Yes, I know, another dreadful pun for a title!

I’ve recovered well from hernia surgery – performed by Professor Doug McWhinnie – and in a few days I fly out to rejoin Garmin, transit the Panama canal, and continue my round the world race.

It’s been a strange time for me sitting on the other side of the race viewer, and watching the little black triangle make its way down the Pacific coast without me. But I needed the surgery, and this period in limbo has given me time to recharge before the last section of the race, and to spend lots of time with my family, including my little nephew, James, whose parents have had to cope with a smelly sailor on their sofa for three weeks…

 

So soon it’ll be back to bunks, heat, sweat, living life at a crazy angle, toilets that you have to pump, and sharing a 70ft living space with 17 other people. Which does rather beg the question, why am I doing this…?!

Many people have asked me if I’m doing this for charity, and if they can make a donation.

The honest answer is that I’m doing this for me, to take a year to recover and renew. But the charity I would choose is Rennie Grove, whose visiting staff came to our home as often as we needed them and provided my wonderful wife, Emily, with help, advice, counselling, massage, and beauty treatments and – when the time came – hospice level medical care.

I can’t thank them enough for the difference they made, so I’ve set up a JustGiving page where – if you’d like to – you can safely and securely make a donation to this small but amazing charity.  Just click on the button below.

Thank you.