You can see ROZ’S ROUTE here. Each dot links to the blog from that day.
I’ve done it! After 5 months and 0 days at sea, I am absolutely over the moon to be back on dry land, surrounded by friends and wellwishers – and, of course, my dear mother. I have just become the first woman to row across the “Big Three” oceans of the world – the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian.
I’d like to thank all my blog readers for your unwavering support over
the course of this very, very long final voyage. You have been a source
of tremendous inspiration, encouragement, information and amusement. I
hope that you were able to participate in at least part of my final
countdown to landfall, no matter what time zone you are in, and that you feel a vicarious pride in my achievement. We’ve been through a lot
together – the highs and lows, capsizes and pratfalls, triumphs and
setbacks.
To mark this momentous occasion, I’ve put together a summary of the
highlights – and lowlights – of Eat-Pray-Row, my solo crossing of the
Indian Ocean. As I started writing it, I found that almost all of my
notable moments started with an F. So here we have it – Roz’s Effing
Guide to Eat-Pray-Row.
Fremantle
It was 14th April when I first set out from Fremantle. Col Leonhardt
produced a wonderful video to mark the occasion. I had hoped to row nonstop from there to Mauritius. Little did I know….
False Start
Within the first few days, in rough weather off the coast of Western Australia, it became apparent that my brand new locker hatches lacked one vital feature – keeping water out. Maybe that cost extra. Concerned that my watermaker would not respond well to being flooded, I decided to pull in at Geraldton for pre-emptive work to relocate the watermaker pump. Unfortunately I picked a holiday weekend, and it must have been a slow one for news, because it all turned into a big hullaballoo, which was most embarrassing.
But thanks to a magnificent display of Aussie kindness, hospitality and “mateship” the problems were quickly addressed and I was once again on my way, only to discover two days later that my solar panels were not charging my batteries. No sooner had I made this discovery than I came on deck and saw a sliver of golden sand on the horizon. Neptune had very kindly flung the Abrolhos Islands exactly the right distance out into the ocean. Glenn, the Geraldton electrician, flew out to the tiny airstrip, located the problem, identified a workaround, and once again I was on my way.
Fun
Early in the row, we had a craze for limericks. Never before has the English language been so misused in the search for rhymes, and the less said about some of them, the better. However, some of them were quite good. My favourite came from Joan Sherwood in Atlanta:
There was a young rower named Roz
Whose oars were quite rough on her paws
But she pulled on tenaciously
And thanked sponsors quite graciously
After all it was for a great cause.
I also have to thank Joan for proposing that readers send in their jokes to keep my spirits up. The response was incredible!
Food
Eating alone at sea is a wonderful excuse for “kiddy cooking” – taking
various yummy things and mixing them together into unlikely combinations that I would never consider eating in polite company. I had an additional excuse on this voyage, as it became evident early on that the voyage would take longer than was expected, and I might run low on food. So I had to make sure that every calorie on board was put to good use. A last-minute sponsorship had put 12 tins of Red Feather canned butter in the storecupboard, so just about everything got slathered in butter.
Two of my best creations were Cococompote (aka Roz’s Purple Wonder Breakfast and Chocobutter (Wilderness Family Naturals hot chocolate + butter + salt). Other favourites were Karen Morss’s Lemon Ladies marmalade and plum jam, Samudra nuts (especially the Cosmic Love Clusters) and the “mock turkey” and “pizza base” rawfood crackers made specially for me by ROAR Foods. And, of course, I couldn’t cross an ocean without my trusty Larabars and beansprouts.
Five Favourite Audiobooks
Man’s Search For Meaning (Viktor Frankl) – deep, meaningful, and inspiring
Change of Heart (Jodi Picoult) – thought-provoking fiction about the things we choose to believe
The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay) – an autobiographical insight into South Africa, hard-hitting yet funny
Straight Man (Richard Russo) – laugh out loud hilarious, great characters
All of the Maisie Dobbs books (Jacqueline Winspear) – wonderful detective stories set in 1930s London
Fish
One of my abiding memories of the Indian Ocean will be the companionship of the “chaps downstairs”, especially the dorados. A growing community gathered beneath my hull, until there were about 7 regulars and a school of another twenty or so who dropped in from time to time. They were a constant source of entertainment, with their acrobatic leaps and resounding bellyflops. As time wore on, they became increasingly bold, flicking water at me with their tails, and banging the bottom of the boat with their bodies when they thought it was time I got a move on.
