Happy Anniversary!

It’s blowing a gale, as usual. The sky alters between glorious blue and dark gray. We have had rain, sun and high winds on a daily basis for over a week now. It seems almost impossible to think that exactly one year ago today we woke before the sun, made coffee, slipped our life jackets on and slipped out of Hull Marina - and never came back.

It had been a long three weeks waiting for the right weather window and even though we had checked, checked and checked again we still ventured out with trepidation. “We can always come back in if it’s not good on the river” we told ourselves. We knew however that once we had made the commitment beyond Spurn Point there was little in the way of a safe harbour before Wells Next To The Sea, our first chosen Port of call. The initial sadness of leaving Hull behind was soon overshadowed by the fear of the unknown. We knew little of how Elephant Daze would cope in the varying different sea states and with the knowledge that this first leg of the trip would take around eight hours, we really were reliant on an accurate forecast and calm seas. We never gave much thought to the effect other vessels might have her. We were very quickly awakened to the reality that other boats could be as much of a problem as the sea state. An overtaking manoeuvre by a ship in a hurry before we even reached Spurn Point brought home to us just how small and vulnerable we were in this busy shipping lane. Glasses were broken, coffee pots lost and for the first time - but not the last - the fridge tried to spill its contents on the floor. So began the first of many rituals, moving things to safe places, namely the champagne collection that we had acquired, presents from former colleagues and friends. Those bottles lucky enough to survive each leg of the journey spent travelling time wrapped up in our bed.

It was a frightening moment when that ship passed us. I remember seeing the wave heading for us. It looked to be towering over us, I really thought it would break over us and turn us over. Instead it picked us up then let us down, over and over again until eventually calm was restored and we headed out sea. The voice in my head was telling me to turn around, go back, ditch liggings not so bad really... From that moment on I always kept a good watch out for vessels approaching from behind. I can only imagine that the ship was sent to warn us, to remind us that we are not really in charge when we’re out there and that you can never rest on your laurels. Anything can happen.

Once we had passed Spurn Point everything changed again. Very quickly we were alone, apart from the seals that waved at us as they played together. The sea was so calm, much calmer than the Humber and it was beautiful. Looking back, the mouth of the Humber soon became a dot on the horizon, before us was nothing but sea. I remember the point at which we noted that you could look North, East, South or West and see nothing but water. No boats, no land just water. I also remember Martyn deciding he really needed the loo and handing me the wheel. A few minutes later he returned to find I had been taking us round and round in circles. I don’t know how I did it, I just couldn’t keep a straight line. I giggled nervously and tried to look cute hoping that my stupidity wouldn’t increase his stress levels any further. Once he got us back on track I was put on ‘crab pot watch’ duty. He saw the funny side a couple of days later.

We arrived at Wells around 2pm just the right time for the tide and after an interesting approach we pulled in and tied up. The first leg of the adventure was over. Elephant Daze had done us proud. We sat and drank our first bottle of champagne, glad that it too had survived and we toasted ourselves - all three of us. Now all we needed was that sea state to take us all the way round the coast, if only. I have never to this day seen a sea like that one. I sometimes wonder if it was all a dream, if it actually happened or if we were sucked up by an alien space ship and dropped back down in Wells.

If we had stuck to our original plan of action today we would probably be sat in Hull waiting for that weather window. Who knows if it would ever come. We were meant to leave when we did that is one thing I am certain of. Many things led up to us making the decision to begin our adventure last year and of all the decisions we made, to leave on the 22nd June 2010 must have been the right one. It was magical. I have a photograph of us leaving Spurn Point that day. It took me a while to spot it but if you look very carefully you can just make out a small cloud that takes on the figure of an angel. Whether you believe in them or not I like to believe that someone was looking after us that day and saw us safely back into Port.

Tonight we will not be on the beach with a barbeque drinking champagne. We will be on our lovely boat probably with the heating on, eating spag boll and drinking a cheap bottle of fizz. We will however toast our adventure and toast ourselves - all three of us.

Maybe it's the lure of the sea...

