Howdy All

Justin Here!!!!! We are both alive and well, albeit fatigued both mentally and deep within our bones. To date we have been stuck on cloud nine and running on pure adrenaline alone.

I just wanted to say a HUGE, no that doesn't do it justice...a Overwhelmingly MASSIVE and very heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you Forumites who 'barnacled' yourselves to the hull of this expedition whether you posted or just 'lurked', threw bottles from a distance or shot water jets to remove unwanted characters from our stern...you made this journey such a wonderful experience for the two of us and we shall never forget it.

I haven't yet had a chance to read through the forum for the last week and a half and so am sure I am out of the loop....as you might know the last week has been extremely crazy and hectic to say the least and at times it seems that the paddling was the easy part.

The other night James and I were having a chat and flicking through the diaries we wrote while out there and looking at all the photos and got really excited...it was almost like we were back on the ditch again…we can’t wait till we can share it with each and every one of you.

We are lucky enough to have 60 Minutes on board to help present our expedition to the entire Australian public. They are going to do an amazing story on us around the 8th or 11th of February and until then we can’t go into too much detail of specific stories etc but rest assured any questions you have after that will be cleared up whether it be through the form of a book, doco or even online.

Pat and the rest of Race Recon are also getting a bit of well deserved R and R as you can imagine the support crew for this expedition were probably just as tired and stressed out as the two Rats paddling there way across the Ditch!!

I have started a new Thread just to make sure I catch the attention of everyone jumping onto the forum.

Again to all of you…Thank You.

You will forever hold a very special place in our hearts and I hope we can meet up with each and everyone of you soon. We’ll be hosting a couple of events soon so please keep your ears and eyes peeled. If you haven’t signed up for the newsletter yet please do as we will keep you posted. We have developed such an amazing and loving community on this Forum and we’d love to keep it going so please keep posting your thoughts and queries etc

I’ll be posting again soon.

Love Justin and James

If any of you feel the urge to email us please do so at info@crossingtheditch.com.au
Or directly at Justin@crossingtheditch.com.au

I see I'm going to be the first Forumite to sneak in here and get a post. What a great honor, Justin. Thank you. I'm just getting my day going here, and I see I just missed you by a few minutes, staying up late to talk to all of us here. Just beginning to snow outside. They say we have a big winter storm headed our way, so I need to run out the door and get some things done before it gets too bad.

Okay, I'll check in later.

Love and blessings and many thanks.

AT aka Sdareing or just plain Steve

Hi JUSTIN AND JAMES.
Thanks for ya comments.The look on both of your faces at different times over the 2 days was totally worth it. Its amazing how people can lift someone just with their presence, The look on ya face when a good mate was standing there was 1 example .The next thing that was quite amazing was the look on both your mums looking out to sea .Their hearts were not on the beach they were out there with ya ...I walked up too James Mum who was standing alone with her hand on her chin and she was looking around the crowd and looked like a lost child who didnt know where she was ..She had tears rolling down her face ...I said are you being a Mum ...Her reply was im just overwhealmed by the numbers of people here ,and yes i cant wait .

Anyway there is another thing in the wind ...I dont know when...but hear they is going to mark the spot for eternity where you both landed ... That will be great..... So we will see ya both back sometime for an unveiling.
But when it happens we want ya to see what we have here in Taranaki, and be at a more down to earth pace. You have met the people and they gave their hearts .. Your efforts will never be forgotton you guys gave your guts .
Ok enuff said,spot ya soon for a beer.

Keep living your dream.
Streppo


Someone suggested a pic of 2 paddlers back to back paddling, not sure which way at times they were going ...NAH wont happen.

Justin and James,
In North America your CTD was not quite so popular. Everywhere I go I have been spreading the story of the two brave lads. I shead a tear everytime. If you are ever in Western Canada (Alberta) doing some climbing you have a place to stay and a ride where ever you need to go. keep your adventures in life coming as we in our family are excited to see what comes next.

Love ya

SM

Okay.

Thankyou James and Justin for your kind words to the Forumites.
I should have taken a picture of you guys leaving Auckland Airport for your posterity , but I did not action it.
Never mind ,memories serve us just as well.
Get some r&r and breathe a little slower now it is over.

Streppo , I heard you were at NP.
Pity you did not meet me and Phil, oh well.
As for me , well I am always relaxed and I am off to do some fishing tomorrow :)
LOVE NZ fishing....

