Cliff Jumping

I was recently lucky enough to spend a week at Norris Lake with the family. This is the third year the whole family made the trek from Cincinnati for a vacation at the lake. Although I’m not as young as I used to be, I still enjoy taking full advantage of all water-associated fun – including cliff jumping!That’s right - my nieces, nephews and I jumped off a 40-plus foot cliff. First, notice I said jump, not dive. Although the water is deep, it’s not a smart decision to dive into lakes. Secondly, in order to jump off the 40-plus foot cliff, we first had to get to the top. Fortunately, some kind person attached a rope to one of the top trees in order to give you a start, but a little higher, you are on your own. That is where you have to be careful of your steps, watch for loose rocks, watch your footing and make sure you are reaching for something to grab that is solidly in place.We had a lot of fun that day, but one thing I learned was that it is not the jump that can cause you to be a little achy the next day, it’s the climb up the cliff!