Nic Goes . . . and I Go Solo

[DeepFrz]

Mark, I wish you and Nic all the best in your future lives and hope to continue to see your wonderful postings here.

[SvenG]

The "rudeness" thread was a lot more enjoyable.



-Sven

[DotDun]

Mark & Nic,

Good luck in whatever lies ahead!

[Christian Van H]

Mark, this thread has 49 posts so far, since you posted this news this morning. 49 posts filled with love and caring (with the possible exception of a very funny post by David OJ), without a single mention of anchors or guns! I feel as though you and Nic are my friends, although we've never met. I've followed your wonderful adventure, loved your photos, and lived vicariously thru your great posts. This news saddens me. I feel for you both, and it's a sudden reminder of the fact that cruising cant cure everything life can throw at you. As someone who has cruised in the past for a year and a half singlehanded, I can assure you that you can and must go on. You will find comfort in the cruising community, and comfort with your friends right here. We will all miss Nic, but we expect to see you here tomorrow, and everyday here after. Take care my friend, Chris

[efrank]

Have been following your adventures for quite a while now and trying to enthuse the girlfriend to do the same with me....in a few more years!

My best wishes to both of you...in cool reality sometimes harsh decisions have to be made.

Remember the best is still to come for both of you!

cheers!

Eric on debonair

[BlueSeas]

Mark,

Sounds like you are taking things in the best light possible. Even with your loss, it sounds like you are ahead of the game with a great friend in Nic that you have shared some of life's greatest experiences.

I disagree with an earlier post that being alone is not the best thing. For some it is a great time of reflection of good memories and thoughts of where life is going. Don't know you, but you don't seem like the type to throw a pity party.

Best of luck to you and Nic. Looking forward to more of your thoughts and opinions on the forum

Dennis

[stevensc]

Sad news, we have all enjoyed reading your adventures. I wish both of you happiness.
Go slow enjoy the rest of the trip!
Steve

[anotherT34C]

This is a sad day indeed. Best of luck to you both, and hope you both find what you're looking for.

[High Heels]

Thinking of You and Nic, Mark...sorry to hear that it has come to this at this moment in time, but yes, I am very impressed by the maturity on both of your parts to live the lives you truly want to live even at the expense of parting ways for a little while. I hold hope that you will be together again when you have both pursued this chapter's dreams to conclusion...

You both are very brave...and you may be alone on the boat physically but you have all of us there with you in Spirit. Wishing you well in your new adventures!

[Palarran]

To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.
Oliver Wendell Holmes



Stillraining, sorry about the anchor part.

[Cherp]

In many far-flung places around the world, people have been following your adventures and enjoying your humour. So it's small wonder there's empathy when you go your different ways. Good luck and fair weather to both of you.

[SariTimur]

Hey Mark, sorry to hear the news but all of the best to you both. Hope our paths cross asgain. Does this mean you can now slow down or are you still in such a hurry?

[Alaska JD]

I'm so sorry for both you and Nic. This stuff is never easy and always has a long lead up. The foundational truths are that "Ain't nothin happens for no reason" and "in all things there is the possibility for growth and gain". I wish you all the best and please keep posting. I joined this forum to learn about the way I intend to live when I retire in a few years. You have been one of the most consistantly positive observers of the truth despensed kindness and humor on the forum. My prayers are with you both.

[MarkJ]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful heartfelt thoughts. The most heartfelt was, of course, Davids "Is it too early to ask for her telephone number? " He must be an Aussie!
Of course, David. I have some photos to sell too.

Nic is still flying so will send her these messages tomorrow when she arrives.

Its a new day today and the first thing I did when I woke was to go sniff the air to check the weather (OK, first thing I did was pump up 'Lil Dink - she's a sinkin'). There will be a sail on the horizon in a few days when some weather clears from the Gulf de Lyon, tuesday. The only thing to do will be read Evans' article about single handed docking which should have been called "Crashing with no one else to blame".




Mark

[anjou]

Fair dinkum Mark, your an Aussie Ocker, tough as old boots. x