Things would get really lively when the yellowfin tuna came by. A hundred or more of them would school around my boat, occasionally making the surface of the water seethe with activity. Throw a couple of dorados into the mix, and it could turn into an absolute frenzy.
In the absence of human contact, or even a smiley volleyball a la Castaway, the fish became my new best friends.
Failures
I hate to think of anything as a failure. Provided you learn something from it, it’s a success, right? But it started with an “f”. Or I suppose we could call this section “F***-ups”, but that’s a bit rude.
Even after the pitstop in the Abrolhos, the electrical system was an ongoing source of stress. A control unit had developed a fault that required frequent attention, until it eventually failed completely.I overcame my fear of all things electrical, performed a triple bypass surgery on the unit, and had no further problems.
Other casualties included two tracking units, several iPods, 3 sets of
earbuds, and a GPS chartplotter. A capsize in high seas towards the end
of the voyage did me no favours, breaking two oars, two antennae (VHF
radio and Sea-Me radar enhancer) and shattering my washbucket.
Fear
Yes, I’ve been afraid – numerous times. Flinching at the sound of onrushing waves, wondering if they are going to capsize the boat. Afraid that the electrical system would fail completely, disabling the electrical watermaker and forcing me back onto the manual version. And, occasionally, a faint fear that this ocean really would go on forever and I would never make landfall. But I survived, and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Philosophy Fridays
I was concerned that my more abstract musings might not be to
everybody’s taste, so I proposed confining my philosophical blogs to
Fridays. Gradually they became the highlight of my blogging week, at
least as far as I was concerned and, I think, for many of my readers
too. I really enjoyed reading the feedback in the comments, and your
input fueled many a happy afternoon’s ponderings on the ocean.
If you enjoyed our Philosophy Fridays, you might enjoy revisiting some
of these blogs:
Day 29: Man’s Search For Meaning
Day 40: World’s Beyond
Day 73: The Tales We Tell Ourselves
Day 108: We Must Believe in Free Will – We Have No Choice
Day 129: Just Do Something
Friendship
I have often felt the force of friendship this year – from the friends old and new in Australia, the old faithfuls on the blog, and the newcomers who have brought a fresh perspective. I hope that, even though I am now hanging up my oars, we will stay in touch, and that many more of you will become face-to-face friends as well as blog and Facebook friends.
Flastic
Okay, maybe I’m starting to strain the F-theme a bit now. But I couldn’t
post a whole blog with no mention of my current environmental cause –
banning theplastic bag. We are still waiting with baited breath to hear the news from London. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything. Meanwhile, please keep refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing and recycling your plastics – and we WILL save the world from the plastic peril, one bag or one city-wide ban at a time.
Fank Yous
Special thank yous to “Team Roz” – Mum, June, Vic, Doug, Sandra, Aimee, Aenor, Lee,
and Tom. Also to sponsors, supporters, sponsor-a-milers, and of course
all my wonderful Rozlings. I would also like to make a special mention
of Timothy Ray, my young friend who died unexpectedly soon after the start of my row . Thank you, Tim for being such an inspiration. I hope you would have been proud of me this year.
I was especially touched by the amazing response to our “Send Rita To See Roz” appeal. I had been a bit nervous about asking for your support once again after so many of you had generously sponsored miles through the Nomaddica page, but I should never have doubted you.
We reached our target in double-quick time, and it was wonderful to hear that my mother had been able to book her flights to Mauritius – a
wonderful treat for her, especially after having spent so much of the
summer in a cast after breaking her leg.
I will be sending out individual thank you emails to all my sponsors
just as soon as I can. Please be patient with me – I have a lot to be
grateful for, and a lot of people to be grateful to!
