Day 74 - Obligatory weekly Para-anchor!
What day is it? oh yes it’s Thursday! We are on the obligatory once a week para-anchor!! We have been going north instead of east it’s not much fun but the wind should be turning to our favour in the next day or two and we can get back into rowing.
Southern Cross called us out of the blue yesterday we asked them what their weather situation was and they are in a similar situation to us. We are all in good spirits despite the frustrations.
We have also spoken with Sarah Outen which is great and she is well.
Yeh it’s all pretty good at the moment not a lot to report can’t think of much else to say - but hope to be getting along soon and hope we’ll be at the 1000 nm mark and really can’t wait to get to Mauritius.
Andrew out
To follow our progress please go to the official Woodvale Challenge site.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Nobody really knows
How Eddie will deal the blows ~
Of wind and rain
across the Blue
So all the boats
can row on through.
Some are lucky
Some are not
Can’t wait to greet
U2~ at the final spot.
Beer at the ready
Fireworks too
Come on Guy and Andy
You work is almost through.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:44 am
that’s great of SC to call - nice for you two pairs to be in touch, did you offer them one of your beers?
Jem
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 am
Hi there,
I’ve been tracking your progress and reading your comments but sorry not to have written anything for a while. You’re both doing so so well!! It must be a great feeling to have almost got to the 1000nm mark…However, I know that it must get really tough at times so remember this :
Keep your spirits high!!
When things go wrong as they often will,
When the route you’re rowing seems to be at a standstill,
When the energy is low and the frustrations high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When the challenge is getting you down a bit.
Rest if you must but don’t you quit!
Life can be harsh with its swells and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have made it if he’d stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow-
You will succeed with another row..
Success is failure turned inside out-
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are..
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit-
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit!!
Mum gave me this poem (which i’ve adapted a bit!) just before my operation 3 weeks ago when I was worried that I might lose my other ovary..I didn’t lose it though and the operation was a success!..I just wanted to say..Stay strong and carry on..we’re all thinking of you and I often say a little prayer for you and your boat before my sunrise and sunset meditation..
Hope your sores aren’t giving you too much pain Guy. Mum came to look after me after the op and we’d often talk about you and look at your progress. One day when things seemed really hard for you we just linked hands and thought really hard about you and tried to give you some extra strength and courage..I hope you could feel it!! Mum said she could even hear the ocean!! That’s pure love you’re receiving ..pure pure love..now that has to be the best form of inner strength that you gan get!! Better than any lucozade drink..so never feel alone..because you’re always in our hearts and in our mind..no matter how busy our lives get..we’re often thinking about Guy out there on the Indian ocean..willing you and Andrew on.
I’ve just finished my term here at the university, my own personal challenge..and in the last week..I felt so tired..my stitches/scars were really hurting me..I couldn’t carry any books and I felt so tired and low on energy..I was correcting essays until midnight trying to get my marks in before the end of term..I was getting up at 5 every day..I felt like I wouldn’t make it to the finishing line..to the mast day of term..I felt physically, emotionally and mentally drained!! but then I thought of you and Andrew rowing away..continuing the challenge where so many have dropped out..I thought of the pain and frustrations that you must be facing on a daily basis..and I thought to myself..Come on Caroline..just walk into that classroom and finish off the year..don’t show your exhaustion..don’t give up..you’ve nearly made it and you never ever thought you would!! I nearly gave up so many times..I thought this job is too hard for me..I’m not qualified to teach at this level..I can’t do it..Why do I have to force myself to do it..?? But then when you reach that finishing line and you feel that feeling of pride..of joy..of total happiness..You did it!! You made it !! You did it!! you did it!! you did it!! Well, that makes every single second of pain, of hardship, of frutration worthwhile…You can look at yourself in the mirror..with you brown face, beard, matted hair covered in sores and you can say..I’m so proud of you!! Noone in my family or friends or colleagues will ever know or undersatnd what I’ve been through but I know and I’m so proud to look myself in the mirror and to say ‘Well done - you did it. I always knew you could!’ Noone elese’s praise is like that of your own.
So keep going Guy and Andrew..We’re all behind you!!!
Lots and lots of courage and strength to you both!
love cousin Caroline xx
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:25 am
Wow Caro - I was about to send you an e-mail and logged on here 1st (as I am addicted) and saw your fantastic poem, your words are so powerful & thank you for all your support, it means so much. We are so pleased you are on the mend now. Amelia, T and I sends you big hugs Kx
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Caroline that is powerful reading, as Kat has just said!!! All of your words are amazing and what you have had to go through recently too!!!
BIG HUGZ ~ hope to see you very soon.
xtina and nige xx
July 4th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Just read your words Caro - inspired me and will do the same for the boys.He will feel every ounce of your energy I’m sure of that..
Question 3 from a little girl called MiMi Leroux - “do you clean your teeth every day ?” Amelia age 2
Tom x