Last day in Oz

(11.5.08 CS house in Turangi, NZ 10pm)
(10. 27.08) I woke up at 10am. Sarah made us omelets and we hit the road. We were suppose to climbing in the Blue Mountains but instead went to the beach to go kayak surfing. We picked up a friend of hers on the way. The kayaks were short sit inside kind and you use a skirt to keep the water out. It was my first time in a skirted kayak. Sarah told me if I flipped over and could get upright to just kick out of the skirt. I paddled out to the surf break on the outside where the surf was breaking about 6-8 foot while Sarah and her friend stayed on the inside and played in the white wash. There were only about 6 surfers out and one other surf kayaker, but he had a sit on top kayak with foot straps. I caught a few good waves but wasn’t able to steer to well once on the waves. A big set came and I barely paddle over the first one and as tried to punch thru the second I got flipped over end over end. I sat upside down for a second waiting for the surf stop pushing the kayak before I tried to flip back over. I had remained calm but as soon as I tried to flip upright and the kayak didn’t respond at all….. I FREAKED OUT!! I began kicking on the bottom of the kayak trying to get out of the skirting. When the skirting only got tighter around my hips as I kicked I really freaked! I was now in full panic. I grabbed for the side of kayak to try to pull my head around for some air but was unsuccessful and only got a sip of air and mouthful of water. I was gasping, kicking and thinking to myself that I was going to die. I grabbed again for the side and was able pull out far enough for just a second to get a breath. The problem was I was hysterical at this point and my breathing was erratic and hyper. I tried for another breathe but couldn’t get one. Each time I had to release the side of the kayak before lunging and pulling to the side again for another attempt. The waves were calm now and it became easier to sneak breaths. I started trying to call for help. But wasn’t very successful in the half second that I had to get air and try screaming at the same time. Finally a surfer and the other guy on a kayak came and flipped my kayak over. I was still full inside the skirt. They asked if I were ok and why I didn’t try asking for help. I explained I was trying but I couldn’t exactly breathe and that was higher on my priority list. I thanked them again and again and I paddled back in the shore. I was completely freaked out and nervous as hell that I was gonna flip again on way in through the white wash. When I got to close enough to shore I tried to pull the skirting off the kayak and even then I still struggled. I finally got it and hurried up to the beach. Sarah and her friend missed the entire episode but after I explained what happened she asked why I didn’t kick out. I told her it tried and explained how. “Oh, she said, you’re suppose to pull the tab at the front of the skirt and then kick out of the kayak with the skirt still on you” she explained. I had been trying to kick myself out of the skirt, which would have never happened. I had actually tucked the tab in when I put the skirt on, which is why I had such a hard time getting it off when I came in. I was done in the water for the day so I sat on the beach while they swam. I skipped out on the lunch she had packed due to the fact that my stomach was full of saltwater and we loaded the kayaks and took them home. After dropping the kayaks off we picked another of Sarah’s friends up and went to the indoor rock climbing gym. They climb every Monday there together because Monday is ladies night and girls climb free. It was my first time in a rock climbing gym and I had a good time. I climbed a couple of 14-19 routes and then I noticed two guys trying to complete a dyno. A dyno (short for dynamic) is when you have to launch upwards to grab a hold. They finally completed it and I told Sarah I wanted to give it a go. She said I was nuts but she belayed me anyways. The two guys saw me struggling so they came over and told me where my feet and hand should be. I tried about 6 or 8 times and even touched the hold two times but finally decided to take break so my body could rest. I belayed Sarah on another route and tried the dyno again. It was my mission to get it. This time her friend belayed me so Sarah could take some pics. She never belayed anyone on a dyno and she let me drop completely to the ground, catching the line at the last second to break my fall. A guy at the gym stepped in to belay me after that. I had formed blisters on three fingers and my arms and legs were starting to shake so I gave it another rest. After belaying the girls Sarah talked me into trying another climb and giving the dyno a rest. I climbed a pretty hard climb with an over hang that really gave me some trouble. When I came down I decided to give the dyno a final go. My arms were worn out from the last climb but I actually grabbed the hold twice! Both times my hand slipped off and couldn’t keep the hold. Realizing my muscles were gone I put my ego aside and gave up on it. I did however find a new challenge: Jacobs Ladder. Jacobs Ladder was a two wires running down from the ceiling with 6 logs spaced out further and further apart as you go up. The challenge was that you were to pull yourself up from log to log with out slipping off or grabbing one of the wires. It takes a great deal of upper body strength, balance and patience. The guy before me was only able to make it to the second log. After two attempts on the first and second log, I made it all the way to the top my third go! The girls finish with some blundering but my hands were raw so I just watched. Next morning (10.28.08) Sarah woke me up at 7am so she could go to work. I went in with her and Danielle met me there for breakfast. I packed a box of presents and extra clothes to send home so my bag would have some extra room and Danielle took me to the airport to catch my flight to Aotearao. When I went to check in I was told that my flight had been cancelled and I would have to take a 5pm flight. They gave me a 20$ food voucher and sent me on my way. This meant I had 5 hours to kill I the airport so I got online and checked emails then used the remainder of the time to catch up on my blog. I finally checked in and caught my flight. When asked on the immigration form if I’d ever been sentenced to a year or more in jail I check “No” which is kinda true since my five years was suspended. I had no problem at immigrations when I arrived to Aotearoa and I caught a bus to Jamie house, my Auckland CS host.