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Recharging Batteries

joostremke

Updated: Aug 19, 2022

Flashback: Our last evening at home. Tomorrow morning we will pack, clean, and close the door behind us for the last time. We will walk away from it, take a seat in our last grab taxi and stare out of the window until we reach Phuket airport. Four people, each looking in silence at the Thai and Phuket world around them, on our way to get a last exit stamp from a stern looking Thai official, ready to board the bird that brings us to new adventurous destinations, and finally a new home, as well as a new front door.


At least, that is what we thought the last night/morning would look like. However, Joost had different plans, unintentionally of course! He reaches the last morning, after a very rough, sweaty and immensely feverish night! Sick as a dog, coughing like a veteran mine worker and shivering like Sir. Ernest Shackleton after crossing the South Pole, mid winter in soggy wet cotton clothes! Bad news, clear case of "let's get to a doctor now". Long story short, diagnoses - Bronchitis, not far off pneumonia. Solution; medication, sleep, sleep some more and stay in bed. That fever needs to go down, and fast, so the whole family can fly in two days time!


Remke, still standing "strong", tasked with finishing everything on her own, with help of Mijke and Elke, is also reaching her limits, though manages to pull through. Hotel Dusit Thani in Laguna serves as our last location. Our good friends The Robinsons checked in above us on the first floor but in contrary to us, have everything sorted. Their bags are packed and sealed, no one allowed to even look at them to avoid disturbing the carefully measured weight and content! At the same time, our rooms look as if several bombs have exploded simultaneously, very far from the tranquility and relaxed Thai atmosphere we so hoped for during the last two days!


I am writing this 4 weeks later, in The Netherlands, enjoying the warm afternoon sun, while drinking a cold traditionally brewed Belgian blond beer. We are now all in good health! The storm has gone, the seas are calm and the crew is back on track. The last four weeks have still been busy but not hectic and have allowed us to recharge our batteries as individuals and as a family. We all have had time for ourselves to get used to the departure out of Thailand, the travel adventure that is coming up and the plans further afield.


Mijke has enjoyed a week away from home, at sailing school "het Vossenhol", while Elke ran around playing Football in Amsterdam at the 1928 olympic stadium. As a family we sailed the lakes and rivers of Friesland (see our video), which is our go to place to re-charge. We have met old and new friends, enjoyed plenty of time, good food and drinks with our amazing families, reconnecting after too many years of restricted Covid travel. All in all, The Netherlands has treated us well, certainly giving us remarkable weather from start to finish.



We are now, two weeks away from flying to Cape Town, South Africa, to start our year on the road and have ticked off many items off our long to do list. Vaccinations are done, gear has been checked, purchased and now everything just needs to fit!


It is almost packing time and we are mentally ready and gearing up for what is undoubtedly going to be a very cool year!
















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