Friday 18.01.07
Rat a Tat Rat

Great to see you on board Justin and thanks for the message about Ryan’s Bar Feb 3.
Still working late and early we see.
No doubt we will all be hearing more from you fellers after you have some time to get reacquainted to the chaos of confusion back here in the ‘dumbed down’ society we live in off the ditch.
(Dumbed down as in allowing ourselves to be "sucked into" media dominated frenzy by the media promoting a young 16 year old who has emerged as someone special because he has been socially neglected in some way to behave this way, he is after all still 16, not entitled to vote, buy cancer sticks or alcohol and yet he become the victim and target of scorn and derision because a crazy idea blew up.
Sure he has attitude, trying to tough out and defend himself from attack, that is natural, spare a loving thought for this young fellow and all of the crew who just let off steam in a not too clever way. At least the kid has spared us from children and women being bombed in their beds!!!!!!!

Ol Oiler would have simply hosed these kids down and they would still love and respect him, here is a really good lesson for society I reckon.

Whilst we are condemning this lad we need to remind our selves of pre emptive attacks, axis of evil and WMD's.

Then we are able to really return our senses to the tender and bliss filled moments of the CTD experience.

Justin & James You took us and gathered us because of your humility and sincerity.

Authenticity is heart and soul connecting which cannot and must not be faked.

My vote is to stay in bliss and understand the feeling of how we choose to live. One is "warm and ANZAC" the other "Cold prickles"

Hope to catch you at the Junction Justin, that is if you have time to spare and can release your self from your growing band of blonde “courtesans”, Forumite Mothers and daughters, Robert Browning’s band of admirers, Stan and all other devotees, bell ringers and this duck.

As for being on cloud nine. We are not at all surprised and consider that to be a very special place.
The place eluded to from our earliest post as you went out into Tasman's waters.

Now after the crossing and having become elevated to that “cloudy” level of consciousness take your time to enjoy the experience for ever, you earned that higher degree and the way you have returned to the forum sounds as though you are even a more fabulous loving and caring soul than the mighty feller who left FORSTER ( that’s for you bern?) two months ago this state of complete self actualization was to be expected for both of you once you jumped the gap with all other needs gratified.

Looking forward to continuing a life long relationship as we all collect in that one universally common place of unconditional love.
Blessings as always phd & Carol Isabel.

PS I have been reluct....ant to ask but would some one please post the link to Robert Brownings video I know I am missing something pretty amazing. Thanks

Hi James & Justin
We can only say to you both:

………………C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S…………………
(not really adequate but can't think of another word)

You had such tremendous will power, talent, dedication and perseverance throughout your journey, especially since doing a circle in the middle of the Tasman !!!! (we thought you must have forgotten something back in Forster…. or were you looking for Nemo!!!)

Please don't change the way you are - we are all delighted with you and your sense of humility, humour and dedication. I’m sure your family feels the same …..
……we now feel like you are part of our family and are so pleased we could be part of the forum.

Barby & family

No probs Justin, it's the 2nd of February. :-)
I guess in a way your experiencing 'jet lag' of a different kind, but at an enormous scale!!

Beky
Greensborough, Melbourne, Victoria

Hey Justin!
Thanks for your recent posts. I'm still not sure how you and James read our posts after those long hard days on the ditch: I'm sure I would have chosen to sleep. But now that I think about it, when the mail would come into the village, we were all looking forward to it, no matter how late it was or how long and crappy our days had been. So maybe I do get it, a bit.

Now, more confessions...about the 8am New Year's day training.........in the beginning, when I first posted, I intro'd myself as a sailor rather than a paddler. That's true, but as a result of a probably not-so-chance meeting with the CEO of Australian Canoeing in early November, there are now two events on my Calendar that are not Sailing:

1. 2008 Australian Canoe and Kayak Marathon Championships (March)
2. 2008 Canoe Classic (October)

Now..if you described yourself as a sailor rather than a paddler, and then committed yourself to those two events (what WAS I thinking???? I didn't even have CTD Fever at the time), wouldn't you be out on New Year's day???????? ...and we did have a sleep-in - 0800 is hardly early.

Hope you guys can get some better quality sleep now that you know that, and that you, James and the Race Recon crew are enjoying a bit of down time.

Cheers,

Kristen : )

PS.....What I REALLY want to know is whether or not you and or James did any sailing with Knox Grammar out of Royal Prince Alfred YC???????

Justin, thanks for the update. Take care, have a great time doing 'normal' stuff like shopping!
I'm sure your family don't really mind about the presants, they are just glad you are home.
Have a great weekend!

