A friend (Joan) sent me an email the other day about this accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.
In the picture above, the pick-up had been travelling from right to left, at about 75mph, when it lost control and crashed through the guardrail (where the people in the photo are standing).
It flipped end-over-end, bouncing off and across the culvert, miraculously landing upright, facing in completely the opposite direction.
The 22 year-old driver and his 18 year-old passenger were unhurt, except for some minor cuts and bruises.
Now, so far, this doesn't seem too exceptional. They lost control and got lucky with where they landed. But, if you scroll down and look at the bigger picture, you will see just how amazingly lucky they were!
Sometimes, during lessons, it is nice to just relax and chat about non-driving stuff. The trouble is, you don't know where that could lead.
Towards the end of last year, one of my pupils,Sophie, was telling me about the weekend she had planned. It was her boyfriend's birthday and she was treating him to an adventure weekend in the Cairngorms. She had done a bungee jump and they were hoping to do some white-water rafting and cliff jumping. We swapped tales of our adrenaline-junkie pursuits, but I must have mentioned that I had never done a bungee jump.
Then, a month or two ago, Sophie, having passed her test, was chatting to me about doing the Pass Plus course. She then casually mentioned that there was going to be a sponsored bungee jump at Killiecrankie, Perthshire, in aid of Yorkhill Children's Hospital. She also casually mentioned that she had put my name forward! I used to be all action, no talk. Now I'm the opposite.
"Erm... Right. So what happens now?" I asked.
She explained that I could apply for an application form on Facebook, then they would send me all the details. "Right, I'll do that." I lied.
But, after a while, I did apply. The information was promptly received and, a week later, I was booked in to jump off the 132' bridge at Killiecrankie at 11.00am on Saturday 22nd March. Eek and double Eek!
Meanwhile, my daughters are having a field day. They think the whole thing is hilarious. Their main concern is what I am to wear. A onesie is the favoured choice. That ain't gonna happen. Ever! They can't wait for next Saturday. I think they just want to hear how loud I scream.
The other day I was talking to a friend of my wife. She asked me about the bungee jump and then asked me "Have you done any practice?" !!!!
Erm.... not really sure how I am supposed to practice? Buy some industrial strength knicker elastic and jump off the Kessock Bridge? Perhaps I should start off small. Maybe tie my shoelaces together and jump off the bed? I can't see that ending well.
