Titan Abseil

a) So, I got to the top of the Titan and I just couldn’t go through with the abseil. I was too scared to move and had to be ushered down by a well-meaning tourist…
b) I did it! But I’d never do it again. The wind, rain and torrential gales made it one of the worst experiences of my life…
c) I’m writing this blog on Kat’s behalf after the tragic accident last Saturday during the abseil. Kat was a lovely person, always up for something different, but this time it went too far…

The above are all possible beginnings to today’s blog that had been going through my mind for the last week or so. But luckily, none that apply. For some reason, after all my worries and fear, part of me had become determined to do the 150ft abseil. Nay, exhilerated and eager to do it – a bit of a suprise to me. I ended up leading the group of 5 of us onto the crane, only to find that everyone else had dropped back and I was to be the first abseiler of the day.

The safety rope was attached via an epic and expertly tied knot affixed to my two-part harness and I was then instructed to ‘just climb over the railings and off you go’. I started laughing and then realised they were serious – this was the part where reality became very surreal. I grabbed onto an overhead steel cable and swung out above the inky-black waters of the Clyde and a sheer drop onto concrete, and placing my feet onto the bottom of the railings I was hooked onto my abseil rope.

From this part on, no kidding folks, it was just brilliant and fun. I sat back into my harness, let my legs rise above my head to kick off from the crane itself, and descended at some speed. The view was spectacular – Clydebank is surrounded by very pretty mountains and if you time it right you are in the flight path of the airport! I loved it – even though it was several hours before I stopped having butterflies in my stomach. And there’s lots of photos to prove that I did it as well! Would definitely do it again and I’m sure that the key is not to think about what could go wrong and just enjoy the ride!

I’d love to hear other abseilers’ experiences – please comment here if you abseiled too!