Hi All,
The Forum's a bit quiet tonight - what's going on in the rest of the world?
But a lot has been happening here over the last day or so, tho' I have been quiet and just lurking. Justin, wonderful to read you - thank you so much. You must be exhausted - hope you both do get some time to really relax and catch up after what must have taken a huge toll on you both, even though you looked so good. 2nd of Feb sounds fantastic - and please don't worry those of you who feel the Cargo Bar and the like might be for the younger 12 yo look alikes among us - Ryan's is where you worked isn't it Justin?, and I'm sure it can accommodate a few of us who aren't in the first flush of youth - and we'll all be there to celebrate James and Justin anyway - so who cares? Well me actually, but I just want to be there so I'll have to get over that. For anyone who might feel the same, we have the forum connection, and I'll be the one probably looking a bit worried!!
Thank you Sir Duck for your generous offer of keeping us together if needs be. What would we do without you? And also for asking about the Robert Browning link - I had been trawling/lurking trying to find it (moral:ask) -thank you Mae and Amorous - how great was that - Bless You, Robert. I want to keep that forever - I think it will always make me cry!
And hey Kristen, please give us more details of 1. & 2. - where are they held, and are you paddling singly or team - and do you want a cheer squad?!
Which reminds me Mangokayaker is now paddling round Tasmania. He did email me details of how to locate where he's at, but I can't work it out - I will try to find out more and let you know. He should complete mid-February.
Ol Oiler, I do hope you are back on deck soon - we miss you very much.
James and Justin, as always take care - even on dry land - thank you - rest well - and so looking forward to seeing you on the 2nd, and to meeting as many forumites who can make it. Beky great to hear that you are coming up, I hope your Mum is too. Sydney forumites, they're coming from Melbourne - we've gotta be there to greet them.
Night all,
Love,
Gail

I think we just have to check them all Cathieb!!!!!!!!

Phew!! Thanks gail.t. Does this mean there are two forums going?? and what, pray, is a "Phantom user" Did I see that description on the list of users a while ago? Weird things are happening tonight.
I'm rushing back and forth, cooking vast quantities of middle eastern snacky things for a fund-raiser tomorrow night. I imagine I'll be here till 2 or 3 am, if I keep checking on the forum..but, it's what's kept the smile on my face these past weeks and I'm truly dependent now. I love it!

Good morning everyone! Ah, what a difference a day makes...

Anyway, hope you wake up to a new world feeling happy and joyous and the courage to continue to stand up to the insanity that surrounds us at the moment.

Love and Blessing Always,

STeve

HEY ALL YOU FORUMITES
MY IDEA WHEN YOU ALL GO TO SYDNEY (i can"t)YOU ALL KNOW EACH OTHER BY NAME , YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO EACH OTHER LIKE BROTHERS WE ARE (AND SISTERS)
HOW ABOUT EVERY FORUMITE HAVE THEIR NAME TAG ON
STRIKE ME LUCKY YOU MIGHT BE STANDING NEXT TO PH DUCK HIMSELF WITH CAROL ON HIS WING
NOW NONE OF YOU ARE BACKWARD IN COMING FORWARD IN HITTING THE KEYBOARD SO DONT HANG BACK IN SAYING
'hi ph duck i"m bern please to meet you where are the king rats
one in all in in this family
cos when they (the rats) come to >>>>FORSTER>>> NOBODY gets to meet them with out a name tag ,
thats right is"nt >>> PATRICK >>MY OLD MATE

bern

Well, you guys sure "Knocked the B*stard off" !!!

RIP Sir Edmund Hillary, and long live the RATS

You guys have earned every accolade anyone can hope to heap on you!

Cheers from a hugely grateful and inspired kiwi.

Dear James and Justin,
congratulations again on your fantastic monumental and huge achievement.
I hope the recovery is speedy and complete and that you feel great and rested soon.
Whenever I think of you being out there SO FAR from any kind of help, I am awestruck. Paddling out of sight of land in a kayak is something I cannot even imagine - even on a sunny calm day let alone at night in a big breaking sea. It's scary to think about. How did Andrew McCauley get so far in that environment? It's all too amazing.

There's so much confusion about dates. Maybe it's better to celebrate at Ryans' on 2nd and 3rd.

Guys, let us know if you're coming to Brisbane too, be more than happy to shout you a beer

Cheers

Dear James and Justin,
I hope you guys are feeling more restful. I was wondering if you could please provide the details of the official welcoming back for you guys at Ryan's Bar. Time, address etc. I need to book plane fares soon.
Many thanks.
Beky
Melbourne, Victoria.

G' Day Justin,

Thank you for your reply. I hope everything is from now on smooth sailing, but I guess your recovery might cause some of this nagging discomfort at times?

My operation was terminated after the surgeons had established that removal of my esophagus was no longer possible. Unfortunately I'll now will have to pick a fight with this stubborn opponent on a permanent basis. The definition of giving up is not in my dictionary either.
Well, I now have at least a foot long “shark bite” under my right arm. I shall wear it with pride!

Best wishes.

Ol Oiler ( Michael)

Great to see you back on the Forum oloiler...best of luck with it all!
DiM

Welcome back Ol Oiler

It's good to have you back on deck.
We are pulling for you.

Aunty Sal

Ol Oiler

Welcome back. We all missed you and all the tales of your adventures.

Now you have a new battle that we wish you all the best with

Pam