Archive for November, 2015

Day 12 – Kylie Minogue OBE

Who would have thought, when I was 5 years old and watching one of the most watched Australian TV episodes worldwide, Charleen (Kylie) marrying Scott (Jason Donovan) in Neighbours, that 27 years later I would actually get to meet Kylie and better yet she would be supporting our expedition. Having grown up with Kylie as a worldwide icon for her music and acting, it was devastating to hear of her diagnosis of Breast Cancer in 2005 whilst she was on tour. Having to go through the trauma of battling breast cancer is hard enough for anyone, but add in the pressure of it being global news and not being able to keep it private. After undergoing surgery, Kylie endured 8 months of intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Once she had returned to fitness (which is no small feat), she resumed her tour under the title of Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour.

When we sat as a team with our advisory board and they asked us who would be our dream patron for the row, there was no doubt that Kylie epitomised everything we stood for. Kylie shares in our values of S.P.I.R.I.T having shown outstanding Strength in her fight against breast cancer, Perseverance to return to her outstanding form as a singer, Integrity with her openness and honesty of sharing her story with the world, Resilience shown by bouncing back on tour, Inspiration that she has created globally to all those women, particularly younger women, going through the same experiences, Trust in her loyal fans and hopefully her close friends and family that no doubt supported her throughout.

Although Kylie was placed at the top of the list, as far as 3 of us were concerned, this was a daydream bubble of ever having the chance of getting Kylie’s support. However, I say 3 because for 1 of us (Miss Cohen), dreaming big and going after it was in her belief system and without a shadow of doubt, Nats truly believed she was going to get in touch with Kylie. Now there may be an assumption that we had a personal connection to Kylie to get introduced, but there wasn’t at all, just Nats shear perseverance at not giving up to find her PA and then not giving up until she got an answer. When Nat told us Kylie’s PA had been in touch and Kylie was keen to support, we were excited but to be honest we thought that it would be all chat and no substance. As the conversations continued and then a date was booked to meet Kylie, our cynicism still believed that we would get dropped at the last minute as obviously Kylie’s time is so precious. It wasn’t until we were in the hotel apartment waiting to meet her, that it finally sunk in, ‘we’re actually about to meet Kylie!’.

Kylie was certainly a breath of fresh air. She is even more stunning in person and just a beautiful, warm personality to match. We were overwhelmed and humbled to have her support and the opportunity to talk with her in person about our expedition, why we’re doing it and why breast cancer means so much to us.

There has been plenty of times aboard Doris that ‘I should be so lucky’ or ‘locomotion’ has been played out on the deck speakers and we’ve either had a sing along or got up and attempted to dance amongst the bouncing waves!

We thank Kylie for being part of our journey, for helping to spread the word and for being an inspiration to thousands of young breast cancer sufferers. We look forward to arriving into her homeland of Cairns Australia in the coming weeks!

Update:
Prevailing winds have picked up again and today’s top speed on a wave was 5.7k for Ems and I. Simon TY mentioned about our snack packs – they are going down a treat, today I had the very special Oreos which were brought out to Samoa thanks to Bernard Van Vuuren (Lizanne’s brother). On the wildlife front it has been pretty slim for poor old Meg, until yesterday! Em and I were on the oars, saw a shadow in the waves so shouted to Meg, just as she came out this huge Marlin jumped twice clean out of the water! It was pretty impressive and I think has made up for the lack of whales so far.

” Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is gift,
That’s why it’s called the ‘present’ “

LP and Ems have both mentioned to me that although they really want to arrive into Cairns as quickly as possible, they don’t want to miss out on being in the moment and enjoying what this final leg has to offer. It’s easy for us to become complacent and as we’re on the last stretch of the journey, some people’s minds have a tendency to project even more into the future to Australia and beyond rather than be present right here and right now. Luckily, this appreciation of the moment is something that I find comes really naturally to me and so I’ve taken it upon myself to do my best to keep bringing the team back to the moment wherever possible.

Conversations are often started on the oars about our arrival and what we’ll eat (usually LP as she’s obsessed with food), what it will be like when we’re back and what our lives in the months after we have returned will be like. I appreciate that there are practical decisions that do need to be made in advance and planning has been one of the keys to the success of this expedition, however, outside these practicalities, I would rather not project yet.

