Abseiling!!!

This means RAPPELING and I did it!! We were at beautiful Pen Rhyn Castle with the Full On crew who taught us about not only rappelling but conquering our natural fear of falling. We climbed the tower ending in two steep ladder staircases and on top of the castle tour we could see for miles!! Out to sea, around the castle grounds, and more of the beauty that is South Wales. We were safety harnessed in the center. One by one we climbed onto metal platforms on the top edge of the tower, got locked in with two sets of ropes, and began the largest test of sheer will and bravery I have ever done. We had to step to the edge and lean back until our legs were straight and our bodies were about 45 degrees back. We let go of the platform and held our harness with one hand and our rope with the other. The harness is SOOOO tight!! We were told to let go of the harness and give a thumbs up for a photographer...but my brain would not allow it...my hand was clamped tight!! I told them no, take the picture, and I took a step backward. Then another and I was abseiling! Once over the initial mind-numbing fear of leaning over the edge, it was pretty cool to be doing it. Wow. I rappeled off an 80-foot tower in Wales!! Now it is off to the ferry to the Republic of Ireland...a three-hour, open-water ferry. Hmmm :)