A chance to reflect

I've been waiting for the right moment to write this blog, I wanted time to reflect, to remember, to laugh, to cry, and to sleep on the stories that I want to tell. Now I feel I am ready to write it.

This always was going to be the journey of a lifetime, regardless of expectations, highs and lows. Many of the stories I look back on with a smile. The team became my family and boy did we have some laughs. Simon and Bevs constant humour, Hollys crazy moments, Kates blonde moments, Pete,Dan and Dims odd moments, Lauras randomness, Daves passion and drive. I was in Australia with an awesome bunch of people. It wasnt always plain sailing, but as Kate said, the truth is in the ending, and at least we all walked away talking. This picture to the right was taken on one of the toughest days of BoardFree - at 4am. Spot the 7 members of the team!

But there is no use in pretending it was all plain sailing. Everyday was a challenge - nothing agitates me more than people that thought we were there on holiday. The whole team worked hard, but I often feel the role that myself and Bev took on was often overlooked. Every day we managed to blag free accommodation, varying from basic to luxury. Everyday we provided the team with food and cooked meals. On top of this we went out every night fundraising. We did not stop for the majority of the journey. I'm proud of what we achieved, and I am certainly not complaining, for it was an experience - frustrating at times, but a good experience. Above is a picture of me when our gas cooker broke down on the Nullabor - good job I new how to cook on a camp fire!

Above all, we raised money for the charities - this was the thing that got me out of bed every morning. People look at Just giving and tell me we didnt raise very much. But if you convert it into dollars, we raised over $40,000 We could not have worked any harder if we tried. For those that criticise - to put it in perspective - if every person that looked at the boardfree site donated, we would have hit our target months ago.

So now, after two and a half weeks back in the country, I reflect on the journey, Perth, The 1000km mark, the nullabor, the road to Adelaide, the 2000km and 3000km mark, the great Ocean Road, Melbourne, the 4000km mark, cann river, Sydney, 5000kms, the road to Brisbane. I remember the sad times and the feelings I had, but then I think of all the good times, the happy times, the funtimes, what we, me and the team, achieved.

I see a map of how far Dave skated and wondered how it was possible
I read the global media and think of Kate with Fond memories and a friend for life.

I watch at the video's online, and remember Si making me laugh.

I study at the fundraising total and remember how glad I was that Laura joined.

I listen to the trailer and remember the good and bad times with Dim and Pete.

I drive my car and think of Dan at 15kmph, and still smiling.

I look at the photo's and remember the girl stood behind it is my new little sister, Holly.

I think of all the memories and Im so grateful I got to share them with my closest friend, Bev.

As I look back with a little tear in my eye, its hard to believe its all over, then I remember its not. Dave is still in media spotlight, and another journey on the way. The book and the dvd are on the way. Im sure both will be fantastic viewing/reading, but for the team, I dont think either will do it justice of what we went through and how it was. I know the rest of the team are frantically looking for jobs, I am too. Despite all this experience, i'm apparently not experienced enough.

Its strange to wear normal clothes again, have my own identity, have a mobile phone. I still have the need to feed others and a sense of guilt comes over me at 6pm every night, telling me I should be out fundraising. At 5am everyday I wake up, thinking that there are 9 other people to get up and feed, a strange sense of loneliness sends me back to sleep. Life after BoardFree has been about adjusting. For the first time in 23 years I dont know whats about to happen in my life next. I dont really like not knowing where my life is at, but it sure is nice to have some time for myself. Who knows whats next, but watch this space...

He's only gone and done it - now its your turn...

Yes, Dave has finally made it to Brisbane after 5 months on the road. You probably already know this, hes been all over the global news, Kate did a truely spectacular job of getting the media involved.

In truth, I am not ready to reflect on the journey just yet - there is still 11 days of things to do, the final push while we are in Australia. The fundraising must continue while we are in the media limelight. We still must keep Dave eating and well looked after otherwise his body will crash. We must sell the vans and sort out all of our kit ready to fly home. The hard work must continue.

It has been a long journey, and I don't think it has really sunk in what we have achieved. I think the team feel the same. Everyone seems exhausted, ready to use the tiny bit of energy we have left to get us back to Sydney. I think the thing that is effecting us all is the fact we havent achieved our goal. Getting Dave across the country was only half the project. The fundraising was the other.

If every person that read this blog, or looked at the website, or saw him on the news, in the papers, on the radio, we would have raised hundreds of thousands, but they haven't. I came to Oz to fundraise, I have done this to the best of my ability, but it just isn't enough.If you are reading this blog, please click on www.justgiving.com/boardfree Your support will make one very tired team very happy.

A happy new year!

Just a very quick blog to wish you all a happy new year!

We are back on the road and completing the final 800km to Brisbane. We all had a great chrimbo break, speacial thanks to Alex, Kate and Lisa for homing us all and making it so wonderful. New years was amazing watching the fireworks, and seeing Xiavier Rudd on New Years day was a definate highlight.

