Summer Journey 2025 – Together on the Way to New Memories
On Tuesday, June 24, our new adventure begins: a boating trip of more than 11 weeks through the beautiful Netherlands aboard Mister Bojangles. Together with our loyal four-legged companions, Pandoer and Chester – now almost 16 years old – we were looking forward to a summer filled with peace, nature, meeting people, and making memories.
This year, we had big plans: to sail south towards Zeeland and then slowly make our way back north via the major rivers. A journey full of variety, new places, and old favourites.
But 2025 would also become a year of farewell. That made our goal for this season especially clear: to create beautiful moments, cherish memories, and enjoy being together – on the water and with each other.
At last, the time had come. We were heading to the Netherlands and back to Mister Bojangles, but this journey turned out to be completely different from what we had expected and hoped for. Our departure had already been delayed by seven weeks due to the passing of Carolyn’s stepmother.
After being on the boat for two weeks, we unexpectedly received the news that Carolyn’s brother-in-law had also passed away. Once again, we returned to the harbour and went back for two weeks.
After this sad moment, we decided to try and find a little peace and quiet. But not long after, we received another message: Carolyn’s sister did not have long left to live. We sailed back to the harbour in a single day, and Carolyn flew back on Friday evening. The following Sunday, her sister passed away.
Because a farewell in the UK can take up to six weeks, Carolyn flew back, and despite all the grief, we set off sailing again. Our daughter and her husband joined us for a week, and for a little while we were able to shift our thoughts to the good things that happen out on the water.
However, Chester’s condition deteriorated so quickly that we had to make the difficult decision to return to the harbour, visit the vet, and head home. We left on Friday, August 23, and on Saturday the 24th, we peacefully said goodbye to Chester in the garden he loved so much.
It was a terrible, heartbreaking, and deeply sorrowful summer in 2025 – one we would like to forget as quickly as possible.
We still have one dog, Pandoer, who is also nearly 16 and is declining considerably. For him too, this was most likely his final boat trip. We hope he will make it to his 16th birthday on October 31; after that, we will simply take things as they come.
Despite everything, we were still able to make a few videos of our short and interrupted boating summer.
Hopefully, 2026 will surprise us with brighter and happier prospects…
