Skipper Mark and Crew,

Half way - NO WAY BACK - only forward now homeward bound. You are an inspiration to us all.

P.S Mark can we please borrow your rowing machines again for our next sponsored row ? We are assuming you won't want to use them for a little while when you get back!

John

Off to Oz now! See you when we get back.

Trish and James

John,

Guilford festival wasn't the same without you. But I think we managed to look after your girlie OK - and eat plenty of food. Zzhhsh! Keep it up and we'll see you soon. NICE!

Great news just to keep up all the routines and try to enjoy it.Was out in the bay last night and as ever thought of you.Love Mum and Kingsbridge fan club.

It's downhill from now on; to date you are really going well. Give-it '10' from me!

We are enjoying lots of sailing in Greece - blue sky, warm water and lots of wind. A few blisters and bruises to show for it - reminds me of what you guys are doing: nothing heals in salt water. Hope the gloves are up to it?

Lots of luck and best wishes

Paul, Jane, William, Lucy and Kathryn

Hi Boys!!

Just listened to Marks interview, it was so good to hear a voice from Pink Lady! Mark your tone really does sound that you are all in great spirits (Idon't mean screech!) I thought Pete had a smile on his face yesterday, but now I'm wondering since he doesn't plan to change until they reach halfway!

Look forward to hearing that you have hit the halfway mark.

Take care and like I said before "row like the dickens"

All our best

Betty, Bob, Kim & Maegan

Congratulations on reaching your 1/2 way point - it's all downwave from here - hopefully!

Chris & Adrian are down staying with Tony in France, temperature today a cool 40 degrees in the shade, winds SE fair. Chris has hardly any white bits left, but if you make it in under 35 days you can check them out! Tony would like to know your secret of eternal youth and wishes you a great trip and every success. Lots of love to all the team - Adrian, Chris, Tony. Cameron & Elizabeth

Just a note to say we are following your progress.

Daniel had a flying 24 hour visit from Bosnia and we drank your health, we gave the third toast FOR THOSE AT SEA.

Take care and GOD SPEED

Love Jan and Dan

Right boys, listen in! I have given up watching the rest of "Will & Grace" to send this, as I was thinking of you all.

"There w-e-r-e 2,100 green bottles hanging on the wall...
2,100 green bottles hanging on the wall -
and if one green bottle should acciden-tent-ly faaaallll,
there would beeee...
2,099 bottle hanging on the wall"

Right then-
your turn:
All together now...

Thinking of you all, as ever

Lesley

I'm sitting here in the USA, halfway around the world and I have never been so proud of my fellow country men.
Congratulations to all of you. It's challenges like this that puts the 'great' into Britain.
I have faith that you will complete the task but I'm more proud that you have attempted it. Congratulations.

" It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, impossible to win the victory unless you dare to battle." - Richard Devos

Hello crew of Pink Lady.

I think your voyage is an inspiration to us all.

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will" Mohatma Ganhdi

We have a gathering each day around the table on the oil rig to pass round the updates. Keep it up,your power is outstanding.

Then, four hours by Concorde. Now, four hearts in one accord.

Stubbsy

Following progress daily on the excellent site!! The times articles are also causing a lot of interest !!

Me, Mandy and Archie look forward to seeing you all and the boat in Falmouth

Best wishes

Richard

"Champions aren't made in gyms.

Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will.

But the will must be stronger than the skill."

- Muhammad Ali

So with all your cumulative 'hunger' to succeed you'll do just fine and us lot back here sat on our chairs will keep going to the gym until we too are inspired by a desire as strong that forces some life action.

Not inspirational but do take in more food/fuel than you think you need and drink lots of water.

This too will pass.Still with you in spirit but thankfully not in body.

'If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them: 'Hold on'.'

-Rudyard Kipling

Jon Wills,

Jon & I have been avidly following your progress. We're so proud of you, you're all doing so well. We're thinking of you alot. Continue to get home safely. Lots of love helen & Jon

Good morning Gentlemen !

I teach teenagers with learning difficulties at Linwood School in Bournemouth and we have just finished working on Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea".We focused on Santiago's bravery, determination, strength of will, and ability to understand the tricks of the sea.

Santiago is fiction, but what you are doing with your rowing is inspiring young people around the world to set their goals and achieve them.

