Hey! Hey! We're the Monkeys!

After the all important training session and safety briefing, we were set free to roam around the tree tops via the high wire assault course that is Go Ape! at Leeds Castle.

Rope ladders were the way up the trees and swinging log bridges were one of the ways through them. The odd Tarzan swing placed here and there meant that it was a leap of faith into cargo net.

What goes up must come down and the only way down from the trees (other than falling i suppose) was via one of the zip lines. A couple of them went through the trees, and a couple of them went over the valley. The first one that went over the valley seemed high to start with, when you jump out of the tree, then the ground just drops away from you as you're sent whizzing from one side of the course to the other. A nice soft landing awaits, then you realise that the only way back is on another zip line that looks twice as high.

At certain points throughput the course you get a choice of paths. Moderate or Extreme. The Extreme was either a more exciting or a more difficult way to get across the gap in the trees. Rings on ropes, wooden steps supported by wires 10M up and cargo nets were all used to get through the course.

The course ended with a mammoth zip line that seemed to go on for ages.

All in all a fantastic experience and the food and drink that we were served in the Sir Thomas Wyatt afterwards was most definitely deserved.

Good times. Good food and above all, good company.

Here's to 2010!!