I tend to enter the discussion briefly to entertain my rowing partner but don’t really like dwelling on the subject as although I could easily run away with thoughts and prophesies, I feel as though I would rather deal with where we are now and keep taking things shift by shift, moment by moment. There is still a long way to go in this ever changing environment with lessons to be learnt and experiences to be had. I want to immerse myself fully in the simplicity of our way of life out here. It is unlikely that we will be as far removed from civilisation as we are right now with the lack of connection to the usual stresses and pressures of everyday life.
There may be other types of challenges and hardships that we endure as we travel through Oceania, but I want to savour the beauty and uniqueness of this existence before retuning back to a familiar one.

For me, it’s all about the journey.

There are some people that have always known what they have wanted to be when they grow up. From an early age they have had their life path mapped out and they just need to take the necessary steps to get there. They were either inspired by their parent’s job, a teacher or subject at school, or just had an obvious set of skills that made it easy for them to slip into a certain career.

I was never one of those people. I never really knew what I wanted to do…and to be honest, I still don’t. All I know for sure is that it makes life easier to be passionate about what you do and failing that, ‘it’s not what you do but the way that you do it’ that matters and ideally you want to ensure you make the most of life. You live, feel and breathe it. It’s so easy to wish away your working week living only for the weekends, just as it’s so easy to wish away the experience of a journey or challenge just for the end result or reward of its completion.

I have been really lucky in that I have managed to find or I suppose choose a path and lifestyle that has allowed me to follow my passions. One era has been followed effortlessly by another and I have always had utter faith that the wind will blow me in the right direction, or more aptly, that I will be taken by the ocean currents and waves and they will send me exactly where I am destined to be.

I gave my mum a birthday card last year before I knew that I was doing the row and the message on the front was all about Zen Dog and went a little something like this:

“He knows not where he goes,
For the ocean will decide.
It’s not the destination
But the glory of the ride.”

After discussions with my brother it was decided that I was going to be Zen Dog on this trip and amazingly, it has indeed become central to the way I have looked at life out here in the middle of the Pacific.

This 9 month long experience will be one of our greatest adventures and for all of us the secret is living it fully NOW while it’s still happening. It’s a truly special journey, a quest, an oceanic pilgrimage and an exploration into the mind, body and spirit.

So, as Zen Dog it is actually my responsibility to unite the team and for us all to revel in the glory of the ride x

UPDATE:
Amazingly we are STILL travelling in the right direction at a decent speed!
The moon is now lighting our nights which have become calmer, less splashy and very beautiful and Meg had her first wildlife sighting (apart from birds) where a large marlin jumped spectacularly out of the water near the boat.
We’re very soon going to be rowing past Fiji…

Day 9 – A special message

‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are’. Theodore Roosevelt

Leg two of our journey was a tough one for me and our stopover in Samoa was a much needed chance for me to take some time to reflect on the journey so far and the challenges which we have overcome and get some rest and time away from Doris. At the end of the last leg I thought that I would struggle to get back into the boat for this final straight having lost my happy place at the oars and found it hard to enjoy the last few weeks. However I have never liked an unfinished job and always try to do what I have set out to complete so of course I am back on Doris. There is excitement that this is the final leg of the journey and it is strange to think that next time we touch land in Australia this challenging, exhausting, special, exciting and incredibly unique part of our lives will be over. But I still haven’t found my happy place back on the oars and I am still having to work hard to stay in the moment and not let the negative thoughts take over. The other day though I received one of the most beautiful emails I have ever received from someone who has been an inspiration to me since I started rowing over 14 years ago. Katherine Grainger, a hugely successful GB rower, and ordinary person who has achieved extraordinary things wrote to me about her experiences of missing home and the little things which are the really important ones whilst on training camp, and her struggle to rekindle her enthusiasm for rowing after the Beijing Olympics where she won a silver medal with her team in the quad scull. It was such a long and personal email filled with advice and words of wisdom which she summarised as:

– when you can, appreciate the moments
– know that life will be here waiting for you when you are finished on your amazing adventure, so don’t wish this once in a lifetime experience away too quickly
– try to let hope be the constant song in your soul
– keep getting back up
– do what you can
– know that you are accomplishing great things in life, more than the vast majority will even dream about
– and even if you are hating every moment, by going through it you can rightly live the rest of your life as a champion

Her advice for climbing out of a hole was “And at times like that there is no easy answer. It’s just one day at a time, and sometimes one hour at a time. Until you gradually climb back out and up and start to see the view again. And it gets better. And then it gets great. And then the future becomes whatever you want it to be. And the view is exciting, while the memories can be cherished.” Fortunately time on Doris is made up of manageable 2 hour chunks and I am trying hard to take each shift as it comes and get through it in the most positive way possible.

