A blog break and some winter sun in La Gomera

I'm heading off to the sunshine for a few days!  It really is only a very quick four night break though.  We are going to La Gomera in the Canary Islands to see our friend off on an epic rowing challenge.  Him and his son are part of a four man team who will be rowing from La Gomera to Antiqua in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.   Their team is called Bucks Buoys and you can follow their progress on their facebook page here.

I think possibly they are utterly mad as it is a very risky row.  But all credit to them, they have trained hard and for Kev it has been something of a midlife metamorphosis to change his health and fitness from er umm very unfit to very fit, lean and trim - turning 50 isn't so bad after-all and it does seem to bring with it life-changing goals.

Here they are on their way from Tenerife to La Gomera on the ferry - Kev on the left and his son Rhys on the right (same age as my son and I am sure his mum is going to worry, a lot)!  They row in shifts of two, day and night and the row takes an average of 40 days and nights - their personal goal is 38 days!

I've seen the boat and in fact they took my husband out for a day when they were training in the summer down in Weymouth.  No he didn't feel the need to offer to join them!

La Gomera is a small island off the coast of Tenerife so we arrive into Los Cristianos and then get the ferry over - they are due to depart on Thursday 12th December and everyone is gathering there now for the pre-race checks and socialising!  Christmas Day will be a bit different for them this year and certainly one they will remember.

From their website ....

​​Four ‘Oar-dinary’ boys from Bucks are taking on the World renowned Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: The World’s Toughest Row. Rowing 3,000 miles unaided across the Atlantic Ocean, the experience promises to be the challenge of a lifetime,  testing them physically, mentally and emotionally. The Buoys are determined to succeed through extreme weather and punishing conditions – and aim to do so in under 38 days. Setting off from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, the Buoys will have to navigate the vast and wild Atlantic Ocean to the finish line in Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda.

​So I am taking a little blog break while we are away and over the Christmas and New Year period.  Keep an eye on my Instagram and insta-stories for updates on our trip and news of how they are getting on!

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you all have an enjoyable break!
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Love from
Michelle xx
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You can donate to Bucks Bouys fantastic charities here!

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