And finally, a respectful nod and a prayer to Neptune, for being so kind
as to allow me to cross the Indian Ocean. I will now stop bugging him
with requests to rearrange the weather especially for my benefit.
Future
I certainly won’t be resting on my laurels – well, maybe for a few days,
but then I’ll be once more back in action. I have lots of plans for the
next chapter of my life, including another two books (one environmental,
based on the Pacific row, and one based on the Hopi Elders guidelines
for self-reliance), a film about the Pacific row, and creating a
foundation to support the next generation of changemakers. Meanwhile, I will be making a number of public and semi-public appearances, and it
would be great to see you at any of the following. I am especially
excited about the Himalaya trip!
San Francisco: I will be in the city for a week later this month and we will be having an informal celebration at the Dolphin Club on Jefferson Street. I hope that all my friends in the Bay Area will be able to come and join us. Please watch this website for details and/or RSVP to Jay Gosuico,at outsidejay@gmail.com
Edinburgh: for any old Univ-ites in Scotland, I will be attending the
Univ dinner in Edinburgh on 22nd October (private event, by invitation
only).
London: I will be attending the Ocean Rowing Society Dinner at the RAC
Club on 29th October.
USA: I will once again be speaking as part of the National Geographic
Live series next February:
7th and 8th Feb: Phoenix, Arizona
20th Feb: Dallas
We are in the process of putting together further speaking dates in the
US – details to follow.
Himalayas: in October/November 2012 I will be escorting an expedition to
the Himalayas for World Expeditions. The 25-day Everest High Passes trip
takes in base camp, the tough but rewarding viewpoint of Kala Pattar and 3 alpine passes above 5000m along the way. 10% of the cost of each participant will go to an environmental charity of my choice.
Meanwhile, if you’re missing me already (?!) you can get a Roz-fix by
readingRowing the Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open OceanMemoirs) my book , watching my Atlantic film (downloadable) – or by continuing to check in at this website. I will be blogging from time to time with news about events, speaking engagements, and hopefully the success of our plastic bag campaign. And who knows, I may even throw in the occasional Philosophy Friday for good measure.
But right now, my immediate future consists of heading to my hotel room for a shower, and later a slap-up meal.
Pictures courtesy of Colin Leonhardt, Bird’s EyeView Photography.
CONGRATULATIONS, Roz!
What an incredible journey. Enjoy your shower, meal and sleep!
Congrats again, Roz, on your amazing accomplishment(s)! I hope to get to meet you later this month at the SF celebration!
Stunning stunning news. To say you are an inspiration sounds a bit passe, but you are. I am pleased to hear you are home safe, and can enjoy the satisfaction of “knocking the bastard off” – Sir Ed won’t mind you borrowing those words I am sure. enjoy the creature comforts – look forward to the next book!
Congratulations 🙂
Have fun Roz! And thank you for taking us along on your journey Hopefully your speaking engagements will lead you to Chicago. And thankfully I am done with the limericks…
Congrats Roz. You did it. Pretty awesome.
Roz, sorry I’ve been quiet through this journey but I have been following along and I’m over the moon that you did it! And you are safe & well! Thinking of you and sending love, hugs and huge congratulations!! Hope to see you in person very soon! Well done!!! XOXOXO~ Ami Baio
Oh my gosh–I will never forget the excitement from last night. I stayed up till 3 a.m. with other Rozlings. We kept refreshing your facebook page, laughed, joked, and cried. The good vibes were palpable over your cyber community. I hope you felt some of what we were feeling towards you! Oh Roz-my heart bursts with puppy love for you and you’re not even a puppy! Love, Susie (met you at Powell’s in Portland)
Roz, I don’t really get what a “slap-up” meal is but you certainly deserve it! Congratulations on an ocean well rowed!
Roz,
Congratulations, great finish to a fantastic voyage. I hope to find a venue or two in the PNW where you can continue to spread the word.
Congratulations, Roz! And, thanks for taking me… a little unwillingly on my part (and I’ll explain)… along on your journey.