To receive such a message which all four of us have taken so much from was a very special moment. Katherine is such a great role model for so many people and epitomises our team values of strength, perseverance, integrity, resilience, inspiration and trust. This row has introduced us all to so many people that we would never have met in ordinary life and I would love one day to write such a beautiful message of inspiration and advice to someone who was struggling and needed to know that ‘to fully live life, to accept the challenges of every day and to set out to achieve great things, part of the deal is to struggle and have pain and know despair on some level.’
UPDATE: We have been back out at sea for over a week now and incredibly we are still making good progress, travelling in the right direction at a good speed. Two nights ago Nats and I were on the oars in the wind and rain, being soaked by the huge waves when we noticed a bird flying over Doris. He was obviously looking for a place to rest and recover and landed on my oar. We named him Oscar and he stayed there for a little while before a wave hit him and he flew off. Today the sun has come out and the wind has died down a bit so we have been able to dry some of our wet things and air out our cabin so spirits are high.

Day 8 – Doris our baby

I’ve heard many people say, that when they return from a long trip away, they don’t feel like anything has changed. I already find this hard to believe as I know of plenty of things that have changed in my life since I have left. Firstly, my brother has recently accomplished his own #mypacific after having designed and built a house for his family, all whilst still working full time at McLaren F1 & being a great dad to my niece who is now 3. When I left the UK the roof was on but it was still just a shell of bricks, they are now all moved in and I can’t wait to see the finished project when I get back.

I’ve had 3 friends get married, 2 engaged and 4 who are expecting their first or second child. 3 of these friends would have fallen pregnant since I left in April and have had the baby before I return. To think I left one of my best friends Heather as a newly wed and when I get back, she’ll be in their new home, with a puppy (which will most probably be a fully fledged dog by then!), plus a baby! I don’t think my mind will be able to compute having not seen the bump. My sister in law too is expecting their second but thankfully she’s not due until my birthday in April, so that is one date I hope I can be sure to be home for!

I’ve always enjoyed supporting those of my friends through pregnancy, just fascinated to see how the human body can create life and how it adapts and changes to keep mother and baby healthy. It seems strange not being there for them during this time, however I have come to think of some ways in which maybe Doris has become our baby and she’s giving us a little insight into what my friends are going through….

9 months: It is looking likely that our Doris will be due in January after 9 months at sea. Now the first 2 arrivals were late but the experts tell us we should prepare for a premature arrival depending on conditions.

Morning sickness: At the start of each leg, there has been at least one of us who has been sea sick and for more than 10 days. You still have to function and crack on but it does make you realise how distracting and uncomfortable that would be when you’re working a full time job, you’ve got the elder child hanging off you and demanding your full attention and above all you can’t talk or moan about it until the 12 week scan.

Puffy ankles: Having not been on solid ground or walked for nearly 100 days, by lunchtime my ankles & feet are like frodo feet and the size of balloons! Cold water immersion, compression socks, massage, elevation – all work a treat!

Sudocreme & talc: we certainly have tested these two products out to the hilts and can safely say they do leave you baby soft.

Back ache: when you reach land you haven’t stood up straight or walked for the duration at sea, so understandably the lower back gets a bit grumpy, much like when the weight increases as the baby grows and puts strain on the lower back.

Sleep deprivation: I hear that the first 6-9 months of having a baby, you can say goodbye to sleep, so certainly our 2hrs on: 2hrs off regime is giving us a good insight. Maybe a baby will understand my gobbledegook!

Light weights: having not drunk much for 9 months (apart from toasting to Neptune and a couple of cocktails when we reach land) I can only imagine that our celebrations in Cairns will be a cheap one.