Also a big thanks to the wonderful Sailability team at Rushcutters - thank you for being so inspiring and taking us Sailing! (Sorry we lost our race!)

The final push is here, and I won't be happy leaving oz until we have raised a lot more money - so get online and start donating - three weeks left people, and Daves only gone and bloody skated across Australia - surely that deserves a bit of cash from you people!

Kepp watching the website - things can only get better.

merry chrimbo from down under!

Just a quick quick update!

Dave broke the world record last Saturday - we are all very proud of him, and it was followed up today by him skating over the 5000km mark!

Heading back to sydney at the weekend for chrimbo and new year which is very exciting!

The team continue to work hard despite the xmas struggle of fundraising and accommodation being 10 times harder - but we plough on!

Leigh, Daves chiropractor is on th road with us for a few days - its been awesome having him here and i've got my bad neck sorted out!

Owen and Amo from Uni are due to arrive today - i cant wait to see them both.

We are doing Secret Santa in the team - so everyone gets a pressie to open xmas day. Its quite hard keeping secrets from each other and im looking forward to seeing what the team come up with!

So, news in a nutshell - so sorry its not more detailed but go to www.boardfree.co.uk - and see loads of pictures and films of the journey so far.

Merry christmas to you all.
much love,
Becki
xx

More highs and lows...

Its December already and I cant quite get my head around the fact that its so hot and that its nearly christmas. Dave is 600km away from a world record, and just over a month from finishing, a daunting thought for all the team.

The road from Melbourne went incredibly quickly - town after town went by with litlle fundraising, but on an upside we managed to get lots of great acomodation as donations to the project, thanks to some great convincing from myself, Bev and Kate.

Andy, Daves brother also joined us on the road for a bit, which was awesome. Pete kate and Andy left early for Sydney, which was an inevatable journey as of the events which have been planned for months. I missed Kate terribly when she was gone - it was so strange not having her with us. The rest of the team reached Cann River, only for Dave's blister to reach bfuk size. The decision was made to get on the road early, and a phone call later to my family in Merimbula ment accomodation and a doctor would be waiting for us.

Dave got antibiotics for his feet, and I got to finally get an afternoon off to spend with my family - Andrew and Lisa (technically cousins). It was wonderful to meet them and I cannot thank them enough for the generousity they showed the team.

The drive up to Sydney was long and tough on the whole team, especially having to stop 110km from the east coast and New South Wales Border. But in and around Sydney lay Sailability clubs. Illawarah, Kogarah and Rushcutters bay all organised events for us which were successful and raised heeps of money - we met some real characters and people that benefit form the charity - it was good to meet them - and special thanks to Tish, Len, Carol, Lisa and especially Kate Goodanew for making us so welcome, looking after us and organising the events.

In Sydney I also got to go to the harbour bridge and past the opera house on a sailability boat - it was an amazing experience going through Sydney harbour and helping to crew the boat. I also got to send some christmas pressies home, which meant a lot.

The long drive back to Cann river in Victoria was frustratingly long, and very hot - but we got there eventually and I am very greatful to Dim and Bev for keeping me going on the final section of the drive.

So we are back on the road again. Or so you would think - until we got only 12km out of cann river for one of our vehicles to break down, and for the other to start making load noises. Im not going to dwell on it but both vehicles are now fixed and working well, after a big expense, but none the less a frustrating time for the team.

When ever I speak to my Mum on the phone she loves hearing about the wildlife - so just for you mum... We've seen loads of lots of Cockatoos, an Echidna, some wallabies, and we also had a run in with a huntsman Spider - possibly the biggest spider i've ever seen.

This wouldnt be a Becki blog unless i commented on the team moral! And I have to say that although we are all exhausted we are getting on very well. I get incredibly frustrated when I read other blogs which paint the team in a negative light. We all work endlessly to keep everything ticking over, and we havent had a proper day off since Adelaide really, although we have been given the occasional afternoon. The team are undoubtedly a bit ratty in the evenings - we are all completely exhausted - but we are all holding up the best we can. We all know what our responsibilities are, so we work towards that as we are not really managed as such. The team also have the additional role of trying to keep Dave going - which is no easy job - but he seems to be just about holding up and ploughing his way to Sydney for the 16th - when we will be met with what will hopefully be one big party to celebrate his world record.

So thats all the news from me - i'm feeling very positive about finally reaching Sydney, about fundraising hopefully picking up, nd about the world record. BoardFree is looking good at the moment, with much to look forward too.

Cant believe were in Melbourne already!

Its been over three weeks since i blogged, We've crossed another state border, we've gained another team member, and i've gained another year - 2 days ago I turned 23. Its been a rocky few weeks and a lot of lows and some highs too. I guess its time for me to chuck in my perspective as many people have questioned why I haven't blogged, so here goes...

First of all I want to tell you how awesome the team are - so many people who have met us and and told us how impressed they were by the cohesiveness of the team - and I believe that is something we are proud of. I honestly believe that we are a good team who work well together and generally care about each other. But we live together, eat together, sleep together and work together - and obviously that puts pressure on the team - hense the day of unity or what ever it got named. I took a fair brunt of the criticism shared in the team that day. It was sparked by break downs in communication - tiredness leading to irritability, and Dave seeing it at its worst - which is in the evenings when we are all exhausted.

