Thursday 2 January 2014

Reflections

     There are so many things I could say. It’s hard to choose just a few.

     I think it’s fair to say that we (at least me) experienced nearly every possible emotion on this journey. Crossing an ocean is no walk in the park, unless of course the park in question is a vast ocean and you’re a tiny sailboat, a mere blip, bobbing up and down for month. If that’s the case, then it’s definitely a walk in the park. I think I’ve mentioned it on this blog before, but it’s worth mentioning again; sailing has some extreme lows but it also comes with some extreme highs that make up for everything else along the way.

     On this trip the secret was trying to enjoy all the moments for what they were and when that just wasn’t possible simply trying to keep my cool was the next best thing. Everything can change in a heartbeat on the sea. It was when things changed for the worst that I got overwhelmed. I knew from previous passages that freezing up and panicking wasn’t going to help anyone or anything on the boat. I think we were our own best medication in the face of looming danger. We relied upon each other for bravery, courage and sometimes just a good laugh when everything seemed to be falling apart. This is why the crew of Argo was great. As for me, I know I relied on the fearless spirit of Darvil more than once. His unyielding valor was undeterred by the worst of the worst. I tried to model my emotions after his; don’t worry about things out of your control and always think smart. My new motto was; don’t panic until Darv panics but then panic all you want! 

This guy...

Good thing we had two hammocks. Otherwise there might have been blood shed  


     When you’re staring down gnarly waves in monster storms you tend to put your priorities in order quickly. First on the list? Family, always. They might get taken for granted sometimes but they’re definitely the most important. This is a lesson you don’t need to sail the ocean to discover, but it certainly highlights, bolds and underlines the fact. 

BFF

Papa Bear & me 

     So while it was bittersweet to finally say goodbye to Argo I am walking away with the experience of a lifetime and one epic journey. I know we’ve soaked up every last ounce of this experience and I’ll be forever grateful to have shared this incredible voyage with my parents and husband. I couldn’t have asked for better company. But this isn’t going to be our last escapade, I know we’ll always be squeezing every last drop of adventure out of life. So until next time …    


Family makes the best crew :) 
  

Bonjour Martinique

     After a month at sea Martinique felt like Heaven! We all felt like kissing the ground upon arrival. We indulged in hot showers, fresh fruit, running water, pizza and washing machines! Surprisingly we all adjusted to our land legs really quickly! Our first night in Martinique there was a welcome party for all the sailboats in the Atlantic Odyssey rally that had arrived thus far. We caught up with the other crews and swapped stories from our crossings. 


After a month without news, internet, television etc, it felt so strange to see Christmas decorations! For us it didn't seem like Christmas at all. 

We missed pizza!

     Darv and I rented a car and toured the island for two days. Darv scouted out locations to spearfish and I would snorkel around. After lugging Darv’s body board half way around the world I’m happy to say he finally got to use it. We enjoyed our days in Martinique, there’s just nothing like being stuck in Paradise. 


Searching for treasure!

Beach bums 

On the look out for some waves 




Look carefully! He's in the barrel! 


This little guy was quick! Good thing Darv's the master catcher of all things!



Captain and first mate 

Hammocks are the best idea on a boat!



     An Atlantic crossing (or any passage for that matter) is really tough on a boat. The salt water alone is extremely corrosive to anything on the deck. Plus there’s just always something that needs fixing on a boat. If it can get caught or break, it will (just give it time)! I also have a tendency while under sail to throw things into any drawer, cupboard or tiny crevice it will stay in. Needless to say we had a lot cleaning and organizing to do. Mom and I cut up the Genoa sail and plan to put our “crafting skills” to good use with it.

Argo cleans up nicely!