It Has Been One Wild Ride But Home Is Now In Sight

Newcastle Herald

Friday April 13, 2001

COOEE from Sal after what can only be described as the worst 24-hour period of my adventure.

If I thought mother nature was going to give me a friendly passage home after testing me for 180 days, I was sadly mistaken.

One of the many things I've learned out here, and it is the same with life, take one step at a time and don't take your eyes off the ball.

Here are some notes I've made in the past 24 hours: `Equal worst night of the whole trip; now 60 plus winds; big seas; 90 miles off the coast; keep getting pushed further out to sea; I have been knocked down, engulfed; the stove won't work; I have water where I have never had water, the boat is soaked; you name it, it happened last night'.

I was talking to Luke Grant this morning on 2HD and, unbelievably, in the middle of all of this weather I saw a rainbow.

I am wet and cold and tired but I have to get there, I have to make it.

All I can see is my wife Lorraine and our two beautiful children, Holly and Jordan.

I'm 150 miles from Nobbys the barometer is rising slowly, I tried to get a weather forecast this morning ? no go.

Thank you all for your messages of support, they really help in times like this.

One of the reasons people from our region stand tall anywhere in the world is because we look after each other.

I will be back home on Saturday morning, I hope to see you all at Queens Wharf from about 10am.

I won't look the same and I'm not sure how my emotions will be, but I am sure of this: Sal and I are coming home and we can't wait to see you.

Tony Mowbray

© 2001 Newcastle Herald

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