Seems you are a natural to write a book about self-reliance but also inter-reliance. You’ve done a fantastic job on your own… not only the rowing, but all the other skills you needed to muster while on your voyages. As well, you have the gifts of grace and for drawing others into your circle, so that each might serve to increase the value of the other. Might that one day lead to something like team-building and consulting for “green” business development? Time and you will decide!
Still owe you a box of homegrown fruit I promised when you were somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Hopefully, I’ll catch up with you if you do an event in or near Los Angeles.
About my reluctance to follow this trip… After following Sarah Outen’s entire row across the Indian, not to mention your nearly having become separated from your boat in the Pacific, wasn’t sure my stomach was up to it. From late May, with bated breath and practically with my hands over my eyes, I’d check your blog from time to time. Somewhere before the halfway point, I got hooked, again. My innards are very glad, and of course I am very happy for you, that you didn’t go for an unintended swim through the wash cycle, or if you did, you didn’t share it!
Your patience, perseverance, and endurance are quite remarkable. You have my utmost respect and admiration.
May you be blessed all your days,
Janis
You certainly have done it, Roz, and I’m truly delighted at your achievement. It’s only four years since you set out from San Francisco watched by a mere handful of friends and camera crew; now you have acquired a vast following around the World. You became increasingly famous and now you are truly the World Famous Roz Savage. Well done indeed, and thank you for your example.
I look forward to following your adventures in the future, with respect and love.
YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY! YIPPY!
oh & BTW YIPPY!
Congratulations Roz and to all of your fans and supporters and sponsors! Thank you so much Rita for not only lending your daughter to us for such a long time but for also supporting her with all of your heart! I cannot be more happy than to continue to support this group! yay!
Before I get a flood of emails I would like to give some constraining information. The original day Friday October 21 was inconvenient for Roz. Her most convenient day is Friday October 14. Three of Roz’s magor supporters will not be in town in San Francisco on the 14th. One of them, Reuben, was our gracious host at the historic Dolphin Club mentioned above. I have notified Roz of this but would like my ocean rowing hero to party and rest to her hearts desire before re-contacting me. What this means as of right now… October 14th is still the best date for Roz without a planned venue… and that we must live in Ultimate Flexability for the time being knowing that Roz will be in town soon.
Thank you and stand-by here on her comments section for SF party plans!
If anybody has a venue on the 14th that is warm in ambiance in San Francisco, please email me.
outsidejay@gmail.com
Cheers!
All Best!
Jay Gosuico
Roz, I, too, have been quiet during this voyage, but following along eagerly and in a state of constant admiration for what you have accomplished–not only the rowing of three oceans but the learning, the philosophizing, and the parallel shifts in the content and style of what I read in your blog. I will even miss the limericks! I stayed up as late as I could last night with the gang, refreshing pages every few minutes, laughing and crying with delight as we followed you into harbor, and imagined together “the hug” between you and the indomitable Rita!!
I hope you will find your way to LA sometime soon so we can meet face-to-face and I can thank you in person for the inspiration and for your passion-in-action for our little blue planet and its future.
Meanwhile, rest, enjoy, celebrate and have a cold one for me!
Oh What A Night!
Yes! What A Night!
I’ll say! I was so nervous, in order to kill time, I finally succumbed to the limerick fever! LOL…
Roz, you are amazing! I really hope to see you when you are in SF!
I hope you take several days to relax 🙂
-Elena
What a journey and a heartfelt welcome to land…some sadness at your passing to new venues and saying goodbye to Sedna…but more no doubt awaits you and new horizons…
By now you should have your “legs” back, have enjoyed a few brews and other spirits, and a day’s round of meals not had since the island off Australia…
I remain amazed that in the midst of managing and executing the row, your safety, and your health, you daily engaged us with your day events, your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and your thoughtful Fridays…a wonderful gift that enables such conversational wisdom…
Will miss following you, but look forward to getting a “ping” now and then on my email list–a “feedblitz”… will remain in a stand by mode… look forward to the next few days of sharing about your “reentry” events, thoughts, activities…be well, pursue the wisdom of your voyages…look forward to further musings and challenges in your upcoming books…and just maybe they might bring you back to Portland for another signing…
Well done Roz! Very many congratulations, and I’m so pleased that your Mum, Rita, was there to greet you . xx
These are dates that Roz will be in town (Phoenix and Dallas) in 2012 and links for more information. National Geographic Live Series 7th and 8th February 2012 in Pheonix, Arizona http://www.dbg.org/events-exhibitions/national-geographic-live-speakers-roz-savage
and http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/shows/performing-live/rozsavage 20th February 2012 in Dallas, Texashttp://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/speakers/2012/02/21/evening-roz-savage/Row Roz Row! ~Jay
Congratulations, Roz!
