Securing myself in a mishmash of straps and harnesses, I moved slowly towards the precipice from where I was about to take one of the boldest steps of my life. As I stood there, heart pounding strongly, the only ridiculous thought circling in my mind was, ‘is my rear-view presenting an awkward view in this outfit?’
A decade ago, such thoughts would have shackled the thrill-seeker in me. Even though remnants of that self-consciousness were still lurking within me, I decided to focus on regulating my breaths and embracing the moment. It was time for me to leap from the precipice.
What I was about to do was to descend from a 350-foot cliff – the longest abseil in the world. I saw, but couldn’t quite comprehend, the white horses of the endless wild Cape seaboard, the vague outlines of the Robben Island and Lions Head. I pondered, why at the ripe age of 54, I had decided to abseil Cape Town’s Table Mountain. The moment was here, and it was time for me to conquer my fears.
At the count of five, I leaned back into the blue abyss, clinging onto the earth with a rope-and-pulley system. There was a brief moment of effortless gliding along the rock face, followed by a jolt which left me hanging midway over the treacherous cliff. Dangling in mid-air, I tried to focus on the breathtaking view around me – a little rock hyrax scampering across a ledge, the sun casting its golden gleam on the Camps Bay.
Being suspended in thin air evoked feelings of exhilaration I had long lost touch with since my teenage years. A newfound freedom enveloped me, a joy so enthralling that I could feel my heart pounding with life. The experience was akin to falling in love where you are so consumed by the emotion, it feels as if your heart might burst.
This unprecedented experience ignited a desire to test my limits and venture into new territories. As I travelled in the following years, I committed to pushing my boundaries, always looking forward to trying new things or polishing unfamiliar skills.
The need for adventure is not unique; many women over the age of 50 have been seeking out more adventurous travelling experiences according to Carolyn Ray – the CEO and editor of an unofficial community of 150,000 solo female travellers. To her, adventure is not necessarily an extreme activity but any experience that roots deep into the culture and community of the place. Such experiences are not merely a tick mark off a bucket list, but something that adds purpose to these women’s lives.
Author Dr. Laura Marshall Andrews believes that while being in nature is inherently healing, maintaining a strong social connection is the pivotal element to good mental health. According to her, as women age, they develop a physically braver self and a sense of exploration uncontrived by familial responsibilities. Such experiences mark an evolution of women and their latent potential.
As I lean into my 60s, I have left behind the aim of placidly lying on a beach, relishing the warm rays of the sun. Instead, I am throwing my lot with more challenging experiences. I am looking forward to cycling up the steep curves of Northern Greece’s remote mountain hinterlands. In these new landscapes, I am gaining deeper insights into different cultures and laying down my roots deeper into the shared humanity of the world with a sense of newfound freedom and purpose.
Women such as Carolyn Ray, Dr. Laura Marshall Andrews, and author Nezrine Malik, among others, inspire such expeditions to encourage women globally to pursue their relegated ambitions. These trips are about much more than exploring new places; they offer a pathway to rediscover one’s self and to reconnect with the adventurous spirit that might have been suppressed by the duties of life. Each adventurous journey I undertake allows me to align with the curious, passionate, and adventurous woman I always knew I was.
