I know I already shared some vacation highlights but I thought it would be fun to share one of the activities I did while on the boat. I debated on doing this. I watched others do it first. Some completed the task and some did not. With a little encouragement from my friend Heather, I decided I would give it a try.
On the first day of the cruise I watched a brother and sister climb the rock wall. The brother didn't even make it half way up before he threw in the towel and said he was done. The sister had a little more determination and made it all the way to the top. Of course the brother could not be upstaged by his sister, so he tried again and made it to the top. I debated for the next few days on doing this before I made the commitment on the third day.
After putting on the special climbing shoes, the helmet, and getting harnessed in, I put a little chalk on my hands and was ready to go. I said that I did not intend to make it all the way to the top because lets face it, I have short arms!
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| Assessing my goal and deciding if I really wanted to do this. |
There were two bells on the rock wall. One was half way up and the other was at the very top. My only goal was to ring the bell half way up. I had no intentions of going all the way to the top.
I had met my goal to ring the first bell. I was going to stop there but my friend and the climbing instructor kept telling me how good I was doing and encouraged me to keep going. I climbed a little further.
I noticed that the higher I climbed, the further away the pegs became. Some were very hard to hold on to and stand on. At one point I was only hanging on with one hand while I searched the wall for other pegs to place my feet and other hand. That really proved to me that I had more upper body strength than I thought. I was almost to the top and then I told the instructor that I was done and wanted to come down. Again I was encouraged to go just a little further because I was almost there.
I surprised the bejeezus out of myself and I made it to the very top and rang the top bell!
I was then released to come down. I watched other do this before me and it actually looked more fun than it actually was. I guess I didn't lean back far enough to really repel down fast and fun. Instead, I was being lowered like a bucket gets lowered into a well.
But I did it! I know it may not be a big deal for some people but it was kind of a big deal for me. I was fearful but I did it anyway! The rock wall was located on the very back of the ship overlooking the water. I made sure to climb it when the ship was in port and not moving. I kept looking back to see how high I was over the water!
Have you ever done anything out of your comfort zone while on vacation? -M
I've never rocked climbed before but it is certainly something I would try. I am the type of person who is always up for anything new and adventurous. My boyfriend? Not so much. I am still trying to talk him into skydiving, paddle boarding, and cage diving with sharks. ;)
ReplyDeleteWay to go stepping out of your comfort zone. I don't easily step outside of mine, but the few times I do, its definitely been worth it.
ReplyDeleteI bet that felt great! I wrote about getting out of your comfort zone on the blog today. Looks like we are on the same wavelength!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome!! Climbing has always been really hard for me. Dan is an excellent rock climber and can climb any wall (he's even gone actual rock climbing outdoors..he's crazy). Meanwhile, I would be thrilled to make it to the half way point :) Great job!!
ReplyDeleteThat's incredible!!!! I would have definitely not made it to the top. I'm terrified of heights and tend to lose balance when I look down. :( Way to go!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! Congratulations!! Proud of you!
ReplyDeleteWell done for pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. I have done rock climbing before, and I loved it, but I was too scared to make it up to the top.
ReplyDeleteWay to go! That's awesome that you pushed yourself and made it to the top :) I'm planning to try the rock wall when we go on our cruise in September. I did it once last year with my niece and nephew. They were definitely a lot better at it then I was but it was fun.
ReplyDeleteI did it on my RCL cruise and it was a lot harder than I thought. I conquered all of my height fears at once by doing the trapeze school and the skydiving simulator too! Fun times
ReplyDeleteLook at you!! I bet you felt so proud ringing that bell! I have seen the rock climbing on different cruises, but never tried it. I don't know how my body would process being up that high surrounded by water haha.
ReplyDeleteI am all about comfort, but sometimes it's fun to do something different on vacation. When else would you have the chance to try it?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on nailing that rock-climbing wall and getting up to the very top on the FIRST try!!! So empowering!! It does take a lot of upper-body strength, doesn't it? When I've gone wall-climbing in the past, I come out with super-sore hands, arms, and back!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job!!!! I went parasailing for the first time during our summer vacation this year. What a blast!
ReplyDeleteThat is impressive, pure and simple. Not only taking on this challenge, but going above and beyond (literally!) where you planned to go...what an adventure!
ReplyDeleteI might think about doing this. Think, at least. ;)
THAT IS AWESOME!!!!! :) I know you had to feel like a rock star after that - as you should.
ReplyDeleteI tried it one time with my youth kids... I got to literally the first step. My shoulder, nuh-uh - no pulling my body weight with that arm. I made my husband get really low down on the ground & shoot upwards to make it look like I was high up :) haha
Wow, good job. I'm scared to death of heights, so kudos to you for doing it!
ReplyDeleteThere is a climbing gym here in town, and I keep thinking about it, and then wussing out.
ReplyDeleteGo you for stepping outside your comfort zone! Doing that would make me nervous too. Especially being on the ship and above water! I feel like that would make me dizzy. Your excitement shines through on the pi!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like fun! Congrats to you for going all the way to the top. I probably would fail at it with my bad elbow right now. I have been zip-lining and that was a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I think this is a huge accomplishment! I would also be afraid to even try. It's great that you not only tried but exceeded your expectations! Great job!
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding, that's a HUGE deal! Anytime you accomplish something you didn't think you could (or were afraid to try), it's cause for celebration! WTG!
ReplyDeleteI love climbing walls! Very cool that it was on the cruise ship! So fun! Looks like a great time. And way to go for doing something out of your comfort zone!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! From what I know about you, I know you have said before these are things you don't really do so I have to give you a virtual HIGH FIVE!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome!!!
I think life is too boring to stay within our comfort zones, getting out and trying new things and new adventures can be exhilarating! I am so glad you had fun doing it, and so impressed you made it all the way to the top, you go girl!!!!