We wish you every success with your hard work and we hope you break the record time you are after. We hope you find homeward currents and are blessed with helpful wind.

Class 10T

Boys! Sing this as you go...

"I'm H.A.P.P.Y -

I am H.A.P.P.Y -

I know I am!

I'm sure I am....

I'm H.A.P.P.Y"

Now, say after me.....!!

Have been eagerly following your progress every day from here in Australia. You seem to be doing fantastically well, keep it up. I hope you break the record……you deserve it!

The pictures on the website are great. However, I am surprised that you do not all have big beards by now! The prize for the cleanest shave definitely goes to Mark in the latest set of photo’s.

Cheers

Karl

dig deep and pay the price and you will not be disappointed

We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else, a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to that one objective.

General Dwight David Eisenhower

This quote would certainly apply to you guys. Keep focused on that coast that you are heading toward. Don't lose track of the path that you are on. Everything else is irrelevant until you make it!

So, don't look back, don't bitch and gripe about things you cannot change. You are in a boat in the middle of the ocean. Now get those god damned oars rowin' because the clock does not stop ticking.

There are no shortcuts to life's greatest achievements.

Anonymous

Thought you might also want a quote that you could remember easily throughout your journey.

Take care.

Press on- nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.
Calvin Coolidge

I hope this helps drive you straight to the other side of the pond! Take care.

Charles

Love from Chris, Ruth & Ruben. We're all thinking of you. x

Thank you for doing the interview and the best of luck

I think you are all mad, mad, mad, mad and more mad.

What will you do afterwards?

Except vow never to get in a boat again......now where have I heard that before?!

Watching you and the Tour de France everyday. Lance Armstrong has the easy job. Keep going. You can do it.

Rowing is like walking. All you have to do is put the oars in the water and pull.

To row or not to row. That is not the question!!

Don't pray for an easy row, pray for a strong back.

ROW, ROW

AND

ROW SOME

MORE!

Dr John and his merry crew,

My dad spent thirty years on air craft carriers and he always said “keep the thing pointing forward and you won’t go far wrong” – boats, aircraft, bikes, footballs, it didn’t matter what!

Endure (or enjoy!) the rest of your journey; there’s loads of work for you when you get back…

Cheers

Rick

Watching you and the Tour de France everyday. Lance Armstrong has the easy job. Keep going. You can do it.

Hey. Stay focussed. Manage your expectations carefully and just go with the ride. Whatever happens, every hour which passes is an hour closer to your goal.... and its only wind and water. Haul on the oars and enjoy the moments... the bad ones are the ones that will make your arrival sweeter. If it was easy, you would feel cheated. I know.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts; it's the size of the fight in the dog".

(General O.Bradley)

Praying for a warm westwind to blow you all safely home.Can you remember "Sea Fe ver" by John Masefield? Much love Mum.

Dear Guys,

We happened to be in Newfoundland the day you left and my interest was peaked. Now we are back in Los Angeles. I rowed 12.6K this morning in perfect conditions in the marina in Marina del Rey. I then took a two hour nap. Sounds just like what you are doing!Guess the only similarity between us is that we are both in salt water.

"Row, row, the boat -

Gently to the shore -

Merrily, merrily, merrily,

La De Da De Da"

[Children's nursery song!]

:-))

What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. Good opportunities should never be confused with good luck—luck goes mostly to those who work the hardest, travel the farthest and apply themselves with the most dedication. —Anon

Our dreams have to be bigger. Our ambitions higher. Our commitment deeper. And our efforts greater. If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow. Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties and convert adversities into opportunities. Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no man’s monopoly. —Dhirubhai Ambani

Ride those waves and keep pointing her towards home.

God speed

The loftier your goals
The higher your risk
The greater your glory!

From a 73 old Grandma - Good luck boys!

Dear John, Jon, Mark and Pete,

Hope this little extract from a poem inspires! You are doing fantastically well, keep up the good work! You can do it!

Lightly row, lightly row!
O'er the glassy waves we go;
Smoothly glide, smoothly glide
On the silent tide.
Let the wind and waters be
Mingled with our melody;
Sing and float, sing and float
In our little boat.

Anon

Lots of love

Stace

He Stubbsy and crew,

Good to see you are doing a great job!!!! We are watching your progress everyday!! I hope you are going to break the 55 days record and that you all stay in good health!! keep the spirit high and we are thinking of you. Keep on rowing! Best regards Maarten OF team Holland.

