Sky Diving At Seventy Three

Why do people do skydiving? Is it not risky and dangerous? Are these guys mad or out of their mind? Craziest of the crazy?

Skydiving gives you a thrill. Thrill beyond words. Because you dive from an aircraft for a free fall! Hurtling down to the earth below at a speed of 200 kms an hour! And before you get scared of crashing on the ground, the parachute opens and arrests your speed. Then the gradual descent begins. Sounds cool? Or, scary? Have you done it? Would you like to do it?

I recently did skydiving with Ankur our son-in-law, Nikhil our elder grandson and two other friends Satyam and Sachi the father-daughter duo, in California. It was an adventure beyond words. The feeling of having done it is like climbing a summit. Am grateful to God that I could do it at my 'young' age of 73! Of course the other thrilling aspect was that three generations did it together. Same day, same aircraft, same height but two dives! We all couldn't be accommodated in one sortie as explained later.

It was a long wait before our turn for the dive came. Let the pictures do the talking.

After three hours, Sachi, Nikhil and Ankur got their turn. The jubilant trio returning after the dive.

Each skydiver is thoroughly briefed and kitted up before boarding the flight.

Time to board the single engine plane for the air drop.

Ready to go!

See the short video of my parachute coming in for landing.

Finally, the touch down! Felt dehydrated.

Sharing below a video showing the highlights of the skydive.

Special thanks to Ankur and Ashi for making it happen. In Neeta's absence, Ashi tried her best to dissuade all of us from doing it. She even interviewed Clark one of the experienced instructors, about the safety measures and the risk involved. Thank you Ashi for relenting and let us do it!

Location

Bay Area Skydiving is located in Byron, California.

Cost of a Dive

We thank Bay Area Skydiving in California for giving us a lifetime experience. Bookings can be made online contact ID jump@bayareaskydiving.com. Week day dives are a bit cheaper. The dive costs USD  300 per person for up to 60 seconds free fall from a height of 15,000 feet. There is a discount of USD 10 for students and military personnel.. Videography charges are extra and vary from USD 100 to 200.

Other Adventure Stories

We are sharing below a story of another adventure sport called 'paramotoring' where you fly in the sky like a paratrooper! Heard about it? If not, then browse the link below for a picture story:

Paramotoring in Hyderabad - Shows what a paratrike is like. It includes the picture story of a 'young' lady who celebrated her 63rd birthday doing paramotoring after reading our blog! She called it a glorious experience.

Here is another story of four young women hiking in a river having chest high water with strong current! They had left their children behind! Sounds crazy? Browse the link below:

Women Hiking In Water - Picture story of four young moms hiking in a flowing river for 25 kms!

We end with a PQ picturesque quote about life and the spirit of adventure.

Hope our story has shaken you to rise above your comfort zone! Take risks and enjoy life.

Thanks for browsing and stay connected.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Pleasanton, USA/ 7th Aug 2025

#adventure #livinglife #comfortzone #risksinlife #thrill #skydiving #california #bayarea #freefall #threegenerations #crazyguys #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

University Send Off

Do you remember when you left home after the 12th grade to join the University? The excitement, the preparation and the send off?

This story is about the send off party for our grandson in USA. Those of you familiar with the school education system in USA, would know the energy and scale with which high school (12th grade) graduation is celebrated. Rightly so, because higher education leads to professoonal careers and bigger job or startup opportunities.

Prior to the graduation, the high school student (and his/her parents) spend the year writing the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) exam, shortlisting the universities, preparing the essays for application, visiting the probable universities, and finalising the choice of program and the university. It is a major milestone not only for the student but the entire family. Next comes the send off. Time for the teenager to leave home. The empty nest syndrome for the parents follows thereafter. A glimpse of a nest about to feel the emptiness.

Our grandson Nikhil in California has secured admission into Computer Science (Hons) program in the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was such a pleasure to attend the send off party for Nikhil and spend four weeks  walking, driving, hiking and playing golf together. Pictures follow.

Checking out the Tesla's Cyber Truck!

Golfers across three generations playing together before Nikhil goes off to the University. 

See Ashi's imaginatively designed gift boxes for the thank-you-gifts. Second picture shows the gift boxes being packed by Nikhil's friends.

Nikhil is a Taekwondo Black-belt 3rd Dan holder. See the picture below.

In fact the whole family goes for Taekwondo together. See Ashi the Mom with Nikhil and Naman at the Taekwondo Academy in Mil Pitas, California.

Nikhil's room filled with Taekwondo medals.

The send off party included the intro to Nikhil and Naman (his younger brother), brief speeches by the grandparents, dance performances by family and friends followed by dancing to DJ's music.

Pirates of the Caribbean by Viyaan on piano

A million dreams sung by Ayan...

Dada Dadi's send off speech...

Nikhil and Naman - the opening performance 

Ankur and Ashi, Nikhil's parents performed a lovely dance.

When the DJ lit up the dance floor..

Anchita's poetic send off

Excerpts of the hilarious send off poem written by Anchita:

These hills have trees, and the trees are hilling,

We have Niku, and our Niku, is nikling.

We gather together to cheer and celebrate, 

And see off our gabru jawan graduate.

We bid you good luck with happy, misty eyes,

We’re beyond overjoyed, as our oldest one flies.

We’re proud of everything you are and do,

We wish you’ll always be unabashedly YOU.

If life gets too serious when you’ve gone far,

Go hapachika papachika hapachika pa!

When you feel down or your world is in knots,

Think of chakatte or umm... things in flower pots...

Next comes a specially composed poem by Sachi, Anchita's daughter

Excerpts of the lyrics composed by Sachi another high schooler:

The four of us used to run together

Come hottest days or coldest weather

I know your house like I know my own

If not better

Laughing and never remembering what we said

Making up stories inside our heads

And we smiled under blue skies

Overhead

But then she moved away

And he's off to college

She's still in high school

We're all seeking knowledge...

The rocking duo, Nikhil's mom and dad:

Here is what I spoke as a grandpa.

It is such a delight to be here from India.

Once in the College dorm

You can forget your Mom

But don't forget your Dad

As he recharges your Card

Everybody says it is now freedom time:

Freedom to bunk a class

Freedom to raise a glass

Freedom to eat

Freedom to sleep

'Nikhil, you are getting late!'

Such commands can wait.

Naman says:

Your room is now taken

Till the next vacation 

Taekwondo's focus and determination 

Will help in reaching your CS Destination

Go, rock the University and it's many a test

All of us present here wish you all the best.

God bless and love ❤️

------- 

Some more pictures of a memorable evening. 

Bravo Ankur and Ashi for such a grand send off for Nikhil. So many guests spoke about Nikhil and his superlative qualities. It made us all proud.

Nikhil had written a guest story for our blog when he turned eleven. You may click the link below to browse the picture story.

Why Kodaikanal - a picture story about few well known and some unknown spots in and around Kodaikanal. Check out how many of these spots  have you seen?

Naman, the younger brother is equally talented. When he was eight-years-old he already had a web site of his sketches. He too has contributed a story to our blog which can be browsed by clicking the link below.

Sketching At Eight - Sample the incredible sketches made by Naman when he was just eight! The story also has an interview with Naman.

Talent sure runs in the family!

As this Black Belt 3rd Dan, drummer, dancer and writer goes to University,  we wish him God speed...

... while his mom dreams on...!

Thanks for browsing.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Pleasanton/ 3rd Aug 2025

#universitysendoff #highschoolgrad #california #usa #taekwondo #donewiththeschool #enteringtheuniversity #emptynest #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh