Every day seems to get more Epic. As usual we started the day with an ocean swim of 3 km. Well this was an amazing swim for me today. When I stopped at Kings buoy to make sure I stay on course David and Maya stopped there as well. David asked me how I am and I answered that I was cold. David being himself said well maybe I should swim faster than I would not be cold. Mmmm, I am German and that comment really p….. me off. LOL So I was very determined to stay on his feet all the way back. I am sure I p….. him off. Hahaha I almost made it all the way back to the beach and than I ran out of gas. But this swim gave me some good confidence that I can swim in an ocean .:)
Now the ride is what made the day Epic. We rode up Mauna Loa, 17 miles up hill through Lava fields. Absolutely stunning!!! You have to see it to get the whole picture. The climb was tough for me because as we got higher the air got thinner and I needed my puffer that i forgot in the van. But David came to the rescue and I was able to have a puff from his. LOL Saved my day. While we were climbing we had some good laughs and had a few stops to take some amazing pictures. As we got higher nobody wanted to talk anymore as we needed all the oxygen to make it up the mountain. We stopped at 11,100 feet at the observatory . Wow was it ever cold up there. Thanks Tara for letting me have your leg warmers and David for letting me wear your extra shirt. The descent was very cold and fast. Loved it, but I was frozen by the time I was at the bottom of the mountain.
So in total we rode 77 km, just to go up and down the mountain. EPIC!!!!!!!
A big thank you to Etienne and Lisa (my hero) for following us in the van. Couldn’t ask for a better support crew. Lisa, I know you wanted to climb this mountain, but next year you will. I am sure of that. All you have to worry about now, is to heal up so you can race again. You are one tough cookie:).
After a great massage to finish up the day I am going to sleep now. We are up at 5 am so we can hopefully swim with the dolphins at Captain Cooks bay.