Prayer of a Breton fisherman"Lord,the sea is so large and my boat is so small"Tean now launched in estuary.Government to increase I.T.in all areas.Heres one from me "A shared joy a day -Keeps the blues away.With you in spirit.

My wife, son & daughter salute your courage. Shackleton would be proud of you.

Guys,

You are doing a cracking job, keep up the hard work and all your efforts will be rewarded.

Just seen the request for inspirational quotes, so here are a few that I thought you might like:

Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit - Vince Lombardi

A non-doer is very often a critic- that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.

Obsessed - The word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.

And my 2 favs are:

Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission.

All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of the their mind wake in the day to find that it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.

Cheers

James

I WROTE A POEM 4 U ALL!!

Newfoundland waved bye to the 4 brave men,

Another hard challenge to row in again,

All required was a lovely pink boat,

4 men, a bucket and maybe a coat,

Through all the weather, they kept on going,

Their succesful aim was to keep on rowing,

But now the 4 men are half way there,

So i wrote a little poem and said a prayer:

Dear God- Look after the boys again. Thanks good Lord! Amen Amen!

There's people shooting, kids being born all the time,

And there's 4 sad men reading a rhyme!

Hope you like it!!

Good luck

Jem Feltham xXxXx

Hi uncle Mark

Auntie paula just gave me your website so I want to wish you all the luck in the world, haven't seen you for ages, I thought id make chat by just telling you that auntie paula and the girls are coming to jordans birthday party on sunday it should be fun, by the way i had a great birthday and thank-you for my money and my bag it was great, as i say good luck and i'll be checkin

up how your doing we love you lots

Abigail xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello John

What about the sanity clause?

There aint no sanity claus

May not be the most inspirational but I'll buy you a drink if you guess the film right - no cheating.

Lots of love and how come it's you that get's photoed on the bucket?

Chris xxx

Just one day at a time-till

longest row is done.

Everytime I have a slack moment I think about what you guys are doing and I feel very humbled!

Keep it up, not far now to the psychological 1/2 way point. Our family are following you and wishing you on....

John Mayo

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

Alan Kay

continued good luck.

I admire you a lot. Good luck from Greece.

Hi you.

Here's wishing you the very best with your dream.

Take it easy Dr Wills

Love always

Helen

xXx

The rain, it raineth on the just

and also on the unjust fella,

But mainly on the just because,

The unjust steals the just's umbrella.

From Halifax,NS Canada

We follow your progress daily on your web site. We hope our prayers and good wishes are helping to push you safely AND speedily homeward. Take care and keep rowing.... HARD! xx

p.s. Love the pics and exciting reports.

You ought to think yourselves lucky, by the time you get home Big Brother V will have finished!

Keep up the great work!

A slightly more inspirational quotation than the last? (Sorry about that!)

I suspect Sir Francis knew a thing or two about ocean challenges when he wrote in his famous dispatch of 1587: "There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end, until it be thoroughly finished, yields the true glory."

Think you're great

Roll on the thousand mile mark and let's hope for fluffy white clouds, plenty of sun and a following wind.

Love to you all,

Jenny Macd

Most of the time I don't have much fun - the rest of the time I have no fun at all - Woody Allen

:-)

Row Hard

No Excuses

Go Pink Lady and Crew!!!!

QUOTE.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us...

Keep up the good work men.

This quote was on a bookmark I had in high school....many moons ago

"Eat a bullfrog for breakfast each morning, and nothing worse can happen to you the rest of the day!"

Stay safe!

Hi Mark

Remember me (fsnbf)I'm so pleased your dream is coming forever closer. You deserve success this time. Best wishes to you and all your crew, you can do it! Falmouth here you come.

Endurance begins when everyone else has given up and you are in competition with yourself.

The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.

- Mignon McLaughlin

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.

- Walter Bagheot

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.

- Walter Elliott

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

- Peter Drucker

I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

- Christopher Reeve

Tough times don't last. Tough people do.

- Sign seen on a hospital wall

The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary.

- Vidal Sassoon

Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.

- Samuel Johnson

Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.

- Edmund Burke

Looks like one new world record for GB this summer. We don't have to pin our on hopes on Athens any more then -

Only ******* strokes left and counting.

