They are safe on land and in the arms of those who love them the most.
AND that is all that matters.
Thanks Patrick for all your superhuman effort.
mae

I was at ngamotu beach three hours ago to see the boys land. It was truly amazing, a crowd of 7000-8000 to welcome them ashore. I'm sure everyone there felt they were part of history, a momentous event. I hope my kids will tell their grandkids "we were there." Congratulations guys, you are true heroes.

Congrats J & J! Huge!
Thanks Patrick, Race Recon and everyone working in the background to make it all work. Looking forward to seeing post landing podcasts, comments, photos etc once the spray has settled.

James/Justin

Awesome effort - Enjoy the moment, you deserve it

Patrick et al @ Race Recon - Fantastic effort guys, many thanks for keeping us up-to-date and allowing us to vicariously live the adventure with the lads

Cheers

To James and Justin.

As I said in my first comment, now that it's over, (the trip that is), my CONGRATULATIONS to both of you for your tenacity and sense of purpose. I am so disappointed that after following your podcasts and all the comments over the last two months, I signed off last night only to find I was blocked out this morning to see you finally came ashore. Never mind you have made it and thank you both for making an old man, (NO not old maybe a bit aged, like a good wine), happy to be able to follow all your trials and tribulations during your historic and momentous undertaking. May all your dreams be fulfilled, as I said before you are an absolute credit to your generation. In the words of General George S. Patton to his men I am proud to have been with you "YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS".

Fondest regards

Bob Barnes.

Just watched the TV3 video after watching progress for 61 days twas so frustrating not to see them approach, important thing is that they are here in the other half of ANZACLAND. Proud of you all and the biggest impression that I had of those scenes on the beach was that no-one was going to be the first on the beach, that says almost as much as the actual voyage. I've watched, listened, analysed, commented and drunk in so much information and there is so much love between these two young folk and their families, may their examples be used by all who are teaching and setting examples to our young folk.

Thanks Patrick and team, and all other unseen supporters. Look forward to hearing updates.

May all your examples continue to influence this century.

Cheers

James and Justin, congratulations and well done. I know your family and friends are very very proud of you. Good on you guys!
Leah K

Congrats guys, you are LEGENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy your rest!


thecraw

congratulations james and justin a job well done was good to see you at ngnamotu beach.Mayor Pete said there was about 45 thousand people there wasnt it amazing We are pleased we where able to follow your corageous journey

crazy scenes.....glad to be able to catch some video of the event....cause the site crashed...hope to see some video on this site tomorrow....some news items say 3000 greeted them some say 50,000 greeted them....they are an inspiration.......and deserve the admiration of the crowd....congratulations.......tuff stuff man

-------------------------------------------------

"The interest in the men's journey was so high today that the website following their progress crashed as they were approaching the shore.

"The website managers said they had around 150,000 to 500,000 hits this morning and it was just too much for the site."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4354443a10.html

-----------------------------------------------------

video
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/13/2137311.htm


video
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23045416-2,00.html


Charity cyclists inspired by kayakers
Jan 13, 2008 3:06 PM

A group that plans to take the high road through the South Island on bikes, is thrilled and inspired by the trans-Tasman kayaking journey that finished in New Plymouth on Sunday.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1542481

Congratulations Justin & James and your support team. I have really enjoyed being able to keep up to date. Thanks Richard, great effort, hope you didnt stress to much today with all the techy problems.
J & J, I hope the bed is ok tonight as it will be very unusual not bobing around.

Pete signing out.

To Justin and James and all Forumites,
Fantastic to see you finally ashore...what a magnificent achievement...you guys must be so proud...and to HM Lot41..what a magnificent craft...carried all before her..through thick and thin...bloody amazing.
The Forum meltdown this morning was unbelievable...just so many people logging in..mind blowing stuff.
From the bottom of my heart..thanks a million for allowing us all to take part...an experience I'll never forget. I doubt whether life will be the same after this. You've certainly taught us all about courage and determination to say the least.
Magnificent effort to all involved...huge thank you to all at Race Recon for making it all happen.
To all the Forumites...what can I say...been an absolute pleasure reading all the heart felt comments...truly an amazing experience.
All the very best
Cheers.

Well done James and Justin. No doubt you'll have a Tooheys! Just remember, now you're in Kiwiland, we spell it "Tui's" Congratulations on a supreme effort. Kia ora, kia kaha. Go well, go strong.

Justin and James,
I am so proud of you both. You are two very special men, our family will always remember your adventure. Thank you both, Patrick, Luke and the rest of the forumites for the journey. I will never look at a kayak ever the same.

Patrick,
Is there going to be a regular homepage for the boys, so we can see their future adventures. The book, the talks, autographs, the movie!!!!!

