups through different settings in total darkness where they learn how to interact without sight by using their other senses.  It offers the public an experience that can change mindsets on disability and diversity, and increase tolerance.

Over six million visitors from more than 25 countries have experienced the exhibition, giving over 5.000 blind people jobs since its first opening in 1988.

DIALOG IN THE DARK is not an ordinary Exhibition; it is an experience that will awaken senses, challenge prejudices, and deepen self-awareness.
DIALOG IN THE DARK’S visually impaired guides lead visitors on a journey through a series of darkened galleries created to replicate everyday experiences. Without familiar sight clues, visitors learn to “see” in a completely new way with their non-visual senses.
DIALOG IN THE DARK is breaking through stereotypes to promote respect and tolerance in an engaging and lighthearted way.
DIALOG IN THE DARK is a one-hour experience, which lasts a lifetime.

My Experience:

I got more of an experience that anyone!  I went with 3 friends. There was a total of seven people in our group.  At the first checkpoint, all seven of us counted off.  At the end of the tour there was only six people.   They deserted me!  I was left in the last room all by myself!!!   I was in there for 15 minutes.  The rest of the group was in the room next door asking questions. 

Since we were the last group of the day, there wasn't a group coming behind our group so they allowed more time for questions.  I was pounding on the walls, banging metal objects, and yelling for someone to help me!   I did not panic, but I sure got a good idea of  what it is really like to be totally blind and totally helpless.  Definitely a life-changing experience for me!

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4-Highest Peaks World Record Tour

I did this trip on Friday July 24 to Sunday, July 26, 1992

This trip was a trip!  It's one example of other varied and different activities offered by the Atlanta Ski Club.  Another Cottingham adventure for sure!

Cost is $35 with the Atlanta Ski Club

The goal of this adventure is to set what we believe to be a "World Record" by hiking to the tops of all four highest peaks in SC, NC, TN, and GA in one sunup - to - sundown day!  This includes Mt. Mitchell - highest peak east of the Rockies, and Clingman's Dome - the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Believe it or not, this requires only about 5 miles of total hiking, broken into short segments of no more than 1 mile each (all 4 peaks have parking lots near their summits. The crux of the Saturday plan is to start early and keep moving on schedule in our vehicles - about 290 miles total.

We will carpool from the Indian Trail I-85 park and ride lot at 6pm Friday with dinner en route to Rocky Bottom, SC (2 hr drive). We will stay in 2 rental houses Friday night, bring a sleeping bag. After an early breakfast we will drive to Sassafras Mtn. SC, then 80 miles to Mt. Mitchell, just east of Asheville, NC. After a picnic lunch we will drive 95 miles to Clingmans' Dome, TN and finally 100 more miles to our own Brasstown Bald Mountain GA. where we hope to see a beautiful sunset from the summit. We'll enjoy dinner at Camp Pioneer (oldest YMCA camp in GA, just 8 miles from Brasstown Bald) and spend the night in their antique rustic cabins. After breakfast on Sunday, we'll offer an optional day hike to the High Shoals waterfalls en route home.

Pre-Trip Party: July 21 6-8 pm at 57th Fighter Group.

Cancellation Fee: $10. No refunds after July 15 unless replaced.

The Schedule

Saturday dinner on your own at Deer Lodge, about 9 miles from Brasstown Bald. Spend the night at Brasstown Village, in antique cabins (formerly "Camp Pioneer", the oldest YMCA Summer Camp in GA. or you can camp in the tenting area or RV campsite if you prefer.

Sunday about 9 am we'll cook our own group breakfast at Brasstown Village (ingredients provided by trip budget).
About 11 am Check out. Optional day hike at High Shoals Falls scenic area near Brasstown Bald before 2-hour return trip to Atlanta.

Whew!  That was quite a trip!

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Peachtree Road Race

I did this July 4, 2007. I'm not a runner so I said I would never to that again, but I did it again in 2009.  It's the biggest 10K in the world and it's quite a party!

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2008 National Championship game

January, 2009 - I was there to see my Gators win!

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My First Triathon

I did this on Friday, June 5, 2009.  I'm doing another triathlon in summer, 2009.

200 people started with a frantic swim in Lake Lanier, then you bike 12 miles (on hills) and run 5k (3.1 miles on hills)

That week in Tibet at high altitudes sure did help my training!

This picture is the set up area at 6:45 am.  You can see my (mountain) bike #57 in the foreground, and the Bike Start and Run Start signs.