Baby food: As tasty as expedition foods are, they are pretty much like baby food mush, so I am certainly looking forward to getting back and using a knife and fork and eating things with texture and freshness.

Emotions: I’ve seen in my family and friends, that emotions are on overdrive after a baby is born and I think as a team we can totally relate with the impact that Doris has had on us; seeing her arrive in San Francisco, the first time she was put into the water, her first paddle out into the ocean, makes you feel like proud parents.

Cravings: I recall Michelle (one of my best friends) craving watermelon when she was pregnant with Jack her first child. Since we’ve been out on the water, we constantly talk about food that we don’t have and crave, such as frozen yoghurt or a Cornish pasty!

Changing body shape: Being pregnant you have to overcome the fact that you will gain weight, but that you lose it after the baby is born. We too had to look pregnant with extra weight gain, knowing that we will lose it out here in the ocean. I increased by nearly 12kgs and reckon I’ve lost that and possibly a smidge more, regardless of my eating approx. 4,000 calories a day.

Some how I think that getting through pregnancy and becoming a mum for the first time is certainly a #mypacific much greater than us simply rowing it.

Update:
Today has brought us some sunshine and blue sky, interspersed with the occasional cooling rain cloud, but with the winds continuing to be favourable we have been cruising at a constant 2.5k and above – happy days! On the flip side, we’ve suffered from 3 major tragedies today; I lost a padded glove, Meggy lost her new cap and Nat lost her flannel – doh!

A week at sea, moon where are you?

So it’s been 7 days that we have been on Doris and I’m torn between feeling like it’s been weeks to also being a weird kind of ground hog day! As I’m sure you read yesterday we’re having a bit of trouble finding our friend the moon at night making it awfully dark so we have put a reward of beef curry out to anyone that knows his whereabouts! If you hear anything do email doris@coxlesscrew.com…

Still writing between bouts of nausea, so apologies it’s a little short, but I thought I’d write down all of the new experiences I’ve had from the past week:

-rowing – so I learnt to row a week ago, and I have now been on the oars for 84 hours in total! Can you imagine how many hours Ems, Laura and Nat have spent on the oars!!!
-night time rowing – something I am not a fan of in any way – perhaps because it has been pretty choppy almost every night and you can’t see what is coming towards you and how big it is!
-cross bum (this cannot yet be called angry) – but it is gradually beginning to get sore! The answer to this is talc and sudocreme every 2 hours!
-expedition foods – I’ve tried hard to make beef curry my favourite but it’s just not happening!
-steering Doris – this involves hand steering and is pulling a cord or letting a cord loose depending on the direction wanted, it’s also quite nice to have something to focus on whilst rowing,
-2 hours on 2 hours off – I have slipped into this routine much easier than I expected and quite like having a nap every 2 hours! Although in the next week hopefully I’ll be able to start doing more than just ‘sleep, eat, row repeat’!
-Waves and lots of them! – the waves come in all shapes and sizes. It’s absolutely mesmerising just looking at them and assessing which ones are the ones that are going to get you wet!
The bucket – the best bathroom in the South Pacific that’s for sure!

Who’s afraid of the dark?

It’s where the monsters hide, your imagination runs wild, your eyes play tricks on you, something that ordinarily seems innocent can appear menacing and a place you never really want to be alone. The dark is where the demons lie and we seem to allow fear more readily into our minds.

Are you afraid of the dark?

Our expedition is unique in that exactly half of it is done under the cover of nightfall. Considering the estimated time for the complete trip is now over 9 months, that will be close to 5 full months spent having had to experience and deal with ocean life in the darkness!

For all 6 of us undertaking this journey, rowing in the dark was one of our fears. Whether it was the black water, the thought of capsizing, falling in and being separated from the boat, the fact that you can’t see the waves coming towards you, the fear of the unknown and what is out there or simply being able to stay awake, nighttime shifts take some getting used to.

Although we are slowly earning her respect, the almighty Pacific will never give us an easy ride. We may be travelling at a decent speed and good direction, but she is testing us and in particular our lovely Meg, in other ways. Our night times over the last 5 days have been amongst the darkest we’ve experienced on this journey. We’re talking so black that you cannot distinguish any horizon at all. We have been rowing blind in a never ending abyss of nothingness with increasing swell and wind speeds.

