I've never really considered myself an adventurous person, but rather would describe myself as averagely average, predictable, just generally fairly uninteresting. Sometimes, however, I do step out of my cosy comfortable normality and get to try something different - and I've never yet regretted it!
Last weekend was one of those times. While Mr B and I were visiting Chaos Gremlin for the weekend, someone suggested the possibility of axe throwing as an activity to do. Well, once words like that have been said out loud, there is only one possible outcome! Sunday lunchtime found us signing the disclaimer that we were aware the activity could lead to catastrophic injury or even death, and looking forward to giving it a try.
Our instructor led us through the health and safetly briefing swiftly and efficiently, all sounding light-hearted but with the actual serious bits properly covered. And then we got to pick up our axes and learn the first of the three throwing techniques we were shown. Yes, three techniques (two-handed, one-handed, and a different one-handed one). It's safe to say I threw with more enthusiasm then skill, but a satisfying number of my axes hit the target. An early almost-bullseye was quickly proven to be lucky, rather than evidence of a previously unsuspected talent - but I managed to get all three axes in the target once or twice, which was supremely exciting!
When it came to the mini competition at the end of our hour, however, I decided to rely on bonus points for doing a viking roar while throwing, rather than just the points gained by the axe - and it was just as well! Even just using the trusty two-handed throw, as I'd done through most of the session - a significant proportion of my axes bounced off the target and landed on the ground, and nothing got even close to the bulls-eye for me despite some lucky throws earlier in the session!
Mr B guessed that axe throwing would surely count towards a badge - and of course he's right. Looks as though I've started the Adventurer badge now! There are so many options of things I'd like to do for this one: I've loved high ropes and zipline in the past, think I could still manage, and know my Gremlin would do them with me. Horse riding is something I used to enjoy as a child, and have only done once or twice as an adult, so maybe this could be a good excuse to try that again. And of course hot-air ballooning, my promised 40th birthday present which I've still not actually arranged to do, 10 years later... So many options, I hardly know what to choose. Hopefully having done one of my 'ooh yes please I'd like to try that' experiences, I might manage to remember to actually arrange to do some of the others too.
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