ZERO miles to go - divorce papers still untouched!
/"This too shall pass" said one of our remote supporters in a blog comment. It became our mantra to enjoy the moment, the pain, the joy, the unique life offshore while rowing as hard as we could.
We thought of that mantra a lot last week, when we were in a breaking point during our up to 21hrs of rowing each day (by each). We wanted to finish badly, yet we were sad to think about giving away what we had. On Saturday Aug 2, around 7:30AM Hawaii time, after a stormy and windy night and 2,765 miles of rowing, we finally landed in Honolulu, at Waikiki beach. I had barely slept at all in the last 24hrs and Meredith even less so. We did two of our fastest (about 80nautical miles per day!) days at the end to give it all. We were spent, but happy. We exceeded all our goals and consider the journey, which would not have been possible without the support of strangers, friends and many ocean/rowing experts - a huge success:
1. Still married at finish! (Divorce papers are untouched in a waterproof container and Divorce-o-meter at zero at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean)
2. Raised well over $200,000 for the fight against sugar and inspired strangers to change diet based on today's science. (Those stories were hugely inspirational during our row - thank you!)
3. New rowing speed world record from CA to HI as a pair. Our goal was 60 days, we finished in 45.
4. We finished healthy, strong and safe. And hopefully set an example that life and endurance sports without sugar (and processed carbs) is possible, probably even better so.
And now? Day in life 24hrs after 45 days offshore:
- first walking: wobbly still. I lost 26pounds and lots of certain leg muscles and can barely walk up stairs.
- first breakfast: eggs with scrambled eggs with some boiled eggs
- first dinner: giant fresh vegetable salad with butterfish, ahi poke, crab cakes, butter and mayo
- first treat upon landing: huge glass of sparkling water with ice
- first shock: too many people everywhere....I need my own space please!
- first workout: next morning on the bike. Got to get the muscle strength back!
Thanks to you all who have supported us in spirit, donated to our chosen charity or just decided to consider what sugar might be doing to your body and health. All the comments, emails and little cheers were hugely powerful to lift up our spirits and push us forward in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You inspired us, not the other way!
And what's next? Easy - we both need to catch up on sleep.
