We are already here at Day 7…the day started off with a 1500 metre swim competition in the ocean. Sounds easy, but not in an ocean with the highest waves I have seen this week. The surfers were out with us catching some pretty big waves on other parts of the beach at 7am…so you can imagine what our swim was like.
I like to think I’m a good swimmer. I have swam competitively, life guarded, taught swimming lessons…I’m pretty capable in the water. But this time, I knew what it was like to feel some fear of the water. The ocean was darker, the sand at the bottom was getting stirred up and the fish were even hiding behind rocks to avoid the strong currents from the waves….I mean if the locals are hiding…what does that tell you?
We swam out to what is called the “King’s Buoy” it is 750 metres from our start line…but I believe it is more – it has to be 
. I tried to follow Ann and let her lead the way (I’m a bad spotter). But I lost her. So I was on my own. At times, while I was swimming to the 750 marker, the waves were so high I couldn’t even see it. I felt like I was in a washing machine. After finishing the first 750, I felt comfortable that something wasn’t going to suck me under/eat me/sting me…I swam confidently to the end – with Joey right behind me. It was certainly a surprise to feel fear of water, but I’m glad that I did…I overcame something and it has given me some empathy for people who might be more afraid of water than I am.
We made it home for a quick breakfast and hit the road for a 90km ride – Tara was not letting off easy…there was a lot of hills to climb ahead. We all headed off in our new Zoot gear, lookin’ pretty fine. We finished the last KOM (I think it should be QOM) of the camp…Tara came out ahead and Joey pulled some fresh legs out and came in a nicely earned second. We struck out to Cook’s Bay and had a nice descent down Napoopoo Road. We had a quick snack, group photo and saddled up for some more hill climbing (Are you starting to notice a pattern here?) I climbed up the hill with New Katie & Lisa. We bumped into Ann & Stewie at a coffee shop at the top of the hill. A local guy stopped and asked us; “How long are you ladies staying on the Island for? We have been seeing you all riding around all week” Nice to know some people are witnessing the suffering.
After that, we zoomed down the Queen’s highway back into Kona. We all stopped for an Acai sundae…I had the Waterman – pineapple, cashews, cashew milk, bee pollen (first time for anything), blueberries & granola. A whopper of a combo of super foods. I finally had some Poke from the Poke Shack…yum!
With Sarah, our fine chef, headed back to B.C. David & Bruce picked up kitchen duty and made a fine turkey chilli.
Afterwards, Etienne, who is our mental coach (does that sound right?). I believe he gave us our best talk of the week. It was about tackling fear & pain. Fear stands for ” ” and pain is about giving it an identity …a strategy designed to distract your mind from the pain.
Afterwards we all had a good gab fest. I really have enjoyed the women at the camp. It has been a luxury to be among people who identify with your passion and the challenges we all face trying to sustain/maintain one of the things that brings joy to our lives. I can’t believe tomorrow is our last official Epic Woman Camp day…:(.