Me waving hello to everyone having lunch at the Euromast Restaurant.
I peered over the edge of the Euromast, the tallest building in Rotterdam. It was a long way down. 100 meters to be exact. I gave my safety harness a hard tug and then swung my leg over the ledge.
The Euromast, the tallest building in Rotterdam.
I felt strangely calm for someone about to jump off a ledge, although technically it wasn’t a jump, it was one simple step that would lead me into thin air. In other circumstances I might have spent more time pondering my sanity – I should be scared out of my wits to do this. I grasped the rope with both hands, looking for the tell-tale nervous hand shake. Instead my hands were steady in the proper hand over hand position.
Getting ready to step off the ledge while abseiling from the Euromast.
It was time to step off the ledge into the thin air where I would remain for the next 5-10 minutes as I worked the ropes through the carabiner and maneuvered myself down 100 meters to safety. I hesitated. My guide was above me helping another abseiler. I wanted him near me. I felt calm, but still, he WAS my safety blanket. Another guide urged me on.
Hesitating before taking the final step into thin air to start the descent.
And so with just the slightest hesitation, I took the biggest step of my life….
More than halfway down while abseiling from the Euromast.
I lifted my heel first and slowly uncurled my toes into….nothingness. I was hanging 100 meters precariously by two ropes. I stopped for several seconds to enjoy the views over Rotterdam.
Beautiful views over Rotterdam from the Euromast.
But I realized rather quickly as my heart quicked that views are better enjoyed when your feet are firmly on the ground rather than hanging in thin air. I started pulling up on the rope with my right hand, pulling it up through the carabeaner with the left making slow progress at first. But as the ropes slackened it became easier with each tug of my hands. Before I knew it I felt my toes, then my heels touch on the pavement. I felt a simultaneous wave of disappointment and pride as they did. It was over AND I had done it.
Abseiling from the Euromast was exhilaritng, but also strangely calming. I loved EVERY second of it. Several of my fellow abseilers were understandably quite nervous. Now that I’ve officially made it and am safely back on ground I’ve got plenty of time to wonder, Why the heck was stepping off a ledge NOT nerve wracking?