For Mark et al.

Sorry I am not very good at quotes but here is something from Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K Jerome. Not quite the same as you since the other occupant of the boat was a dog. Votes for who is the dog!

Glad things are still going well. Keep up the good work. p.s the Treble's have just gone to the South of France!

All at 28 Broadshard Lane

From Three men in a boat:- Hope the food is better than this.

There was no tin opener to be found. Then Harris tried to open the tin with a pocket knife, and broke the knife and cut himself badly, and George tried a pair of scissors, and the scissors flew up and nearly put his eye out. While they were dressing their wounds, I tried to make a hole in the thing with the spiky end of the hitcher, and the hitcher slipped and jerked me out between the boat and the bank into two feet of muddy water, and the tin rolled over, uninjured, and broke a teacup...Then George went at it [with the mast], and knocked it into a shape so strange, so weird, so unearthly in its wild hideousness, that he got frightened and threw away the mast.

Jonathan and the 'A' Team

You're in pretty good shape! Here's hoping weather and Lady Luck go all the way with you to Falmouth... Godspeed.

'Hello Jon!

We both hope you're having a great experience out on the ocean! We are hoping to come down to meet you when you arrive. You are doing very well, and we are checking on your website nearly everyday to see how you are doing. You are probably having a great time out there, but I don't know how you are surviving without T.V for months, We couldn't do it! Hope to see you soon! From Lucy and Samuel

"When the going gets tough the tough get going"
Keep pulling
Jock

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

If the going is real easy, beware, you may be headed down hill - anon

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult - Seneca

Never, never, never give up - Winston Churchill

'It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare;

It is because we do not dare that things are difficult.'

Seneca

Dugald and Marguerite Macdonald and Dave Mitchell (Brunetto 2001) send their very best wishes to the crew of Pink Lady and we all send extra god wishes to Mark Stubbs. Following u closely, and wishing u good currents and winds!

Hi John! I didn't see the request for quotes until today. How about this one from John Updike:

Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.

or, if you're feeling more grumpy than that, surely you can identify yourself with one of my favourites: 'WELL. This day was a TOTAL waste of make-up!'

:-) hope you're not wasting too much make-up. Supper is getting cold! Lots of love, xx Corinne

Jon

Keep safe. Missing you.

With love from Little One

YOU WERE REMEMBERED IN AN open air service at Hope Cove on Sunday where hundreds sang "Eternal Father,strong to save,whose arm doth bind the restless wave,who biddst the mighty oceon deep,its own appointed limits keep".Always in our thoughts.+Many thanks to Bob

Back from the Etape, had an excellent trip, following your progress, good effort Royal keep it going - one day at a time!

Hi Pete!!

Keep up the good work mate. Sunday night here and I'm in work for rota duty.

Been to Malta on a Waterpolo tour. Gave us a good kicking. Still, had agood laff. 3-4 hours a day in the pool and the rest of the time on the pop. Been doing a bit of training at Broad Haven. Just 2 min out and back swimming times 8/10 and abit on the the ski. Been going to stack an back etc. So on the whole keeping fit. Went up to St Davids this afternoon an sat on the beach.

I past yer missus tonight in the car. She must have been for a paddle down BH cos she had the boat on the roof.

Anyway , see your nearly half way now - not long to go. Got the beers lining up in the pub ready. We'll be down to meet you when you come in

Keep it going

all the best

Jonny David + Sophie

ps.........gonna be a Dad

Stubbsy and the boys,

its so good to watch your progress and see you all looking so happy that freeze dried food must be the muts nuts. we could drink some beer when you get back. keep it going.

"one joy shatters a hundred griefs"

Chinese proverb

message for pete bray
thinking of you all hope it goes well, see you in falmouth lots of love pete mumand all the family.

Hi fellas,

Hope all's well out on the water. Remember, each stroke you take brings you one step closer to family, friends, large beds, fish and chips, water out of a tap, flushing toilets and alcohol.

I understand you're after motivational quotes. Here's one for you. Pete, you might have seen it before, whilst loitering around Sterling Lines. It's from J.Elroy Flecker's "The Golden Journey to Samarkand" and it reads:

"Who are ye in rags and rotten shoes, ye dirty-bearded that block the way?"

"We are the Pilgrims, Master, and we shall go always a little further. It may be beyond that last blue mountain barr'd with snow, across that angry or that glimmering sea".