The only artificial light we have at night is our small navigation light. This is a collection of white, red and green LED lights that make up a small circle and are mounted on the front (bow) of the boat. The light is used to signal our presence to other boats that get within 2-3 miles of us but also shines a dim glow onto the deck that gives us enough light to manoeuvre around during the shift changeovers and to see the hatches where we store our stuff. If anything else needs doing, then torch light is necessary.

Last night’s wind picked up to 18 knots and the cloud cover was so thick that not even one star in the sky was spotted. During the first night time shift for Ems and I, the rain started falling and it still has not stopped 12 hours later. Last night, we’re talking torrential, driving rain and howling wind, big swell and a sky so black that our perception of space was disorientating. It was cold. For the first time since the beginning of leg 1 over 6 months ago, we were shivering on the oars no matter how hard we rowed to try and warm our bodies up. Interestingly enough it was also the first time we welcomed waves splashing over us as they were warm compared to the rain and wind we were encountering. There was no way of seeing which direction the waves were coming from or their size and the boat rose and fell with the movement of the water and lurched often when she was hit from the side. At night time for some reason you always feel as if you are travelling at a much higher speed than you are and all your senses are heightened.

A far cry from our moonlit, star-filled, reflective night rows that we’ve all grown to love so much. This is ocean rowing. The real, the raw, the challenging.

It’s too easy for LP, Ems and me to be complacent about what we do, as for us it’s just become our life as we know it, day in and day out…but Meg has allowed us to see things afresh.

What we have learnt to deal with and has now become second nature, was a moment for Meg that was, to quote,

“The most scared I’ve ever felt in my life!”

So, how do we deal with the night time? How do we stop being enveloped by spiralling paranoia and our minds running away with us? How do we embrace them and not wish them away waiting eagerly for the sun to rise every day?

When the sea is angry and the waves are sneaking up on us, we use distraction. Film narrating, life story telling, word games and music. When we’re lucky and the moon or stars shine their magic light down on us, we normally revel in the natural beauty of our surroundings and are happy to be just where we are…

Whatever type of night times we experience though, it’s inevitable that the mind will occasionally play its tricks. I’m sure until our arrival in Cairns there will be more pirate ships coming towards us (Ems), bald headed men in the water next the boat (LP) or something flying into the boat that was really a flannel hanging on the grab line (Meg).

I suppose we’ve learnt, or will learn, to understand and be intrigued by the dark. For most of us some of our most memorable moments have been under the cover of darkness, for some it’s when we feel the most alive, for one right now it holds the most fear and for others it’s where the strange phenomena of gobbledegook occurs.

Whatever the feeling, emotion or experience it evokes, there is always an interesting mind journey for us humans that the darkness inspires x

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
― Haruki Murakami

I’m on the edge of bittersweet. Happy and sad, completely changed, yet still the same. The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, and after 97 days at sea I almost can’t believe that I am actually back on dry land.

The first thing that struck me was the incredible love and support that has radiated around us. I am still catching up on messages and emails, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who shared and supported our journey. We certainly felt the love out on the ocean, but it is only since being back on land that I realise just how much love we have been showered with.

The last few days on the boat was the toughest for me; it was all coming to an end. It was beyond the sea sickness, enduring the sweltering heat or fighting the wind and currents. That was all physical; something our bodies got used to and was able to push through. We got strength from the fact that we knew our circumstances will change. The midday sun will be replaced by the cool shimmer of the moon, the rough waters will be replaced by calmer seas and the current will push against us one day and go with us the next. It’s easy when you figure out that what goes up must come down and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It does something to your psyche that helps you persevere, while munching on Oreos and singing “Defying Gravity”. As for my last few days… this was it.

My new challenge has been dealing with the end. I’ve never been good with endings, and I’m pretty sentimental; be it the end of school, university, relationships or the row, I don’t like it when something comes to an end. Luckily I know this about myself so I have allowed myself time to let the previous three months sink in before bouncing back to my old life.

When something ends, I try to be respectful of the impact it has had on my life and so I don’t rush into something else straight away. What can I learn from it and what will I change after it? I’ve been asked many times “so, what’s next?”… There will be a next challenge, (land based!) but for now I will eat, sleep and allow my body time to get its strength back.

