So it's Goodbye from me; and it's Goodbye from him

Julie’s Final Blog 

Last thoughts from me about our epic adventure.  They’re more to do with feelings and emotions than who did what when. Hope that’s alright with you chaps

Thanks to you all for following us.  To those of you who managed to work out how to post a comment on the site...well done!  I seemed to have picked the most incredibly difficult site for you all to add your helpful hints or plain old banter, so sorry about that. Will remember not to use blogger.com on the return journey! Hah! Just kidding. Sure, you’re all fed up from hearing from us by now. We’ll give you a rest from the Lawson’s.

My brain is scrambled from all the outstanding things we done and seen. I get so excited at seeing dolphins swimming with us that the only thing to do is chuck the camera overboard. Why would I need to take a picture? I finally remember how to tie my bowline knots and I’m the one John calls to set up the lines to secure the boat...how amazing is that?  I do have a memory like a sieve occasionally but luckily, when needed, this was not one of those times. 

The camaraderie of the crew was awesome. John and I started out as the fantastic duo, with John clearly playing Batman and The Lone Ranger type of role and me as the useless but trusty sidekick,  then Gordy joined us on the pretty island of Syros and we became the Three Musketeers; all for one and one for all, and then Sandra and Craig arrived in Bodrum and we grew into the Famous Five.  All of us bonded together as a team and nary a cross word was exchanged. It’s hard to predict how people will get along in close quarters over a specific time period but we were a perfect crew. Even given the spaciousness of the saloon and aft and fly deck space, once the humidity, the heat of the sun, the mosquitos, the constant problems with the engine batteries and no working loos, you could be forgiven for becoming slightly tetchy, but no, everyone just mucked in and sucked it up.

We couldn’t have done it without Gordy, Sandra and Craig and there’s no way that John and I would have wanted to.   

So now back to reality and day to day living, but with the happiness of knowing that at the weekends, we can pop down to Jeddah and mess about in the boat.  Either fixing something else that has conked out or just chillin’ and sitting back and relaxing and thinking…We’ve done it! We really did!

Wishing you all calm seas and remember that we would love to have you come aboard and experience the joys (and don’t forget the lows) of Athina herself.

Julie xx