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6 - Orono Weekly Times. Wednesday, May 17, 2000 By Aubrey and Keren Kassirer Victoria Falls is 1 "back home" in Zimbabwe, but it feels more like Florida than Africa. The town is small but filled with strip mall boutiques, boutiques, fancy low-rise hotels, and a casino for the wealthy tourist natural water wonder watcher. There are more white faces here than we have- seen in the entire past four months. The, Zambezi River, cas- , cades 110 metres to the base of a 1300 metre long gorge, before continuing on to Mozambique and the Indian Ocean. This water curtain serves as the backdrop to many "extreme" activities in a community geared to adrenaline-junkie adrenaline-junkie travellers. Following a zig-zagging pattern pattern .created by fault lines in the earth, approximately every half million years the waterfall moves further back. The current falls was "discovered "discovered " by Dr. Livingstone. He was the first white man to see and rename Mosi Oa Tunya ("The Smoke that Thunders") as Victoria Falls, when he canoed to the edge in 1855. Looking from our vantage point in a motorized hanglider (a microlight), the obvious sharp turns of the gorge made more obvious the possibilities of six previpus locations of . Victoria Falls. From above, the spray created by the rush and power of the water racing first down and then through the narrow gorge was quite exhilarating. We were deemed students, seated behind our'respective pilots on two different microlights strapped in firmly but with hands free and legs dangling. This ride provided a truly different different perspective on life on the ground, diving at 130 km per hour to view elephants, crocodiles or boats cruising the river: We felt every gust of - wind striking the material of our wings. The spectacular beauty of the waterfall certainly changes with the seasons. The microlight pilot claimed the river changes even daily. In contrast to our January visit, when the water only trickled over the edge in places, the water level in April is highest. The morning spray reaches its zenith, visible visible from all over town and beyond. We experienced the power of the Zambezi River white water rafting the Zambezi the day before rafting companies closed for the season due to dangerously high water levels. levels. The water level thus sulv merged a few rocky sections creating new rapids. Unfortunately most of the normally spectacular rapids were partially submerged and less exciting. We still managed managed to flip out of the boat, captured on film forever. With the water so high, the fast strong current and numerous numerous whirlpools make the river more dangerous than usual. Last week some.one fell off the raft (easy to do) and never surfaced. Only his lifejacket appeared downstream. We walked around that rapid. And once the guide tightened our jackets properly, we better understood the feeling of wearing a corset. Other people helicopter, fly in a plane, hot-air balloon, or bungi jump by the falls, but Aubrey experienced another perspective on the gorge jumping off the cliff that once was Victoria Falls number three. The day started off with rappelling down the cliff face, vertically and horizontally horizontally (looking straight down 50 metres), then jumping off the cliff on a high wire harness harness stretching across the gorge. These activities led up to the thrill of the gorge swing. It was strangely more difficult to step up to the edge of the platform, with toes extending out into nothingness, nothingness, than it was to step off the platform itself on the count of "1,2,3.." Hurtling downwards, the treetops were so far below but rushing forwards forwards so quickly during four seconds of free fall. It was impossible not to scream. The 50 metre fall continued until the arc of the swing pulled the rope 100 metres across the gorge. This day certainly was filled with ■ adrenaline and exertion.- The only limit on how often you jumped was how often you climbed the 200 metres up the gorge. This was certainly one of Aubrey's favourite days ever. . As we prepared to depart for Botswana's Okavanga Delta, we retrieved our passports passports and credit cards from the rubbish bin at our campsite1 campsite 1 and counted our losses. Unfortunately, theft is an important part of the Vic Falls economy; an extreme adrenaline-inducing adrenaline-inducing activity' for some, surely. IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE about Bluebirds The regular meeting of the Newcastle Lions Club was held on Wed. May 10, 2000, in the Lions Room at the Newcastle Community Hall. President Dick Lovekin presided and welcomed 41 Newcastle Lions and one guest, Peter Willems. He also welcomed a new Lion who has transferred to Newcastle from Peterborough, Lion Jack Bentley. After dinner Lion Jack McOustra was asked to present present his "Who's Who". Lion Jack, our present Tail Twister was born in Scotland where he received his schooling and went to work in the banking industry. Jack explained that because the Scots had so much money and there were so many banks he felt that his talent was being wasted in Scotland and he needed more room to grow in banking, so he married a Scottish Lass and migrated to Canada settling settling in Halifax. After a short time Mrs. McOustra decided that Canada wasn't the life for her and went back to Scotland. Jack spent two years in Halifax then moved to Toronto where he joined the bank's inspection department department which took- him to the Caribbean where met his present wife Kaye. During the their sixteen years on Curacao they raised three children then returned to Canada and moved to Newton ville where they have resided ever since. Jack has enjoyed his three years in Lionism, even this past year as Tail Twister. He is now looking forward to the challenge of the secretary's secretary's office for the next Lions year The Guest Speaker, Mike Sullivan was introduced by Lion Brenton Rickard. Mike is a resident of Newtonville and a member of both the North American Bluebird Society, and the Eastern Ontario Bluebird Society. He gave a very interesting and informative talk and showed slides on the Bluebird and its habits. Mike showed the Lions the types of bird houses houses that should be built for their nesting and their location location in open fields or fence lines. He also explained why the boxes are mounted on steel posts rather than attached to trees. Bluebirds are normally migratory, but have been seen in Ontario throughout the winter. Mr. Sullivan was thanked and presented presented with a gift of appreciation appreciation by Lion Steve Ritchie. A letter was read from Big Sisters of Clarington, announcing their 2nd Annual Charity Golf Classic to be •held at Kedron Dells Golf Course on Sunday May 28th. Lion Mike Carter reported that the. Bowman ville Sea Cadets will be holding their annual review at the Orono Arena on Sunday May 28th at. 2 p.m. Guests are asked to be seated by 1.45 p.m. Tail Twister Jack conducted conducted ' an Auction with some choice items going to successful successful bidders. Lion Ed Majer attended his first meeting since returning home from Florida and was rewarded with the 50-50 draw prize. RECYCLE ORONO CHIROPRACTIC and EXERCISE CENTRE Ernest Schroeder, B.Sc. D.C. Doctor of Chiropractic 5331 Main Street, Box 150, Orono LOB 1M0 Telephone (905) 983-5510 COLLISION REPAIR PROFESSIONALS Fred Devries Proprietor FRED'S AUTOBODY LTD. Estimates • Repairs • Restorations 163 Baseline Road, Unit 1 Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3L4 Tel: (905) 623-6353 Fax: (905) 623-3913 Anyone wishing to further the cause of beautifying the walking trails of Orono, please signify your interest by calling Carol at 983-5058 or Pat 983-9475 or Beryl 983-5591. MASARU KARATE CLUB CLASSES MONDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENINGS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT RICK JONES EMAIL: rick.teruko@sympatico.ca TELEPHONE: (905) 786-2793 FAX: (905) 786-1031 If tarn fltt Wi will be serving Afternoon Tea at Thé Bowmanville Museum 37 Silver Street, Bowmanville SUNDAY, MAY 21 ST- * 1:30 Êr 2:30 p.m. $5.00 /Person • Block ahead, limited seating "Prettiest" &- "Funniest" Hat Contest Coll 623 2734 to Book or for additional information