Since Adelaide things changed dramatically - Bev and I no longer saw dave skating and spent are mornings driving to the next town. Conversations about what had happened in the day were no longer discussed and the traditional highlight of the day vanished. I personally was battling with severe exhaustion which added anxiety and mood swings into the pungent mix.

The day of unity was the best thing that happened to the team - we are now stronger and better than ever! The team are helping me through and we apprecite each others strengths rather than disliking each others differences. Added to that Laura has arrived and Pete is due tomorrow. Its an exciting and changeable time for BoardFree.

Adelaide to Melbourne happened so quickly - each day was quite a routine, but along the way we had some interesting events - The great Ocean Road, the south Aus/ Vic border, some surfing (which is awesome!), Bells Beach and some fundraising. Now we're in Melbourne - and to be honest im not loving it nearly as much as Adelaide - its less friendly and very hard to fundraise. We went to a skate comp today sponsored by Quicksilver and was generally surprised as many people weren't interested in Daves epic journey. It was good to get out in the sunshine and give out some leaflets.

Tomorrow I am meeting a whole new bunch of people - The Mckinlay Family in Oz - and im so excited.

Fingers crossed for some better fundraising and for the sun to continue shining - especially as we have had changeable rainy weather the last few weeks - including giant hail stones!

2 weeks in Adelaide

I can't believe our time in Adelaide is nearly over! Daves foot is finally healing with stitches out, the team all seem recouped, and the only thing that isnt ready to hit the road is the vans, which we will sort tomorrow on our last day in Adelaide. So much has happpened, so i'll try and fit it all in as briefly as possible!

Firstly I want to say a massive welcome to the team to Laura Hatwell - someone who has proven her dedication and love of BoardFree - and shes flying out on my birthday which is one hell of a present! Congrats Darl - cant wait to have an extra pair of hands on the Fundraising team!

Just before we got to Adelaide we went of the main road and up into the Clare valley to visit Ken and Yvonne, who we met on the Nularbor. They welcomed us into their home, along with the Clare Lions Club, and we had a wonderful evening, with some wonderful wine, and great company - thank you!

Our time in Adelaide started slightly rocky, with problems with two of our vehicles. Thankfully, we managed to get these sorted out relatively quickly. Accommodation was given to us courtesy of John at Sunny's backpackers on Franklin St - Its an awesome Hostel and I would recommend it to anyone staying in Adelaide!

We've done plenty of Fundraising in the city, and the whole team have been onboard and shaking the buckets, and we have raised around $1200 aussie dollars (500 quid to you pommes) which we are very proud of! The girls have had their fairy wings on and the guys went out with silly hats and flower garlands which was really amusing!

Adelaide has been awesome for the team - after 7 gruelling hard weeks on the road with no time off we we're all in need of a break. It has given us all the oppurtunity to refresh ourselves and get back on the ball. It also gave us the opurtunity to enjoy ourselves too - a couple of great nights out, (a big thank you to the Kimmy and Micheal @The Edinburgh Castle on Currie St and PJ O'Brians), a trip to the zoo, a girly trip up to the mountains to cuddle some Koalas, and a go on the pedalows in Adelaide, not to mention Daves Birthday...

Today Dave turns 27 - you wouldnt have thought so, as today we have spent the day at a place called the beach house, which had arcade games, waterslides, dodgems, bumber boats, and amazing ice cream! We all got soaking wet, but we had a ball, including breakfast baugels in the city and buying some toys for the beach.


I spoke to loads of people yesterday on msn. I spoke to my Mum on the phone. Life continues back in the UK, and i'm feeling quite home sick. We have been welcomed in Adelaide by the wonderful hospitality of Diedre and Bob Shahinger, who have let us use their wonderful home as if it were our own, and for that I can't thank them enough.

BoardFree rolls on despite the hard times that have hit us, with dodgy vehicles, accidents, and other complications, we are all still smiling. Media has been truely amazing thanks to all the hard work that Kate has put in, most of Adelaide knows who Dave is. Photo's and films have had tremendous feedback thanks to Dim, Si and Holly. Fundraising and the day to to day running of BoardFree continues to tick over thanks to Dan and Bev's efforts. And Dave as always, has continued with the website, the sponsorship and the massive amount of work that it takes to keep this project rolling. Somebody told me a couple of weeks back that we were a very cohesive team, despite living in such close poroximities - I thought that was a real compliment.

The charities total is creeping up, which is awesome. The highlight of being in Adelaide is meeting the people connected with Sailability, and knowing we can make a difference to them. W have donated $AUS1000 to Sailability Adelaide, which is awesome.

This is probably the longest Blog i've written since being in Aus, so hope I haven't bored you all too much!

Don't forget - you can check out the website www.boardfree.co.uk and make a donation!