Best of luck over the next couple of weeks.

best wishes for now

SHW

Hi Peter ..here in Springwells we are all thinking about you battling with the elements.You must be some kind of nutcase to be doing this! We'll have a few beers on ice for when you get back and look forward to hearing all about it

There's always: If at first you don't succeed you could always pour yourself a large gin (or whisky), take a nap, then ring for a great heap of that thickly sliced buttered toast you've been dreaming of, followed by more gin (or whisky) and wait for rescue.....!

You could!

Hi Peter & all rowers,

As the master blender for Newfoundland Screech, it always pleases me to see my product used in a typical celebratory manner. Interestingly enough, our newest "makeover" package features a compass rose as part of the Screech label. But what is more important is our latest advertising tag line which talks about the first visitors to Newfoundland waters. The tagline is, " Would thay have sailed 5,000 miles for bad rum? Not bloody likely!

So, when I saw the picture of the crew celebrating with Screech, it appears that the direction of travel (away from Newfoundland) means the rum is great tasting no matter if you are coming or going!!

Good luck and best wishes!

Phil

PS My latest Iceberg Vodka recipe is called a Pink Lady: 1 and 1/2 oz of Iceberg vodka, 4 oz of pink grapefruit juice, 4 icecubes (one for each rower), and garnished with a lemon slice, cherry and pineapple wedge.

Its a poem that I find has helped me to 'keep going'...."New Every Morning" by S. Coolidge. " Every day is a a fresh beginning, Listen my soul to the glad refrain, And, spite of old sorrows And older sinning, Troubles forecasted and possible pain, Take heart with the day and begin again." I hope it helps !! Best Wishes and Regards and Luck (cos you need that too). Steve Lobley

Hello John - my good old English brother:

what ist that!!!??? You are right in the middle of the Atlantic together with 3 English crazy men enjoying (?) wind, rain and waves. What an expedition. The pictures on the HP are brilliant and give us an idea of what you experience at the moment. To the other 3 of the team: John is perfectly prepaired for the tour. I have no doubt. I already shared a boat with him, remembering punting on the river Cam together with him, when he already safely navigated the boat. John, my good friend I remember brass rubbing in Ely, camping in Cornwall, skiing in Switzerland, first failing -but than passing the driving liscence in Bury, travelling to East Germany, celebrating first our wedding than your wedding to the beautiful Stacey last year - all big events and nice remembrances to an great time together. We keep our fingers cross for your adventure, send our good wishes for the success and our love to all 4 of you on the boat from Germany. God bless you and as far as I know you, John - you might already make your plans how to swim to Australia. Correct?. all the best Holger, ronny and Little Jonas (who is already 2,5 yrs old)

Jon

If 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' and 'an army marches on its stomach', you guys are well on your way to journey's end and a banquet to put 'Babette's Feast' in the shade......On the other hand, Vincent van Gogh's last words were 'there is no end to misery' and the last entry in Kenneth William's diaries is 'What's the bloody point?'......I guess reality is all about perspective. Keep up the good work...oh and I've just started my book on suicide

Ron

John

There was a motley crew from Poole
who decided to cross the sea without fuel
With two on and two off at a time
Aren't we glad they're in their prime!

Sorry guys! but seriously we are following your trip with true admiration.

God Bless you all and take care

Love Alan & Jenny

Hi John,
Greetings from Sydney!

We're keeping abreast of your daily progress. Good luck to you and the rest of the crew.
You're doing the family proud!!

Mark, Lynda, Eve & Thea xxxx

"The world's longest journey starts with the first step" and you guys are far beyond that mark.
Fair winds, fine weather, and good luck.

Nelson Anthony
Conception Bay South,
Newfoundland

my father always told me

" Trying was only beat once and that time he did't try hard enough"

a journey of a thousand miles starts with the bung popping out and water flooding in (Confucious)

Just wanted to tell Pete I just finished (on Betty time yu would say) his book "Kayak Across The Atlantic". It was good read. How in the world did you after your experiences in 2001 and 2000 convince yourself to go and do this crossing again? Good to see you, in latest pics. Take care, thus far this crossing seems to have somewhat more pleasant experiences, I think!

Everyone sends their best, and that you and the boys have a safe and speedy row.

Talk to you soon.