What day is this? Farallon Day?

So much has happened since my last post. I had the great opportunity to swim as a part of a relay from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon islands. I had NOT read the Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey yet. Maybe a good thing?
It seemed like one minute I was Facebook cheerleading with Karen Rogers for the first successful relay and the next minute I got invited to be on the first ALL WOMEN'S relay to do the thing!
I was completely euphoric for the week and a half leading up to the event! I was so happy our local water temps dipped to 52F (my swim buds were not). I felt I could do anything for an hour and our relay was 6 swimmers on 1 hour legs.
Kim Chambers was on the first relay and she had the GREAT idea to coordinate this. Oddly I met her a few months prior at the Dolphin Club when I visited Susie Dods when I went up for the Open Water Swimming Safety Conference in SF. She has a cute kiwi accent.
So I booked my flight and my Dad picked me up to drop me at the airport. He told me to be careful. I said if that was my objective I would be home knitting booties for my impending grandchild!
Once in SF I rented a car to drive to SF Yacht Club. Somehow this was more terrifying to me than the thought of jumping into the waters of the "Red Triangle".
When I got to Vito's beautiful boat, the Sequel, there was a small group meeting. I was hoping for a swim but everyone was getting in gear for the following day. The order was Patti, Cathy Shark bait, Laura the Shark, Melissa, Kim and Me. From other relays I have been in, I know last place is tough because there is the motion sickness thing, but I did not want to worry about it.

Vito kindly let me sleep over on the boat. I grabbed some food from the local deli (gnocci and a sandwich). The next day I got up really early to shower (???) and Kim and Vito arrived.
We started in the darkness of the early morning under the magical glow of the Golden Gate Bridge in a bit of a drizzle. Strong swimmer Patti jumped into a massive ebb under the GG Bridge and swam a phenomenal distance. After Patti, Shark Bait dove in and swam another incredible ebb-fueled distance.

I went down to take a piss during Cathy’s round about 6:30 am. I started getting sick then. I went up top quickly and had some ginger candy but hurled over the port side. I was a really scared because I didn't want to fail the team. I threw up a few more times before my first round (#6).

Everything was better once I was in the water. I was happy the sun started to come out and I saw two big jellies. Oddly I was missing the kelp of Laguna Beach and five minutes later, Vito yelled: "Lynn look out for the kelp!" Vito said they could see the islands then.

When I got out I started puking over the side. I got inside and had a hard time getting my suit off. I tried to eat and drink but my stomach would have none of that. I shivered hard and it took me about 2 hours to recover. I felt bad that I did not have as much energy to cheer on my team mates.

My best bet seemed to rest until my next round. I decided to don the neoprene party cap along with bikini number two since the water temps had descended to sub-50.

I shoved in after Kim’s second round and immediately felt the motion sickness dissipate. The water was colder than anything I had previously experienced. The waves were large and I could see some cresting over me from the boat and was able to avoid getting a mouthful! When they signaled halfway I was a little relieved because I had not seen the quarter sign. I saw 10 and 5 and then there was fast Patti!(Yea Patti!!)

I thought I felt ok until I got on the deck. Some of the team members encircled me and just pulled my suit off on deck. They wrapped me in my towel. I was convulsing with shivers and nausea. They set me down inside under sleeping bags and I could not settle my body. Melissa laid on top of the sleeping bag to warm me. I felt like I could not do another round and told Kim so. I felt horrible but I was so turned inside out I felt like there was nothing left inside me.

After two hours I was better (though drained) and knew I could go again. I started gathering my things for a third round (cap, blinkie, dry suit (my Rob Aquatic suit...it was his birthday)) carefully as I would fall into rounds of dry heaves if I moved to quickly. I really wanted to do that third round to lift me out of the depth.

Kim was relieved that I was up for another go, but we caught a current and my tough team mates powered it in with Kim Chambers deservedly slapping the buoy at the finish.

What a super amazing group of women. I was bummed to feel so sick but stoked get to be a part. If I am ever so lucky to get invited on another relay like that, it will be scopolamine patches and 5-hour energy! Also I need to note that it is likely I do not have a Farallon solo cooking in my future at this time...no thank you!

Here is my video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Oceanswimmr#p/a/u/1/Ibv3hGvHzow

Here is the music video:
http://gallery.me.com/vitobialla#100119