For the next few days we expect to be lurching from one emotional hurdle to the next. We are still reeling a little at having a leg with no plaster on it, albeit still quite swollen with colouring something akin to a ripe plumb, and thinking about the best way of protecting it on our long journey home.
At the same time had made some good miles yesterday, and planned to leave early this morning to make some more yet we still haven’t quite come to terms with the fact that only yesterday we were in a hospital. We both woke well before dawn, our minds abuzz with thoughts, plans and jobs to do, so we spent a productive few hours changing our flights and confirming connections, arranging suitable transportation and assistance before heading out as the first rays of a new day began to appear.
Having a confirmed deadline for our return did at least take one variable from the equation and one might have thought one less thing to worry about, but the weather forecast was anything but stable, and our prospects for a simple passage were changing hourly. It’s one thing to have airline tickets, it’s entirely another to get to the airport on time, when one’s means of transport depends entirely on the vagaries of the weather over the coming week.
After speaking with Dave and Ria it was fairly clear that our plan to cross the Oosterschelde today would have to be abandoned in the face of high winds, so with no other sensible choices to be made, we joined them to shelter in the Harbour in Tholen.
Ron and Robin, having already given up so much of their time to be with us, were beginning to feel the pinch of their own deadline and very reluctantly it must be said, formally passed the baton to Dave and Ria to watch over us for the balance of our journey. Tomorrow there would be sadness at their departure, last minute instructions, and a bundle of nerves aboard as we bade our farewells and waited for the weather to take a kinder turn, but tonight, once again the boat was filled with merriment and laughter.
No comments
Post a Comment