LIGHTENING never strikes twice ? but a strange coincidence occurred in Okehampton this week. Ron Arthurs, age 68 of Okehampton, asked: ?Are all the old men in Okehampton mad? They are all jumping off bridges!? Mr Arthurs returned from New Zealand to find the story of Michael Allen, the bungy jumping pensioner, in his copy of the Times. This struck a chord with Mr Arthurs as, just a week earlier, he put his life in the hands of the gods and an elastic string to take exactly the same leap. Travelling with his wife, Mr Arthurs spent two weeks exploring New Zealand and a week in the island paradise of Fiji. In a similar way to Michael Allen, when the coach Mr Arthurs was travelling on passed through Queenstown, the coach driver asked if anyone would like to do a bungy jump off the Kawarau Bridge. Mr Arthurs said he was ?goaded into it by the missus?, who volunteered her husband for the jump. He said: ?After being volunteered I realised that I must have a go, because something like that is a one off and I?d never done anything like it before. ?I felt a little bit elated after the jump but when they lowered me into the raft at the bottom and they asked me how I felt they were surprised when I told them I was a bit disappointed. ?I wanted to hit the water but because I dived so far out the weight ratio was wrong so I ended up just missing it!? After growing up in Northlew, Mr Arthurs spent 22 years in the Army Physical Training Corps. Now living in Okehampton he is an avid traveller and three years ago did a five week tour around China. He said: ?I love to travel and get involved with the place I?m in. I hate just going somewhere to sit on the sand. I like to meet the locals, try their food and get involved with their customs.? This ethos on travelling was brought to the fore when he was in Fiji as he was made chief of his own tribe for the day. He took part in a traditional village ceremony and lead the drinking of the Fijian ceremonial brew, Kava, reputed to allow the drinker to commune with the supernatural. While in Queenstown Mr and Mrs Arthurs took a trip on the Shotover Jet, a world famous jet boat that takes its passengers through the canyons of the Shotover River at breakneck speeds. On the same day as the bungy jump they also took a trip in a small six seater plane to the top of Mt Cook, New Zealand?s highest peak. Mr Arthurs commented on how many people from West Devon are now venturing further a field ? while he was in the customs queue at Los Angeles International Airport he met a young man from Whiddon Down! He has volunteered to talk to anyone who is interested about travelling. His experiences are backed up with a collection of photos, slides, DVDs about travelling in New Zealand, China and America. He can be contacted on 07855 843332 for further information.
