IOR 2009 Blog Archive

I thought you might all want a read a piece of verse that has sat on Andrew & Guy's lounge wall for the last year. No sure of where it came from perhaps someone out there knows?? It begins with a journey to cross an ocean Can you imagine-can you feel-what it is to cross an ocean? For weeks you see nothing but the horizon. All around you. Perfect and empty. Your ship is small-tiny-a speck in such imensity. You live with fear,in the grip of fear,fear of sickness on board,fear of immensity. What if you never escape? There's nowhere to go. So you must drive your fear down, deep into your belly and study your charts, watch the compass, ansd pray for a fair wind- and hope. there is more to the versefor another day. it seems so miuch to capture this moemnt yet I suspect has originated from a distant past?? Anyone know its source?

Hi John, just googled it & weirdly another person doing the indian ocean has got it on their page & apparently Walter Raleigh says it in ‘Elisabeth: The Golden Age’ . Eek, sightings of a sharky! Keep going guys...you are doing fantastically xx

Thanks Katie, amazing what google can do! The rest of the verse: ...... and pray for a fair wind and hope. Pure naked fragile hope, when all your senses scream at you, Lost! Lost! Imagine it. Day after day, staring west, the rising sun on your back, the setting sun in your eyes, hoping, hoping. At first no more than a haze on the horizon, the ghost of a haze, the pure line corrupted. But clouds do that, and storms. So you watch, you watch………… Then a smudge, a shadow on the far water. For a day, for another day, the stain slowly spreads along the horizon, and takes form - until on the third day you let yourself believe. You dare to whisper the word - land! Land. Life. Resurrection. The true adventure. Coming out of the vast unknown, out of the immensity, into safe harbour at last. ‘ Keep going guys and stay focused on your end goal......the site of land! Mauritius hopefully!

After reading the above verse, it will make us all realise the immensity of this adventure, what courageous men out there!!!! Stay focus and row hard, Andy and Guy, you will soon pass this challenging spot and wish with all my heart that the weather is good to you and that the wind blows in the right direction. Go! Go! Go!

We have been up and down the west coast of Australia and looked out to sea many times - now Nicola and I are about to leave Darwin for the west coast of Australia again - we are flying along the coastline tomorrow morning to Perth and it will seem strange to know that Andrew and Guy are out there somewhere in the Indian Ocean - there is a cyclone heading away from the Northern Territories and we are reliably informed that the sea should take everyone westwards I hope this is the case.........the cyclone dissipating well north east of here..........Andrew and Guy are doing really well and seemingly being economical with the amount of strokes taken..............so all the training on rowing efficiency hasn't been wasted on Andrew at all...........

We have had a great time here in Darwin and so many people have shown an interest.............I spoke to the Rotary Club last week about their challenge and today I had a chance to talk to the local MP about Andrew & Guy - yes Nicola and I have been to Parliament today!!! Everyone wishes them well and a successful completion of their challenge!...............Sharks who needs sharks there are hundreds of Crocs in Darwin..................Crocs eat Sharks for breakfast!

Keep going, you're doing great. We're watching your progress everyday. Kingfishers class Brighton College Pre-Prep

Wow, so much love & support for you on the blog! Go for it guys, you’re already champions!! xx

dar dum..........dar dum.........dar dum, dar dum, dar dum,dar dum.... (obviously the jaws theme tune) sarah and chris xx

Go Guys! See what i did there??? Keep the arms moving and the feet dry lads - you are nailing it! I bet the marathons feel like a skip to the shops now huh! May the force be with you.... Big Boy Andy from Dorking

Good to hear that things are porgressing well. Think we have finally sorted out this blogging thing. Bettie & Brian

Hey Andy / Guy, Keeping up-to-date with your progress. Your doing fantastic so far, keep it up lads. Duff (goldenballs)