I have been secretly passing the days in my head as I remember the weeks that lead up to that day in June when we finally set sail. The memories begin in February, the day we left Goole for Hull. Then to April and the day I gave notice on my job. They build up to the 4th of June, the day I finally said goodbye to my job and the people I had worked with for the best part of seven years. There are a lot of feelings that I still remember so clearly about those days. The mixed emotions, the endless hours sat on the M62. The days passing the Humber on our daily 70 mile round commute, looking at the water and wondering, can we do it? The weekends in the pubs around Hull, notably The Minerva, sat watching boats, ships, barges passing by. Trying to work out just how choppy it was - too choppy for us mostly! It was exciting, terrifying and hugely emotional as we set about making a huge change in our lives. We sold what we could. Sometimes it feels as though we sold parts of our lives. Part of the things that made us who we were. But we are still here and we are still us, maybe a little different, maybe not so much. As the circle of time begins to complete I’m not sure how I feel. Proud, happy, sometimes lonely and sometimes a little homesick. I love what we have achieved but I wonder what is round the corner and what we are missing out on. With friends and family so far away it can be hard sometimes.
Last year in my penultimate week of employment we went to Strummercamp. Strummercamp is a festival that celebrates the life and music of Joe Strummer and The Clash. Joe Strummer is my hero (after Martyn of course!) so when I heard back in 2007 that there was a festival dedicated to him it was clear we would have to go. The only problem was that the festival happened on the last bank holiday weekend in May. The same weekend as our favourite rally - Kelso. We decided that we would skip Kelso for one year and go to Strummercamp, I believe since then we have only attended one rally at Kelso! There is a feeling at Strummercamp that no matter who you are you belong and you are welcome. As long as you love music, have respect for others and leave your prejudices at home you will have a good time. It’s a very special place and probably the only time in my life that I never stop smiling from Friday to Monday. The post Strummercamp blues that follow as you head back to reality can last for days. Leaving Strummercamp 2010 was particularly emotional for us as we didn’t know what the future would hold. We told everyone we would be back to tell tall tales of the sea - parrot on one shoulder a wooden leg and an eye patch - if not please call the coast guard - we may well be lost! This being the case we had to go back this year - there was no question. The bus was loaded up and we headed north once more, this time to Manchester. It was a great weekend. My sister and her boyfriend joined us for the Saturday where Wheelbarrow racing seemed to be the name of the game (best not to ask!). Sunday was a more subdued affair and Monday saw us wake us to rain. If we had stuck by plan A and taken the tent down on Sunday and slept in the bus, Monday might have been a little less soggy! We finally left the Strummercamp site saying goodbye to Simon Spoons the infamous Strummercamp Spoons player and thanked our new friend Brian for repeatedly re-tuning Martyns guitar. Not only did we get a free tune we got entertained with some beautiful Irish melodies. A fine way to wake up on a Sunday morning after a riotous Saturday evening! We headed back to Hebden Bridge and following a scrub down at my Dads house we spent Monday with the relatives before heading back South. All in all it all went a little too quick. Work commitments meant we had to be back fro Wednesday which didn’t leave much time to spent with family and I think we felt a little bit cheated. This was followed by the 4th June and the realisation that it was exactly one year since we both left the world of employment and ventured into the unknown. Strange to think as I sit here watching the sea vent it’s anger on the sea wall and cover my windows in salt that I would be sat here one year later.
Martyn has a great job which he loves and I am very lucky to have finally got my own job. We are looking forward to summer (if it ever arrives!) and have plans for our future down here. I can’t help but to think about last year though and two people preparing for a new adventure. I almost feel envious of the person I was last year and the things we acheived. Yesterday I took a walk up to the sea wall and just stood and stared. The sea was a beautiful green colour with small white caps rising and falling with the waves. It looked so inviting - too choppy for us still - but very tempting. Maybe we just need a couple of calm sunny days so we can at least take Elephant Daze beyond that sea wall again. We have not been able to get out since last year, work and weather don’t play well. Weekends are windy, Mondays are calm. We will get out one day and I will get that picture of me on my boat next to the pier - It’s a promise!
We left Hull on June 22nd 2010 the day after the longest day of the year and probably the only flat calm day we will ever see. This year I’m hoping we will celebrate that day with a barbeque on the beach and maybe a bottle of the fizzy stuff. We will toast our friends, our family, ourselves and most importantly Elephant Daze. At that point I suppose we will finally be able to say the circle of time is complete. Just remember though, a circle is never ending....