CONGRATULATIONS SEAGALS . . . THEY FINISHED!!

[Bucky]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEAGALS . . . . THEY ARE NOW ON SOLID GROUND AND HAVE COMPLETED THEIR 4-GIRL - 2,010 MILE ROWING CHALLENGE AROUND GREAT BRITAIN!!!          

I have been keeping tabs on the Seagals and see that they have finished their challenge!!

Here in the U.S. we have the reality show "Survivor" . . . these four gals are truly SURVIVORS with all the challenges they faced with bad weather.  I'm sure there had to be times when they felt like throwing in the towel and calling it quits . . . but, THEY DIDN'T . . . they rose up and met the challenge and completed a WORLD RECORD!!!  

I bet Scottie is beaming from ear to ear!!  I'm so glad that Scottie and her husband were able to be there in person to welcome the girls home.  Ok Mum . . . you can breathe again!!    BEV (and the others) ARE AWESOME WOMEN!!!!  I'm so proud of them - you would think they were my sisters or daughters!!  

Bev was the stranger in this group - asked to join the Seagals with literally only weeks to prepare.  Bev . . . . you have proved to the Seagals, yourself and the world that you are a very strong person . . . . congratulations on a job well done!!  

I hope the gals are given some additional time off their jobs to rest and recover from the last 51 days.  I think lots of pampering is in order.  

CONGRATULATIONS TO "OUR" SEAGALS . . . . WE'RE SO, SO, SO, SO PROUD OF EACH OF YOU!!!      

Bucky

[Linda196]

These four women are living proof that determination can beat obsticles every time, and I hold them as an inspiration in the face of chronic illness.

Belinda, Angela, Bev and Laura...thank you for showing the world the strength of women!

[lynnmarie219]

I too have been keeping track of the whole trip and am glad to see them all home safe and sound!

To the Seagals.......You four women are truly an inspiration to so many....you have done something that you set out to do even though things didn't always go as planned and the weather and water conditions certainly didn't work in your favor much of the time. You are a strong group of women and I am so proud of you.....and yes...I too have felt that I personally know you from Scotties updates and from following you on the computer blogs and videos, YouTube, etc.

You are the first to do something never done before by 4 women.....hold your heads high!!! You have made history!

Scottie......now you can breathe a sigh of relief and just smile with pride! You raised one heck of a wonderful and strong daughter!

[Patze]

Rah rah rah, sheesh boom bah!!!!!    WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!  Way to go ladies!!!!!!!



Patze

[genko_b]

How exciting! I almost couldn't sleep the last couple of nights, waiting for them to finish.

It takes such courage to keep going through all that weather, and the equipment difficulties,  the pain and fatigue, and the close quarters with each other for so long. Congratulations, everyone!

Yay, Scottie - aren't you proud!

Genko

[Scottietottie]

Yes - I'm proud - and also relieved. If the solar generator had failed even one day before it did - they would not have been able to finish because it would have been too dangerous without navigation lights and GPS.
The only way they didn't run out of water was that they filled the ballast tanks with cheap mineral water before they set out - rather than using some rather dirty dock water which would have been the norm. Latterly they were drinking their ballast water!

After the ordeal they'd all been through they came off in amazingly good form. The skipper goes to Iraq in 7 days to make a documentary. My daughter returns to work tomorrow. The ex marine has another rowing challenge lined up for the end of this month and the RN nurse is due to be posted in Afghanistan.

Their website describes them as ordinary women but even without being biased - they seem pretty extraordinary to me. (I think they are probably quite glad to be away from each other now though!)

Thanks - Scottie 

[Bucky]

Scottie - any adventures this summer for Bev and the Seagals?  Or was that just a one-time deal?

Bucky

[Scottietottie]

Hi Bucky 

Wow - I forgot all about that thread - though not about the trip! I get goose bumps every time I see a coastal programme and realise just what seas they went through!

Bev has a challenge planned for next year. She's going to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats - which is the length of our small country. (Less than 1,000 miles) Now lots of people do this but she wants to because then she will have walked across the country in both directions - rowed around the country and will then have cycled the length of it. She's going to deviate from the normal route and 'pick up' her Dad to cycle the last 600 miles with her. She's also climbed the three highest peaks on the mainland within 24 hrs so she's been up as high as she can get too. Maybe she'll take up potholing/caving next - but I doubt it. I think she'll have to try another country!

I asked her if she would think about raising some money for SjS but after her row - she wants to raise some money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution which is the charity that saves lives around our coastline. Maybe another time.

I told her she should ask Guinness for another World Record as she will be the first to have gone across country, round the country and end to end but I have a feeling she probably won't bother. She's more interested in doing it rather than getting certificates. She and hubby are both in training now! (I'll have to be prepared to drive 'back-up)

I'm afraid to say that at the end of the trip the Seagals are not really talking to each other. They have all made contact with Bev but she is only in close contact with one. For the others - she is a go-between. Part of the tough mental challenge was that they found they didn't get on too well!!

I'll let you know if any other big challenges come up!

Take care - Scottie 

[really?]

We have some potholes here on our roads that she could explore and find some of the cars that have been reported stolen,,  I suspect there in the bottom of some of these monsters

[Scottietottie]

Lol! Like it 

[Bucky]

Scottie  - sounds like Bev is the real outdoorsy kind of gal!  Wow, to complete all those tasks is something.

What, you're not going to join in the biking challenge?!?   

It would be difficult to be in such close quarters with strangers for such a long time.  Nowhere to get away from each other.  Plus, I imagine the one who was doing all the navigating might have some conflicts with those rowing if they didn't agree on the plan of action.  With all that said, I'm still in awe of what the four women did accomplish in such horrible weather and not the best of conditions.

I remember last year when the journey was completed that Bev had her "claw" hand for a while from all the rowing.  How long did it take for it to return to normal?

Bucky

[Scottietottie]

Hi Bucky 

It was over a month before she could manage to drive herself to work (no automatic gears) but she got a lift. She went back to work two days after getting home. It took her another two months after that for the 'claws' to straighten out more or less. Bev has been prone to arthritis in both hands and feet since her early twenties. She can't take NSAIDs however, as they give her migraines and stomach problems. She's also had a bad knee since she was 14 and needs a knee brace when she does walks. She has, however, a high pain threshold - and a determined nature! Quite honestly - I am in awe of her and sometimes wonder where she came from!!

Bike challenge? I find it hard enough to stay upright walking! I am prepared to drive back up though - and to sleep in a tent! If you want adventures this year do a search engine for your compatriot Angela Madson (I think). Since the Seagals trip she has rowed the Atalntic again and I'm sure has taken on other challenges too!

Take care - Scottie 

[Patze]

Wow Scottie, that girl is something!  Give her my best, and keep us posted on her adventures!


Patze

[Joe S.]

Okay, now they write the book. Who will play them in the movie?