BRAVO Roz…you are a real heroine 🙂
You can be quite sure you will never be forgotten!!!…even as a land lubber:)
What a wonderful experience you have had. Yesterday must rank as a HUGE highlight 🙂
I hope there will be a UK opportunity to meet you one day and thank you for all you have done so far in your Mk II life 🙂
You make the world a better place 🙂
Kindest regards,
David church
Congratulations, Roz! You did it!!!
I read your blog fairly regularly even though I didn’t communicate much. However, one of your blog posts motivated me to write. It’s when after several days of severely rough seas you communicated your appreciation to your supporters and summarized what you accomplished to date. I imagined what you must have been thinking. I prayed for you safety. Anyway, I’m relieved that you’re on land.
I’ve said before that you’re on my short list of favorite heroes/leaders: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Al Gore, Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, and my Mother. I’d say your number one right now!!! You’ve more than earned recognition and respect from others by just your courage alone. But you’ve done much more than show courage! Thank you for your passion about protecting the environment and sharing your wisdom gained from facing fear and overcoming obstacles while rowing solo across oceans.
Fantastic!
I think philosophy is spelled filosofee, but that’s just what I believe.
See you in SF even if I have to play hooky from work. I’ll try not to be embarrassing.
What a fantastic accomplishment. Can’t wait to follow your next adventure.
Walk steadily Roz
Morning Roz , Thank you for that look back over your
shoulder. I know the difference between you and others not like a Savage. You
never give thanks in the rear view mirror. You face each of us heart to heart .
You listen and feel the full moment. With your 6 year journey , your filters
have become a soft translucent veil. Inclusive and forever with a wink of
humor. What I have come to enjoy about you . Is your ability to pack a whole
days journey into a single sentence. A
hundred trillion electrons danced with you from sun up to sun set. You bravely
stick your hand in the moving blender above your shoulders. Lay out before us ,
a melody of inner answer’s to each days , just lived out questions. How you filled
Sedna with all your readers , while typing under way, a mystery. Woody is strangely silent. You have shown
readers that dreams are not a limit to hide behind. Each dream has a door to
step through. The beauty of a life’s journey, no one need live it alone. So it
goes for our planet. As you continue to combine travel with teaching. Please
swing back over to our island and some part of North Carolina. I do believe by
combining laughter, hugs and row strokes . Your carbon off set is several Savage generations ahead to the good. I know you have an excellent
group of close and caring advisers. So while they stepped away from the table
to refresh the celebratory cheese, crackers and wine. I am floating this paper airplane into the hat
of possibilities ….to consider…… for Sedna. After you laugh with jay Leno, shock Oprah with
moving tales from the ocean. Dance with Ellen D and finish dinner with the Obama
family. Please take that breakfast meeting with the Director of the Smithsonian
Institute. Sedna is now part of history.
Every piece of history needs a care taker, in order to continue to inspire young
hearts and minds. Thank you for the daily nudge and your love of our planet. Thank
you for being Roz. As always, in truth..
Bsavage
It’s been such a pleasure to get to know you and to learn from you over these past few years, Roz. And it was fantastic to host you here in Atlanta and get to meet in person. Of course, I’ll still be in touch and following the continuing, slightly less perilous adventure here on the blog. When your travels bring you through Atlanta, please call on us, any time, for a place to stay. Not quite as posh as Cindy’s loft, but with chickens, and next year – goats! And we can cruise through Poncey Highland to give you a good giggle.
Fantasmagorical, Roz!
