This last week was long awaited: the last of the radiotherapy was completed on Wednesday. We have reached another milestone.
The cancer is gone, cut out, burnt out. We can now focus on healing and recovery. We are nearly at the top of that wretched mountain we have been scaling for three months. We say ‘nearly’ because we have been warned by the nurses and radiologist that the next ten days will be even worse than it already is in terms of radiation dermatitis and fatigue.
“The moment you want to quit is the moment you need to keep pushing“
Or so they say! So we keep pushing for a while longer!
As any mountain climber well knows, you can’t give everything you have to reach the peak and leave nothing in the tank for the descent home. So slowly and cautiously we are making our way back down to normality and wellness. It means recognizing that there will be hard days particularly in the next two weeks, as well as easier days, but on balance we look forward to more uplifting days than tough ones.
We are slowly giving ourselves permission to look beyond this month. The beginning and end of the next six months are clear. We are staying at Marina Mirage till 6th May, to give Chris time to recover. We will gradually do more during the month of April as the battle scars heal and we complete the medical follow ups.
At the other end, we have booked Anui’s haulout for the third week of October to coincide with our next round of medical appointments. We hope to be back in the water and clear to leave Queensland by the end of October, bound for Tasmania.
So what happens in between? We are allowing ourselves to dream again. For now let’s just say that when the Bible, as we call it, comes out on the coffee table, you know plotting has started!
It is premature right now to give more details other than saying the Coral Sea Atolls are on the horizon!
This week, physical exercise has been reduced to just our yoga and Pilates classes daily – at least for Chris. Wade continues to push himself hard with weight and circuit training as well.
The only walk we had was on the beach before the weather deteriorated and the rain set in from Sunday onwards. No plan to go up to the rainforest for fear of mud bathes and leeches!
Our friend the Nankeen Night Heron has taken up residence on Anui either at the bow end, on the ropes or on the dinghy. He even comes into the cockpit when Bengie is not watching. There is evidence of his stay if you see what we mean, but we like him.
We will leave you with a few shots of the moody skies, rough ocean… and nasty jellyfishes! We thought they only came in on a Northeast… how wrong can we be! There were hundreds of them washed up on the water’s edge.
Sv-Anui 
I’m glad you have reached this milestone, Chris! Wonderful news. Rest and be well soon, Tasmania is on the horizon! Hugs! 😊
Hi John, Tasmania is the longer term plan but the next six months before that are the focus. Let’s hope weather and everything else in life align positively.
Let’s be positive! 👍🏻😊❤️
Softly and gently is how it goes for a little while now. Take a leaf from the book of Bengie and find that comfy spot, a doting human to feed and pat you occasionally and snooze lots.
Thanks Ann. It is kind of weird to not be driven by the radiotherapy schedule. But I won’t miss it! Bengie is getting more cuddles than she ever had!
‘great to hear one ‘tick’ has been achieved. Now on to the next one. ‘Love your resident! Boy is ‘he’ going to be annoyed when you leave!
Hi Trish, another big tick. Another to go will be feeling healthy and normal again! The heron I’m sure will find another vessel to hang on when we leave. He still has another five or six weeks though!
Hi Chris & Wade,So good to be seeing light at the end of the tunnel finally! It’s been a tough mountain to climb, like the Tassie mountains we have been clawing our way through recently – there has been lot of growth with all the rain in the south west and it’s greener than we have seen before. Looks like you’ll be heading out to the Coral Sea this winter. We recently met our old friends Jack & Jude in Macquarie Harbour who did a lot a cruising out there. It’s worthwhile checking their blogs and YouTube videos on the Coral Sea. They have a lifetime of experience and are a mine of information. Glad to hear that you plan to come to Tassie next summer. We cruised South Australia in Jan/Feb this year, but had to visit Tassie on our way home. We are currently in Port Davey. We’ll most likely be back next year. Best wishes, Chris & Suzanne Discovery II
So pleased you are at Port Davey. We like Tassie so much and especially the more remote areas. The walks in the SW were more bush bash, scaling up peaks through miles of thigh deep growth in places or rivulets of water and mud when it rained, but rewarding for the views. Hope we meet up with you next summer.
The Coral Sea atolls come first though if the weather allows. We have the Jack & Jude guide but find the Peter Seyre’s book more comprehensive.
Have fun down south!
Well done Chris. That’s a mammoth stage completed, preparing you for your recovery phase. Bengie knows how important the cuddles are. Continue to move forward. All the best to you & Wade. Cheers Caroline
Thanks Caroline, always lovely to get your comments.
Hooray and well done. What a marathon and a neck procedure too. Hope you feel much stronger and better soon. Those little birds are hilarious. There was one in Gladstone that would slink around. Happy trip planning!
Thanks Karina, how are you feeling after your own marathon? Here is to dreaming beyond the current state!
Hope you both will feel a lot better soon. Take your time to heel and enjoy the rest. 😁
Thanks Aletta. Nice to get your message. We will!
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Excellent news, take it gently for now
That’s all I can do, Sue!
Well done you two – we are so pleased to see you in sight of the finish. The saying that you quote is so true in reference to running a marathon and particularly the last few Kms – so yes Chris bring it home!!!!
Tom & Lou xx
Hi Tom & Lou, yes it is the last push which is sapping the already low energy levels. Planning our escape helps us along. 😘
Good milestone to reach Chris. Hope you can up anchor soon and sail back to wellness.
I’m back to Malaysia in a week.
All the best for your next adventure, Simon. We are due to leave the marina on 6 May and will see how things are then. So still some time to go.
Glad that your finishing line is in sight Chris! From here it looks like you’ve been running a marathon, toughing out the hardships and pain, soon to throw yourself at the tape ….. Your cruising recovery sail will be surely welcome 🤗
Gotta love your heron friend, he’s like your guardian angel! Keep running guys, you’re nearly there, and if you decide to sail to Majorca in May, we could catch up 😉
Hi Elgar, I reckon someone keeps moving that finish line further and further away! A week after the end of radiation, the breast tissue and exhaustion are getting worse! May can’t come quick enough.
We like the heron… he seems to be getting accustomed to us and doesn’t fly off as easily now.