Closing review by our dear friend Fred Lane who passed away.
04 November 2014 | Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Fred was a colleague of Bill's working together for a plywood factory and a good friend to our family since 1984, when we moved to QLD and Liam was a newly born baby. Vashti and his son Matthew are the same age. Fred loved travel and followed our adventures over the years, often sending supportive emails and phoning us to see how we were.
He and his lovely wife Kathy were there when we celebrated our circumnavigation homecoming. (They are in the photo above, 4th and 5th from the back). Sadly Fred died of cancer in April this year after Bill had arrived back in Greece. He did not have a chance to say goodbye. Fred knew us very well as can be seen in his thoughtful words written in his review of my book. I feel honoured and blessed to have his words on the last page:
Monday 23 May, 2011
What happens when a free spirited, sunny, people minded soul meets a pragmatic, resourceful partner with an equally unfettered approach to life? One outcome is revealed in the pages of this book.
Bill and Linda Anderson have in some ways lived with convention by raising a family in modern Australian tradition, but when the surface is scratched, the unshakeable thirst for adventure and experience is clearly evident. To date, their circumnavigation of the globe has been the highlight.
This was no act of spontaneity, but the fruits of a 30 year dream which took 16 years of preparation. With few resources, they built a 13.7 metre plywood yacht in their back garden; launched it in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia; and embarked on a two year odyssey.
The author writes with a love of the moment. They meet lifestyles far different to the Australian norm, and she absorbs the experiences with a passion, free from prejudice or judgment. They go to places not favored by cruise ships and live life in sympathy with their host countries. The book is characterized by additions of her artwork and warm quotes which sum up her zest for life experience.
Friendships made along the way include those with fellow yachties, who share the common dream. We are given insight into how such adventurers eat, sleep, and enjoy a party. They always seem to have something to celebrate.
Life is not always rosy. In order to fulfill the dream, she has to live with separation from her family, including grandchildren, which are always in her thoughts. She is also proof that you can never conquer sea sickness. It may be kept under control - and the author is an authority on how to do this - but sometimes you just live with it.
She has left us at the end with the fire still burning. Throwing the next log is not too far away