Thank you for this wonderful recounting of the
highlights. It has been a truly fantatic five months that, in retrospect, seem to have passed in the blink of an eye — with all due respect for your slogging and slapping and bashing and solitary confinements.
If I were to hazard my pick for “Best-of-the-best” I choose the Frolicking Fish! The entertainment and companionship gave you obvious joy. Your descriptions of their antics and energy seemed to come from your heart, and definitely touched my heart.
Because of your adventures, I have made friends who otherwise would never have met, and several of us chatted and cheered in a sort of “roving new years eve party” in Facebook chat, your fan page and your mum’s extemporaneous blog post. I could almost hear the din of the virtual cheers and shouts of encouragement as we counted down the miles with you! I have to say we have had the best “front row seats” to the best
“live performance” one can imagine.
Exhilarated, exhausted and knowing you were rowing along side your escorts on the lee side of Mauritius with Rita on the GBYC, I decided I’d best hit the hay at 2 am as I had a packed day starting early yesterday : Over a hundred activists and supporters of TarsandsAction.org paid a surprise visit to President Obama’s Oakland campaign office to deliver to his staff the message we delivered to him at the White House last month. Seven of us carpooled from Sacramento. Stopping the tarsand oil pipeline and promoting a carbon fee as a better solution to burning oil will be my top priorities now that you are on terra firma.
Waking “later than normal” this morning — having a full night’s sleep for the first time in a week — needless to say to find this post “I’ve Done It” this morning, I was elated. I typed this comment on the bus to work. In more ways than one “it is now time to get working.” Thanks to your
influence, my work will soon take a new direction … more later ;-D
Trip the light fantastic, Roz!
I just discovered http://bit.ly/RozJoyous which was posted on cnet news http://cnet.co/RozOnCNET
Rock on, Roz!
And thank YOU, UncaDoug for all that you do as an activist! Have enjoyed reading your comments immensely…
Dear Roz,
The waves you create are spreading out across the waters, a beautiful moire pattern of connection with all life. Thank you for the inspiration. All the best, Stephen
Thank you Roz for sharing your amazingness with the world. You are an inspiration not only because of your strength and determination, but because of the hope that you hold for our Earth.
It was so lovely and satisfying to see the video of you and your mom in an embrace – a coming home hug, regardless of nation.
Much love to you and all the best on retrieving your land legs!
Slightly off topic but this is pretty cool!
GoogleEarth just wrote a great story about Roz. If you are a Roz fan… check this link out!
http://oneworldmanystories.com/roz_savage.html
Thanks GoogleEarth!
Fan Roz on Facebook!
http://bit.ly/RozJoyous says it all ;-D
Roz, I promised Rita I would not post critical comments this trip if she would dissuade the lunatic Richard from making lengthy self serving posts. However, since you seemed in grave danger for so much of the voyage I was too concerned to tease you even if I was free to do so. I am very relieved that you are safely ashore and I can now say: YOUR 15 MINUTES ARE UP!—) Now get a job, take care of Mum and, if you must adventure, do it on your own dime.
Your Friend
Texino
Roz has a job. She does take care of Mum. If you don’t like it don’t support it. Any investment in Roz gets a thousand-fold return on the future. Roz is changing minds and part of a bigger movement of ever so slightly nudging this huge boat in a right direction. There is NO better use of resources than what Roz is doing.
It has nothing to do with whose “dime” it is. It’s about something bigger.
Surely you are joking Texino? Cheers, Stephen
Roz, by the way, not sure if you noticed this. But you just rowed across all three of the world’s big oceans.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congratulations Roz!! I knew you could do it and all of us who have been following you for years are very excited and proud of you. I don’t what your next great adventure will be but I know you will go into it with the greatest of gusto and succeed wonderfully!
Congratulations on your efforts your spirit and your team building. great in all respects. I will miss the messages each day from somewhere in the Indian Ocean, but is good to know you are safe.
