Jumping Off Bridges and Drinking Wine (not at the same time)

Apparently we decided we hadn’t had enough adventure on the Otter Trail, so we used our spare day to push our luck and continue the adventure.  Storms River is home of the Blourkans Bridge, an arch bridge rising 216 meters (708 feet) above the valley below and the home of the worlds highest commercial bungee jump.  

We were brave enough to make the reservation after checking out the brochure.  It wasn’t until I saw the bridge in person that I began wondering to myself, “why did I think it was a good idea to jump off this?”  After being fitted for a harness we walked out to the center of the bridge, said a few prayers, and anxiously waited for our turn to free fall 180 meters (590 feet) towards the river below.  Once hooked up to the bungee, they walk you to the edge, count down from five, and then push!  No chance for second thoughts.  It was a wild experience, but amazing.  We would definitely recommend it anyone who happens to be strolling though South Africa and is looking for an adrenaline rush.  

After our adventures in Storms River, we headed to Cape Town and enjoyed a more relaxed but no less enjoyable day wine tasting.  We visited three wineries in Franschhoek and Paarl.  The weather cooperated for us and we got to enjoy our wine surrounded by breathtaking mountain backdrops and rolling vineyards that the areas offer.  

First on our list was Lynx Wines where we met with Dieter, the owner and winemaker.  Dieter did a tremendous job explaining the wine making process and his philosophy.  We sampled Viognier which was still aging from both the oak barrel and tanks which he will eventually mix.  It was a very cool experience getting to learn so much about the process from the person who is responsible for the final product.  We found out that every tour is conducted by either Dieter or the assistant winemaker; no surprise that it’s rated #1 thing to do in Franschhoek on Trip Advisor.  Our only regret was that we didn’t take more wine home with us.  

From there, we visited with Jeremy and Emma, the owners and producers of Painted Wolf Wines.  They were very generous to host us at their home to taste and enjoy their wines.  We tried some great wines and learned all about the conservation of African Wild Dogs, a cause that Jeremy and Emma both feel very strongly about.  Funds from every bottle sold goes towards research and conservation of this endangered species.

Our last stop of the day was with Mary-Lou and Lance, winemakers of Black Pearl Wines.  We were lucky enough to share these wines with them on their patio overlooking their vineyards to the backdrop of a gorgeous African sunset.  We would have been content to stay there all night drinking their wine and nibbling on cheese but our driver was eager to get us home as we were already an hour over our allotted time for the day, whoops!

We want to thank Dieter, Jeremy, Emma, Mary-Lou, and Lance for their generous hospitality and sharing all their amazing wines with us.  We had a tremendous time and were sad to see it come to an end.