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November 8th, 2012 | Caribbean

Last Day on the Cay…

After a number of postponements, tomorrow I will finally begin my journey back to South Africa…

The enormous disruption and devastation to the Jersey shoreline caused by Hurricane Sandy, has not only left us astounded and numb, but also delayed my plans to fly to New Jersey to make a few final arrangements before the long haul across the Atlantic…

We have been in constant contact with friends and family in the worst affected areas and are happy to report that for the most part, they have all come through the storm safe and sound…

Monmouth Beach where Patricia’s brother Jack lives, and where the Big Fella was hunkered down over the past six weeks, was inundated with sand and seawater and is still recovering from the devastation… Jack’s garden was underwater and one of their cars was extensively damaged… Jack’s home is a few hundred yards from the shoreline, and I can only imagine the damage to properties that are located closer to the beach than his is…

Images of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy can be viewed here… http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/hurricane-sandy-pictures-photos2-20121025

Sandy Hook, where we were married, was completely underwater at one point, and entrance to this narrow peninsula has been barred until the only road that runs through it has been cleared of sand and debris…

The home that we rented, was flooded up to the second floor, and the jacuzzi that was build into the front porch was last seen hundreds of yards down the main road that runs between the house and sea wall…  The entire area surrounding it was badly battered by the storm… Homes were washed off their foundations, and many will have to be rebuilt…

Although the garage at Jack’s home was flooded, the Big Fella did not end up completely underwater as I had feared…!! Apparently the water rose as high as the bash plate and cylinder heads before receding…

In a few days time, I will ride to Pennsylvania, to the home of my good friend Doug McIllwain, who has very kindly offered to store the Big Fella until I return to the US in April next year…

I had been wondering what the weather conditions will be like now that winter is fast approaching, and an email from Karen in Freehold this morning gave me a good indication..!!

“13 inches of snow last night…!!” her mail read…

Yet another storm, this one sent down from Canada in the northeast, is lashing New Jersey and New York as I write this…!! As if the people living there have not been through enough in recent days…!! And I’m not talking about the election either…!!

Apparently, with a window of warmer weather fore-casted for the next few days, I hope the snow will have melted enough to allow me to make the ride to Pottsville without incident… Visions of my ride from Beirut to Damascus in 2011, have reminded me of how little I enjoyed that particular ride…!!

Cycling is an altogether happier alternative to walking on Parrot Cay….

I am trying not to think too far ahead right now, and am slowly getting all my gear together in preparation to leave Parrot Cay… It is an emotional time for both Patricia and I… We have spent our free time cycling, swimming, walking… But mostly talking…

We spent a quiet afternoon down on the beach today, taking a last long walk along the shore and a short swim in the waters that are still cloudy with sand churned by the  unusually high tides…

Having to spend the next few months apart was by no means what we had hoped for… It will also be the longest time we have been separated since we met… We have both come to accept that this is just another chapter in our journey into the future, and one that is just another ” means to an end”…

Our last few days spent together have been special… There has been a quiet acceptance of our current circumstances….

I have spent the last six weeks here on the island, thinking about all that has gone before… How I came to be here, what drove me to throw caution to the winds, take the risks I did to achieve my dream of riding my bike around the world, setting out on a journey that I hoped would change my life forever…

And it did just that…!! In more ways than I could ever have imagined…

“Is your journey over now…??”, I have been asked…

“Life” is the journey, and this one will never be over until I hang my boots up for the last time… And between now and that moment, I have a lot of living left in me…!! And sharing it with Patricia has to be the greatest gift I have been granted… I could not have wished for a more wonderful person to continue my travels with…

And of course, there is the Big Fella, who has made it very clear that he intends ending his journey with me, back where it all began, under the open skies and bright sunlight of Southern Africa…

And after all the things that we have been through together, who am I to deny him…??

After all, as if you did not know by now…the Big Fella is ME…

3 comments to Last Day on the Cay…

  • Margie Gush

    Thinking of you both as you prepare to come back to SA. It must be very hard – really praying that all will go well – glad to hear that the Big Fella did not suffer too badly in that awful storm.
    All the best as you make your way back to SA

  • Charmz

    As difficult as it is to leave your wonderful wife behind on the Cay…time flies by so quickly, you will once again be together sooner than you can imagine. This must have been one hell of a decision to make between the two of you, and am sure it was the right one at the right time. Ronnie, I know you will be working your butt off in the coming months just so that you can get back to your beloved Patricia. Thank goodness for SKYPE….
    See you soon back in the RSA.
    xoxo

  • Kim

    There’s so many phrases, song lyrics, quotes and saying that jump to mind, when I read this – saying good-bye just seems wrong….but I think this saying says it all –
    “Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third. – Marge Piercy”
    Can’t say anything more – See you back in SA!!!!
    Big kisses, as always
    K

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