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How to be a Daredevil. Think like a travel writer.

how to be a daredevil

By //  by Candace Sampson

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The definition of daredevil as provided by Webster’s is “recklessly and often ostentatiously daring”. I like that definition. It appeals to the bad-ass side of Life In Pleasantville, wherein I make popcorn for dinner and drink Sangria all night. I am nothing, if not, reckless and ostentatious. Truth be told, I’m really quite reserved but I have figured out how to be a daredevil. You need to think like a travel writer.

More than anything I love how travel writing has opened me up to experiences I would normally not have tried.. Jump into a jet boat and head into class 5 rapids, called *ahem* the Devil’s Hole? Sure, why not. Get the wits scared out of me? Of course, Iโ€™m in.  Get dropped 300 ft from the sky in a slingshot? Ummm, are you freaking kidding me? Do I look crazy?

how to be a daredevil

And yet here I was on a recent trip with Experience Kissimmee and Global Resort Homes and I was looking down the barrel of certain doom with my girlfriends and fellow bloggers, Nadia and Jen. Maybe our hosts thought we were the daredevil type. After all, we had just ziplined over alligators and crocodiles at Gatorland.  Not exactly an activity for the faint of heart, but still, looking up at the Sky Coaster that was set to drop us 300 feet from the sky, my breath caught in my chest. To be fair, I didnโ€™t really see that listed in our itinerary. I even double checked after the fact and yup, absolutely no mention of free falling from stomach flipping heights. Maybe the girls from Experience Kissimmee know what I now know…..that if you think about it too long, you won’t do it.

I asked just one question of the director at Fun Spot USA, before we were strapped in. The only one that mattered really. How many daredevil tourists had they lost on this ride? Not one was my answer.  Despite the reassuring response, it was cold comfort as we were being hoisted up into the air by the steel cable.

This is how it came to be that I was strapped beside two good friends, arm in arm, being pulled 300 feet into the sky. Cue the intense bonding. What gets said in the air, stays in air, so I won’t share the nitty gritty  but let’s just say it was emotional and had a lot of ‘f” words thrown about like fabulous, fun and f…..well, you get the picture.

I can not lie, the first twenty minutes of free falling was the worst. I kid, it was probably 3 seconds but it felt like forever, at least until the cable caught up and gave us a little tug tight.  As soon as I felt the catch, the Sky Coaster was 100% pure awesome. Despite the fact that I’m screaming non-stop in the video, I’m actually having the time of my life. Really.

Iโ€™m pretty sure that had I had more than five minutes to think about riding on the Sky Coaster that day I would have chickened out.

So now I know how to be a daredevil and Iโ€™m going to treat all my travel like Iโ€™m working. I’m pretty sure that leaping before I think is the best thing I’ll ever do.

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Filed Under: Kissimmee, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: daredevil, family travel, Fun Spot USA, Kissimmee, Sky Coaster, Travel

About Candace Sampson

Candace is founder and editor-in-chief of Life in Pleasantville which isn't half as fancy as it sounds. You can find her sharing travel stories on What She Said Radio and on CTV Ottawa Morning Live.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nori Rodriguez

    October 29, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    “Live like we’re dying” perfect soundtrack

  2. Tara

    October 30, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    Watching was just as heart stopping…well ok…it was a little close??? You girls are total bad asses!

  3. Jodi Shaw

    October 30, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    that’s awesome and such great advice as we often let our fears get in the way of things and keep us from new experiences.

  4. Crystal

    October 30, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    OMG, I would have pee’d my pants! You are braver than I! Looked like you guys had an amazing trip! Can’t wait to read more about it!

  5. Eli@coachdaddy

    October 30, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    Now that’s pretty bad-ass. What do you do for an encore? What’s next on your list?

  6. mapsgirl

    October 30, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    I’m not sure I could have done that! Good for you! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Olfa

    October 30, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    Omg Ian so chicken!!!

  8. Stephanie @ Spaceships and Laser Beams

    October 30, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Very cool advice! I love to travel. Now I am going to travel like a travel writer!

  9. momstownca

    October 30, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    OMG, Never in a million years.

  10. Cheap Flights Trip

    October 31, 2013 at 7:17 am

    Amazing video. great article.

  11. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    Thank you! So much fun.

  12. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    LOL! Oh Ann-Marie that made me laugh. You’re braver than you think girlfriend ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    Thanks Stephanie, it certainly helps change your perspective.

  14. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:37 pm

    Like I said the key is to not overthink it ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:49 pm

    Hmmm, jumping out of a plane is definitely not on the list. I’ll have to give that some thought.

  16. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    I have to tell you I thought I was going to pee my pants LOL. Scary as hell going up but glad I did it.

  17. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    very true. Our mind plays tricks on us.

  18. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    Ha! It was crazy fun and a little heart stopping ๐Ÿ˜‰

  19. Candace Derickx

    November 1, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    I didn’t even notice the song playing until you pointed it out. Perfect soundtrack for this!

  20. Eli Pacheco

    November 2, 2013 at 8:30 am

    Running with the bulls? Jousting? Eating the hottest wings on the menu?

  21. Brandy

    May 28, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    Oh my goodness! This is awesome! Way to be a daredevil! I am starting to face my fears little by little and this makes me want to face them even more. hehe!

Trackbacks

  1. The World’s Highest Sky Coaster & What It’s Like To Plummet From Over 300 Feet | Child Mode says:
    October 29, 2013 at 3:48 pm

    […] firsts during a trip to Kissimmee with my fellow Canadian friends Jen from Urban Moms, Candace from Life in Pleasantville and Candice from Candice Does the World. It was the first time I stayed in a vacation home (hello 8 […]

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