My body is slowly removing all signs of the row. My muscles are getting used to standing for long periods of time again and the calluses on my hands are slowly disappearing. My body clock doesn’t wake every two hours, but I wake up very early. I am in Australia at the moment, so still have not returned to work.

As much as I don’t like endings, I am excited to head back to Cape Town and get back to my old routine. Since being back on land I have enjoyed a big, stable bed, showers and clean skin, normal food (!) and seeing my family. I am also excited to join Izzy and Ella on the “behind the scenes team” organising fundraisers, the arrival into Cairns and social media etc. The journey is not over yet.

On a complete side note, if anyone is or knows of an Osteopath who would like to work in Cape Town, I’m looking for an associate to join my practice. Email me at lizanne@coxlesscrew.com for more info

So what are the lessons that I learned?

Challenges can be fun

I have learned that in order to complete any challenge the connotation doesn’t have to be sombre. Challenges can be fun, and you can laugh through anything. There’s a time and a place, sure, but when the tears have dried up, make a joke. Laughter carried us all through the rough times

The importance of teamwork

I can talk about this for hours. Our team worked well because we are all different and we lived by our team values; Strength, Perseverance, Integrity, Resilience, Inspiration and Trust. We supported each other, encouraged and listened. When one person was down the others picker her up.

Build a team around you, everyone needs a support system.

Women are strong

You don’t have to be a man to do epic challenges like this. Over the past few months I have become acutely aware of the strength women possess. Magical things happen when a group of determined women put their heads together and work towards a goal.

You can do absolutely anything you set your mind to….

As cliché as this sounds, it’s true. Start small and you will find yourself at the foot of your own Pacific.

The row changed a part of me which I’m finding very difficult to explain. I’m still the same person, I’ve just been refined.

I miss the girls, but I am extremely excited to follow Megs journey on the boat. She is amazing and will contribute so much to the team.

Lizanne x

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.

It’s day 3 already and for once we’ve covered over 100miles! Yey! Not sure how long these conditions of prevailing winds and currents will last, so we’re making the most of it while it’s here. If only the whole journey had been like this, we’d be home chatting to you all about it over a brew and biscuit by now! However, we also wouldn’t have experienced the challenges that we have had and overcome, the place where you learn the most about yourself and your team mates. Without a doubt, getting through the struggles has brought us closer together as a team.

With 3 days past already, it seems like this leg may fly by. Why is it when you want it to go quickly (leg 2) it takes forever, then when you want to savour every moment, time flies!

Leaving Samoa I had a sudden sense of feeling very overwhelmed. The realisation that this would be the last time to step onto Doris, the last time we will arrive and row out of a harbour, the last time to be counting down the days to Australia. We SHOULD now only have just 2 months to go on this epic journey and for me my target for this leg is to stay more in the moment, to soak it all up and build more amazing memories. The past 2 legs I would say I have spent about a 1/3 in the moment and 2/3 planning for what needs to be done in Hawaii/ Samoa/ Cairns/ arrival back home/ work etc. So this leg, I am making a conscious effort to switch that ratio to appreciate where we are and what we are doing, I certainly don’t plan on ever repeating this journey again!

As the girls have mentioned in previous blogs, Samoa really is a beautiful place, the people, the culture, the way of living – it’s so simple. I know we’ve mentioned many a thank you to the wonderful people that opened their homes to us, gave us treatments and food, but today I wanted to say thank you to Wendy and Ian. Wendy and Ian left Samoa the same day we did, on their beautiful catamaran. On the morning we left, they gave us some fresh papaya and mangoes to have on Doris. I can’t believe we hadn’t thought of doing that before! Usually we’re straight into our snack packs and freeze dried, but this definitely made our day. Such flavoursome fruit as a dessert after a curry, perfect!

Update:
Meggy has been a superstar and just gets stuck in and well integrated immediately. She’s on rotation with Ems but then I’m next and I can’t wait to hear new life stories, so exciting! She’s not moaned once about feeling sea sick and is doing all she can to prevent it. Definitely a great addition to the team who shares in our values.
Nat and I had a telephone interview with Phil Williams on BBC Five Live, which still fascinates me how good comms are from the middle of the Pacific. Makes you feel so close to home even though we’re the opposite of the world and in a different hemisphere.