Beky
Melbourne, Victoria

ditto to all the thanks to Patrick, race recon and all members of the forum it has certainly been a privilege to follow this courageous epic journey finally caught their landing on sky news wish i could have been there to celebrate with everyone, the faces of the family told it all well done James and Justin

Well done lads. And thanks for the enthralling spectacle you've given us over the past two months. The New Plymouth crowd is a testament to the slick communications work you and the support team have provided via the internet and other media. It's no wonder that so many people, like me, have become encrusted onto your journey like a gigantic collection of virtual barnacles.

I reckon there will be a lot of people looking forward to your book, DVD and lecture tour, which might mean that in future you don't need to go to such lengths to save a few bob on the Trans-Tasman airfare.

Again, thanks and well done.

Congratulations to all of the team. The technology involved in this mammoth journey has added an extra dimension. To Patrick and the team......just sensational. The world was there in spirit throughout the highs and lows.
Savour the moment guys and good luck!
Peter from Forster
ps Ol Oiler...all the very best to you.

Wow..website meltdown....that says it all!!
Politicians, media moguls, big business ,take note! THIS is where it's at!!
J&J,(you are legends now!)and everyone behind the scenes and on the forum..."Hearts of Oak and Gold"...THANK YOU ALL!!!

A great voyage by J & J with the help of many. Congratulations to all, from Lot 41 builders, all at Race Recon, others behind the scenes, the media, the sponsors and the welcoming crowd at New Plymouth.

Who could have anticipated that their popularity would sink the websites?

The most important thing was that the lads safely finished their epic journey.

Pending TV coverage tonight, take a peep at the following sites for video and photo coverage of their landing.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23045626-661,00.html

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2008/01/13/1200159260347.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/13/2137311.htm?section=justin


Barry
Artarmon
Sydney

Finally, after several hours of agony, I was able to get back on here. Patrick, I know without any doubt whatsoever, that all of you at Race Recon did your best to keep the site up and running. In my view you all have gone way above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you for making this magical journey possible.

James and Justin - My most heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to you on completing your magnificant obsession!!! It was an honor and a priviledge to have been able to come along for the ride. You are both a marvelous (I'm sorry, I'm running out of superlatives) example of the people we need more of in this world. Every school child in the world should be shown your story! I do hope that you both recover quickly and completely from your aches, pains, etc.

HM Lot 41 - Bless you my dear. You, mighty horse of the sea, have performed your part of this awesome journey and cared for your two rats as no one else could.

Liane - I finally found the tv3 video. Were you the one with the baseball cap and the long hair that kept stroking James' hand? I felt that that just had to be you because there was so much love between the two of you -- even through that video and distance. Made me cry to watch your joy. Thank you again for the loving pictures you created of your family for us. God bless you all.

And to the Forumites - what can I say? I've come to love and respect all of you. You have given me so much hope in this otherwise confusing world and, I believe, for anyone that wants to see, you have demonstrated what this world could be like if there was more love, positive thinking, and common goals for the good of all. To think that it all started with two young men off on a trip. If we could just bottle whatever we produced together and make everyone in the world drink some of it it just might set the world off on a new and different and happier path.

Stan, thanks for all your running back and forth this morning to keep us informed. You'll never know just how much you helped.

Bless you all and thank you very, very much.

Wynne

taken a while to get back on....was there as they came in and landed..awesome....was so proud of my city for the great turnout and so proud of you guys...you turned our city upside down for today...we left as you were taken away in the ambulance...hope all is okay Deborah.....p.s. I am a local artist/art teacher...I have a work in' real tart' gallery in town....based on weather maps and the sea in december btwn australia and nz....if you want it...you can have it...just let me know where to send it...you can see it at real tart gallery in new plymouth. frenchpearce@xtra.co.nz also have work on virtual tart.......the tart is for T aranaki ART ists T and ART=tart

Whoops...forgot to say....I am not trying to use this forum to promote my work!!! Actually...rather i'm shy.... just thought the work would suit you and and would celebrate your acheivements..... if some time you read ths let me know and I'll send it to you !!! Deborah

G'day James & Justin,
Congratulations you legends. I'm so happy that you made it safely. I'm a bit disappointed that chan 7 chopped the live broadcast a few minutes before you landed but I'll be watching the news tonight hoping to see you land.Thank you Patrick,Luke & crew for making all this happen,I would'nt be able to follow the journey if it were'nt for you blokes.
Good luck for the future to you and all the forumites.
Signing Off,
Jim.
Bellingen NSW.

What does one do after an event like this? i kept track of th Syd-Hobart Yacht Race...now Justin & James adventures.. I agree with synergon..with so much turmoil and negativity in th world today it gives ppl hope that if we stay positive and love our fellow humans the world WILL be a better place..
In my excitement getting back into th forum i forgot to congratulate the Main Men.. Justin & James & Lot 41 & Family... I dont wanna sign out but will :/ Will keep chk on this forum tho ..... :) til nxt time

A correction to my last post. there were 20 kayaks and we went out 16Kms.
A surreal experience.