Leg 3, Day 4 – At home on the waves

Emma Mitchell By

At home on the waves

As we left from Samoa I was on the oars with Meg. Until last week when I took her out for a very short and sweet lesson on Doris, Meg has never rowed before so she has well and truely been thrown in at the deep end over the last few days. She has got stuck right in though and is a natural on the oars (I’m going to turn all the girls into rowers by the time we get to Cairns whether they like it or not!) and I am reminded how special it is to build a friendship with someone in such unique and special surroundings. It has been a breath of fresh air to experience life on Doris through a new pair of eyes and to remember back to our first week rowing out of San Francisco when we didn’t have all our routines set and weren’t used to how Doris rolls with the waves. It is good to remember how far we have come already but also to remind ourselves to stay vigilant and safe on this final leg of the journey.

As you will be able to see on our Where’s Doris map we are moving in the right direction, at a good speed! Who knows how long it will last so we are enjoying it while we can and watching the miles tick by on our way to Australia. The sun is shining, the sky is filled with all types of clouds and the horizon stretches away in all directions leaving us back in our little bubble of ocean. The water is rolling around us, as blue and clear as ever, the light reflecting around us soothing and reflective. It feels like we have never been away from our floating home and that our time on land was nothing but a dream. I am sure this leg will hold some more challenges and surprises but also some magic before we step off Doris for the final time in Cairns and I am excited to see what happens.

As we have all said many times, Samoa and its people are beautiful and a thank you in a blog will never be enough to repay the kindness and generosity which we received there. A special thank you today goes to Mr Francis Craig and Mrs Mareta Craig who offered us the beautiful Riverside Guesthouse as our base for the week at no cost. It was so special to have all of us including Sarah and her crew under one roof and the perfect surroundings for some much needed recovery. If you ever find yourself in Samoa (which I recommend you do) then make sure you pay them a visit.

Graig family

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6 Comments

  1. JG says:

    Yep – it’s old JG again. Good to see such high spirits and great positivity Emma. Look out Oz the Coxless Grew are on their way!

    Well done to Meg. Never rowed before! You are one amazing girl.

    Keep safe!

  2. Jim Andrews says:

    The generosity of the people of Hawaii and Samoa has been wonderful. Two more places to add to my bucket list. Meg how can you possibly take up the challenge of rowing a third of the Pacific, having never rowed before? You are certainly in the company of experts so I am confident you will soon be equal to your fellow crew members. Our UK news has, as usual, been full of uplifting stories, not. Drugs in Athletics, Probable that Russia will not be going to Rio. Jhadi John has been vapourised. Sir Terrance Wogan misses the Children in need appeal for the first time in 35 years, through illness. Winter has arrived in the far North with the first snowfall, Liverpool, where I live is still mild but lots of rain, kind of makes me wish, I was in Samoa. Luckily, I have the distraction of four lovely ladies rowing their hearts out for the benefit of others. Stay safe. XX

  3. Ray & Babs says:

    The way you write a blog along with the others I think we are all on Doris with you. Apart from the most delicate details! ( still love the way you say “bucket it and chuck it!”) and scary events which you may not want to say about because us parents read the blogs I reckon we’ll all be rowers by the time you get to Cairns. Emma, when your on the oars with Laura on a night shift and her mind goes walk about just get her to tell the story of her drive to get to Plymouth to collect some shoes, by the time she’s finished I reckon you’ll be pulling 10+ knots!!!. Keep safe. xxxx

  4. Jim Andrews says:

    How awful that in my last, post, yesterday evening, I was having a little whinge about the Television News, while at the same time, I was typing it, the most awful atrocities were unfolding in Paris. I will assume you will be aware? My thoughts for the past 8 months have been, as they are tonight, with you magnificent ladies and fearing for your safety and well being. I must pledge though my thoughts tonight are with the families and friends of 129 murder victims, 352 injured of which 99 are critical. I apologise for this morose post but I feel quite heartbroken. Stay safe. XX

  5. JG says:

    Really bad things happened in France yesterday and one feels for the traumatised people of Paris and their innocents who have been slaughtered in the most barbaric and medieval fashion. Complete admiration for the Parisians young and old who, when interviewed by the BBC, showed defiance, courage and a determination not to be cowed by terrorism. My heart goes out to the French people. Meanwhile, you guys keep safe

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