This is one of the more difficult posts I’ve written.
When we return to The Bossa each year we leave our family and friends behind for six months. We’ve always felt ‘connected’ though, with our mobile phones and the internet. We are only a phone call away we would say. And then only a flight away.
We then reconnect with our yachtie friends. Some have become more than just another boat we catch up with. They have become close friends. Ones we keep in touch with when we are not on our boat, as well as ones we look forward to sharing our cruising life with each year.
Over the past week we’ve felt a long way away.
After arriving in the Whitsundays we spent two nights at Hamilton Island to reprovision, wash clothes and enjoy some eating out with the Chances and Vivacious crew. It was the following few days we realised how far away we were. Our son had some health issues resulting in unexpected surgery, along with a diagnosis of a long-term illness. All is well now but it’s the start of long journey for him. His visit to The Bossa this year will be delayed but we are very much looking forward to having our Tim on board, hopefully still in 2019.
We also received a phone call from one of our special yachtie friends, Steve. It was not a good one. We first met Easy Tiger in 2015 in Paynesville. We connected initially as Fusion owners. Steve and Leanne had sailed ET from WA and were living aboard. Living the dream many would say. We met them again when we ventured north, in Pittwater. We loved their adventurous spirit. We were enthralled by their courage listening to their tales of their Great Australian Bight voyage. It takes a lot of gumption to leave a house, family and friends behind, and sail off in to the sunset. We also shared a wonderful 2017 voyage to New Caledonia and Vanuatu with ET. Some great memories.
Our friend Steve is now recovering in the Brisbane hospital after an accident on Easy Tiger. Leanne is with him. This trip north was to be their last one before they returned to WA. How quickly life can change. We have been looking forward to catching up with them and while this will now be delayed, it will be a special reunion when we do. We are thinking of you Steve and Leanne and very much look forward to our next cruise with ET!
How fortunate we are to have mobile phones and access to flights but until this last week we hadn’t really appreciated how many phone ‘dead spots’ there are around the Whitsundays. What we have repeatedly said to each other though, is how important our health is and how important our family and friends are.
Sorry to hear about Tim. Hope the health system works well for him. We’re camped by the Barcoo River near Tambo. Having a great trip. Have explored the different parts of Carnarvon Gorge National Park and meandering for a while before heading south. All the best. David & Wendy.
Thanks David & Wendy. Tim’s outcome was better than expected so he’s doing fine now. On our way to Townsville.
Enjoy your trip! A & N