Tez has now been at sea for 5 days. He was able to send this to our media team on shore by text message:
Hey everyone, I know I haven’t made any posts despite being out on this adventure for five days now. So I wanted to make a quick post and let you know what’s going on.
The weather is intense and I’m not able to send any photos or videos yet, but I hope this quick blog will give you a taste of what life at sea is like so far.
Let’s start off with the facts:
I am 154 miles into the row, approximately 80 miles off shore from California, and tonight is my fifth night at sea. I’ve made good progress both south and west, despite facing headwinds for the past few days.
I am currently in my cabin, wearing my helmet, and strapped down onto my bunk. Two days ago when the wind and waves picked up I had to deploy my para anchor, which is like an underwater parachute that stabilizes the boat. The ocean is over 6000 feet deep where I am now, so this is the only way to stabilize myself when the water is too rough to row.
It’s surprisingly effective, but not without its challenges. I am covered in bruises from bouncing into my cabin walls. The items in my cabin are strewn all over the place from waves smashing into the boat and knocking loose equipment and belongings I carefully placed in little pockets on the walls.
Every few seconds a wave comes crashing over the boat and it’s like I’m living inside of a washing machine.
I’ve been here for the past 48 hours, and hope that tomorrow morning I can pull up the anchor and begin rowing again.
This time in the cabin has been a bit of a challenge. I had looked forward to this time to myself to enjoy audiobooks and take photos and videos. Unfortunately, two days ago my iPhone reset itself while in my pocket. My music I brought for the trip, the audiobooks, and especially the camera on the phone that I bought specifically for this journey, are all gone.
I’ve been so disappointed in myself for letting this happen. But I think the thing that’s really bothering me is not so much the phone being gone. It’s that the phone was a way for me to stay busy out here, and while I’m in this cabin so far away from everyone I love, there’s not much to keep me busy anymore.
After years of working to get here, I find myself in this tiny cramped space, wet and cold, and wondering what it’s all for.
On the first day of this trip, I cried tears of joy. Joy for being able to follow my heart. Gratitude for everyone who helped me get here. And delight and pure love for the amazing creatures that came to greet me on the way out of Monterey.
From 8am until 8pm on day 1 I saw whales as far as the eye could see: humpbacks leaping out of the water, full breach, exploding into the sky and splashing back down. I watched them from far away. Throughout the day, dolphins nearby racing beneath my boat. Then in late afternoon, the whales came to check me out. They came cruising by, their eyes above the water line, looking at me and Moderation to figure out who we were. It’s been a dream of mine for so long to see humpback whales, and to see them so close, from my own boat, with no one else anywhere in sight, was the most amazing experience. It made me cry tears of joy.
But now just a few days later in my cabin I’ve been crying tears of sadness, loneliness, confusion and fear. The ocean has shown me in a very short amount of time how strong she can be. How small I am. There’s a very long way between me and Hawaii, and I’m doing my best to get used to my new home and remember why I’m doing this. Thank you for following. I hope to share more soon.
Oh Terence
You have experienced much in 5 long days. I am sorry you’re bruised and sad, that you lost so much but nothing holds you back. The beginning sounds fantastic and I’m sure there is much more beauty along the way. I’m so proud of you and love you more than you will ever know. Stay safe, stay strong.
Go Terence! Stay strong. We are with you and checking your progress continuously. Every second you are getting closer to the finish line even though it may look very far at this point!
Tez,
The journey sounds amazing so far, but very challenging. I check in on your progress several times a day. I hope that all of us who are watching provide you with strength to carry forward. They say that it’s very challenging to break the bonds of the mainland and you seem to be proving that to be accurate. Good luck. Dig in and focus on the journey and your reasons for being there. These challenging portions of the journey are impermanent, you will soon break free into times of good seas and good rowing. Not having your phone is a set back for sure, but everything happens for a reason. Be safe.
Have better seas soon. In my prayers.
Hang on, Tez!
This sounds both amazing and insane.Its like being a mom. I will be praying for protection,indurance and strength. The kind of strength one gets from faith,conviction and purpose. Blessings to you.
Tez, we are SO impressed by your challenge, your personal journey! Stay strong, one day at a time, one hour at a time, one wave at a time (like brave mothers having contractions and giving birth 😉 ). You are giving birth to a new YOU. This adventure will change you forever! It is a very hard but also a very unique and precious experience. The kids saw Life of Pi recently and related a tiny bit to you…No tiger in your boat! 😉 Thank you for your first impressions and your daily thoughts. Seeing whales alone is a true gift from nature. Ocean will calm down heading closer to Hawaii..some days might be like rowing on a lake without any wind. These are the hardest first chapters of your book. SO SO proud of you and SO grateful for the fantastic gift to UWC community. We are ALL WITH YOU! You are NOT ALONE!! Just WAOUW!!! de Halleux family
Sending you strength and good energy, Tez!
Hi honey
I hope your days are better and the tears of sadness have past. I think the worst is the losses you experienced. That totally changes the flavor of your trip.
Who knows, maybe you will be a meditation master/guru!
I love you and pray for a safe trip and no more bruises or mishaps.
Love Mom
Hey tez. Loving following you and look forward to your updates. Think I g of you and know too well your emotions will be a roller coaster..and there is nothing you can do about that.. it’s all part of the ride. Acceptance over resistance helps alot. Sorry about your phone. Now you can explore your imagination wildly, without distraction.
Stay strong and focused
Xx
Michelle, down under- AUS
Wow!!! Stay strong. This too shall pass, and the Pacific will be pacific again.
Keep going, Tez! You’re a hero!
Love from Cornwall, England
Stay strong boss -don’t get bogged down by the ups and downs, of the early days. you’ll find your course in Moderation! 🙂
Wow humpback whales! Amazing wow did your camera stopped working after that? Anyway do you have an emergency plan or contact maybe coastguard can drop you a new camera? /phone with new uploaded stories? Music? How many months do you plan this trip will take? I am sharing your journey with my 2 kids (age 9) I am hoping you have other schoolkids following your journey. What an inspiration.. just keep moving! Maybe keep a log/list how many animals you are seeing I know that is something my kids want to know.. 😉 be safe!
We are all with you, Tez!!!! You are NOT alone! Remember your experiences at United World College and envision yourself completing each day one row at a time. See yourself docking in Hawaii. We are all with you, Tez! Every Single Day. Big hugs, Kendra and the Honey Bunchies family
How is Tez doing?
Thinking about you buddy. Sendi g strength from Sweden. You can do it!
Keep it up Tez. I cannot even begin to imagine what your experience is, but it sounds like a incredibly intense and unique journey, on the ocean and in yourself. My thoughts are with you!