I feel I should explain…

The thing is, well, it’ll be for you to decide if what I’m about to tell you is good news or bad. You see, when I left the UK last September, I offered sincere assurances to those who asked that I would not allow anything to interrupt or jeopardise my dream of completing one lap of this planet – alone. And I truly believed it. No, I really did. I honestly thought that I was so resolutely focused on completing the challenge that only a catastrophe could stand in my way. And I will – complete it I mean. But, it may not have escaped your notice, if you’re following my progress, that the W2N project is going nowhere fast and that I have, sort of, well, stopped.

Canasta is in great shape, I’m well and the southern hemisphere winter is serving up predictably fair winds from roughly the right direction. The next dice throw could plunge me deep into the atolls and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean and closer to the equatorial heat but for now, the dice is redundant.

So why then is it that I am still in Knysna after six weeks? Well, if you recall, I described it when I arrived as my perfect landfall. A bold statement and a gross generalisation based loosely on my refusal to make comparative preconceptions of what lies ahead to the east. It’s not perfect of course but, you know what, it’s tantalisingly close to it. So, if I can extend my vision of the perfect landfall, I might add a little romance maybe, perhaps some dinghy sailing, kayaking, an abundance of whales, dolphins and curious seabirds like the Oystercatcher, the Pied Kingfisher, Sacred Ibis and the Egret. Okay, you get the picture I’m sure.

Now, you might be of the opinion that the W2N project is doomed, that the catastrophe to which I hinted earlier has irretrievably cast a shadow over my dreams but I must tell you that I have met a wonderful girl and tentatively planted some emotional roots in Knysna… and I couldn’t be happier.

I still believe that the voyage will continue one way or another and Jo is open-minded about that. She understands the value of pursuing a dream and, as an accomplished musician, has aspirations and dreams of her own. So, for now, the adventure goes on although Canasta and I will remain here in the lagoon for the foreseeable future. I will however wake each morning tormented by an impossible choice…

…No, not the old cliché “should I stay or should I go…?”, don’t be ridiculous! The question is “should I launch the Finn dinghy I’m borrowing, go paddling in my friend Dudley’s surf-ski, surfing in Buffalo Bay amongst the whales and dolphins or just relax on board my lovely boat with the equally lovely Jo?” As torments go, it’s not a bad one to have eh?!

I will keep contributing to the blog but perhaps not quite so regularly. Please do stay in touch though either through the W2N website forum, by email (rob {CHANGE TO AT} w2n {DOT} co {DOT} uk) or through Facebook (I think http://www.facebook.com/w2ncanasta?ref=profile should find me?). I now have an African cell number +27 (0)82 598 5439 too which tends to be switched on more often than my UK phone.

Good news or bad? I know which one I think it is but I’ve not lost sight of the reasons why I set out on this crazy adventure.

Before I go, can I just shamelessly abuse the blog to say a huge hello to my mum and Maddy who, I think, just arrived in Shanghai and to everyone still camping in Cornwall… I miss you all x

Bee

Rob Clark

W2N Global Ltd.

+44 (0)7967 661157

www.w2n.co.uk