Oh, Roz
You made a remarkable milestone marker in history! One can take a look at your journey from any angle, and your life path inspires now and forevermore. I would love to see the past six years of your adventures through life captured in a compelling movie to reach a greater audience for your message of responsible stewardship for our planet, primarily the oceans and their inhabitants. If we only take a moment to reflect on what it means by ocean conservation, we would realize a far greater reason and gain a sense of urgency for the survival of our species.Thank you for sharing the highs and lows of your waves across the Big Three: the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean. Just writing these out leaves me an awesome feeling of greatness, a powerful testimony to bring meaning to our lives and follow our heart’s desires.I am now inspired to write a children’s story – Sedna, the Little Row Boat that Could – encapsulating my own surfs of inspirations following your journey across the miles.More Power to You, Roz! You have huge dreams, and you are achieving them one row at a time. I will remember your mantra and how the world helped you lift yourself up when the challenge was so daunting ~ Stop drifting. Start rowing. ~Take care, Roz. May you continue to realize your dreams with each passing day.With much love,Gina
Gina, consider this my pre-order: “Sedna, the Little Row Boat that Could”
I’ll take one too.
I think there is a movie about Roz rowing, will look it up. Cheers, Stephen
Awesome post Roz! Congratulations on successfully completing your expedition. You are an inspiration and a true hero! I’m looking forward to catching you at one of your appearances in CA. Till then, lets keep doing our small bit towards the plastic bag ban and other things for a greener future. Rest and recover well, hugz n much love!
It’s astonishing to me that after 5 months alone at sea in that little boat, almost the first thing that Roz does is write a long chatty summary of the adventure with hints about her next projects. I assume that she did actually have time for a shower and a decent meal first but you wouldn’t know it!
Did she ever get to sleep? Cheers John, Stephen
Congratulations Roz!
You are an amazing woman that has inspired many people to follow their dreams, even if those dream may not follow conventional pathways.Thank you for continuing to inspire the world!
Since you visited San Diego last year, Tim and I have continued to follow your adventures. He followed your blog daily when you started rowing in April, so I’m positive he would have been incredibly proud of your accomplishment.
Thank you for the adventure Roz! Congratulations!
HURRAY!!!!!!!
xx
Amazing!
I just got word that Roz has been honored on Care2 …
Let’s let the folks at Care2 know that all we love Roz.
Join the 88 who already LIKE http://bit.ly/Care2Roz and post a short comment. I just commented and got lucky #23 (Roz’s favorite number):
Roz is world class. She likes to say that taking the first step is half the journey (or something like that). The difference between her and many of us it that she took the first step — many times. Seems that is the toughest part, and she has gotten over that hurdle. We can all do that. There is one thing that I thing we can all do to start, which is urgent we do now:
PICK UP THE PHONE AND MAKE A ONE-MINUTE CALL, or WRITE A VERY SHORT NOTE, or POST A VERY SHORT REQUEST ON-LINE to remind President Obama — and insist — that, by himself, he can stop a proposed pipeline that would continue our addiction to oil and delay our transition to clean renewable energy by 25 years.
Call 202-456-1111 or post on http://1.usa.gov/TellBarack a simple request: I SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT’S VETO OF KEYSTONE XL TARSAND OIL PIPELINE. Do this and you will be addicted to political and environmental activism. It is SO EASY. You will find yourself doing something every day :))
You can also write a handwritten note to him. Address at http://1.usa.gov/TellBarack … Join me and Roz and thousands of others in taking the first step to doing something major. It will get into your blood.
Congrats Roz. Real happy for ya. A tremendous feat little lady. I know I’m late, but like they say, better late that never.
For a future “Philosophy Friday” …
Roz, when you get a few minutes, come up to speed with this excellent essay by Charles Einstein … the “issue” is bigger than plastic pollution, habitat destruction, sustainability or climate change. Einstein’s solution is based on a different “one stroke at a time” e.g., “Occupy Wall Street should not be content with half-measures, even as it encourages and applauds the tiny hundredth-measures that might come first.” http://bit.ly/LoveRevolution
effing incredible, Roz Savage. Been following along for 5 years now. You never stop inspiring! Thanks for the adventure and insights along the way. -Matt in Colombia
The only Words I can think to discribe this is “WOW”!!! I have just found a very inspiring person!!!