Through Hell and high coincidence...

Dunc here! Mon 7 th Aug was a busy but fairly ordinary day … on the most part!
Training, eating, emailing, eating, meeting … seems to sum up the order of the day quite well. Unlike
the other R4V lads I don’t have to juggle family time into my schedule. I honestly don’t know how
they do it, I struggle to look after myself half of the time!
So, with everyone having busy schedules and being geographically challenged with me living in
Devon we arranged to have a team meeting using an app called Zoom. If you haven’t used it yet you
should check it out, there are lots of cool features! Anyway, I’m not on commission so on with the
blog.
We had our team meeting at 1730 (actually more like 1745 by the time Will figured out how to log
into the App). We had lots to discuss, plan and organise with my upcoming visit to Yorkshire. The
meeting was a great success, lots achieved between Glyn chasing his chickens away from breaching
the barn window and Fraser giving me plenty of stick after spotting my hair dryer hanging up on the
wall. Top Tip: have a look at what’s lying around before a video conference!
As soon as we concluded the meeting my mate Harry Stone happened to pop by and asked if I
fancied a swim down at the local beach. I couldn’t think of anything more perfect after a busy day
being mainly sat at the computer. Bags packed and swimming shorts donned we were on the way to
Croyde beach.
Walking down the beach we walked past a family, I thought I recognised the Dad figure but carried
on walking. 10 seconds later the penny dropped … it was James Cracknell! Harry: “Who?” .. only
Double Olympic Gold Medal Winner and Atlantic Ocean Rower James Cracknell!
I wanted to go back and say hello but I was conscious he was with his family and didn’t want to
intrude. I thought about it for a second and figured if I didn’t go and speak to him, I’d regret it. The
Yorkshireman in me now not giving a monkeys went up to speak to him and said “James, I just
wanted to let you know It was your Documentary Through Hell and High Water that inspired me to
follow the Ocean Rowing dream”. His response “I’m sorry” … haha! What a legend. We had a really
nice chat, he is such a genuine bloke. His wife, Beverley was really cool to chat to also. Such a lovely
family. James said to message him on Twitter then he’d follow us back and is happy to answer any
questions we have in the coming months! Awesome to have support from such an inspirational guy.
Cheers JC!