Last night I had a dream about Mick and Chris, who are currently rowing the north Pacific (goldengateendeavour.com). In my dream I was taking a look around their boat, Bojangles, and was staggered at the size of it. It had a cabin so high you could stand up in it – and, luxury of luxuries, a FLUSH TOILET!! No doubt Mick and Chris would find the contrast between my dream and the reality extremely amusing.
I wonder how Mick and Chris are bearing up physically. I got an email today from Sarah Outen, my friend who has just finished rowing solo across the Indian Ocean. She lost 18kg, which is about 40lb, in 124 days. Mick and Chris will be at sea for 5-6 months, so they might lose even more.
Me? I’m not doing too badly. I lost about 25-30lb on each of my previous long crossings. I’d guess I’ve lost less this time, maybe about 15lb, but it’s hard to tell, having neither scales nor mirror.
I’m happy I’ve managed to avoid the tendonitis that made my Atlantic crossing so miserable. I just have the usual ration of minor oceangoing maladies – a touch of toothache (probably a minor rumble from my impacted wisdom teeth) which should go away in a few days. Ongoing spots and rashes from the saltwater and heat. Blisters and bloodspots on my feet where the rowing shoes rub. And an oddity that always happens – fingernails parting company with fingers. They don’t fall off, but the white extends down towards the quick, and it takes a while for them to get back to normal when I reach dry land.
So I’m not exactly feeling at my most glamorous, and would seriously love a good long shower, but if I ever start feeling sorry for myself I just thank my lucky stars that I am not Mick or Chris and crossing the whole Pacific nonstop. At least I get to do some sightseeing along the way – and who in their right mind would row straight past Hawaii without dropping in?!
[photo: Not much to take photos of today. So here is last night’s sunset.]
Other Stuff:
Today the weather gods were kind. Conditions were pushing me due west but by aiming my bow south I was able to row across the waves to make another 8 miles closer to the Equator. I have made up the latitude that I lost when a southeasterly caught me in its jaws and dragged me kicking and screaming back up to 3 degrees North, and am now the furthest south I have ever been (in a rowboat, anyway). The forecast is good, so I am VERY cautiously optimistic that I might make further progress south over the next few days. But still just taking it as it comes. Expectation only invites disappointment!
Today I posted my regular weekly video to my editor – so the latest RozCast should go live on YouTube in the next 24 hours. In this week’s RozCast there is a pre-recorded section where I talk about the environment, and then a short video from the boat where I show you what a pair of rowing gloves looks like after just a couple of weeks at the oars. Enjoy!
Thank you to all the Rozzles for your comments. Rozta’ Bill – especially appreciating you keeping a weather eye out for my fortunes. I’m tired now after a long day rowing so I’m afraid I’m not going to acknowledge all the comments individually, but please know that I really do appreciate them. BTW, we seemed to lose Gregory of the Conway Kayak Company in the transition to the new website – he was one of Roz’s Regulars but has gone MIA. Gregory, if you’re out there, drop us a message at info@rozsavage.com and let us know you’re okay!
Weather Report:
Position at 2315 HST: 02 05.378N, 177 44.862W Wind: 10kts ESE-E Seas: 2-4ft E Weather: mostly clear and fine, with just a very few scattered clouds. None of those pesky ITCZ-ish squalls or rainshowers – thank heavens!
Weather forecast, courtesy of weatherguy.com
As of Thursday morning 13 Aug 2009. According to measured data there have been Eerly winds up to 7-12kts over your position and some rainshower activity to your north. SEerly winds 10kt is south of your position to the equator. The SEerlies eventually shift to Eerly 10-15kts by today. A further shift to the north will keep the winds north of east until late on the 15th. Then shifting to SEerly for a brief period before returning to Eerly by the end of the forecast period.
The widespread clouds mentioned in last report have cleared to partly cloudy skies with minimal convection.
Forecast sky conditions: Partly to mostly cloudy. Scattered moderate rainshowers.
Ocean currents should be light SSWerlies (flowing towards the NNE) at about 0.1 to 0.2 kts in your area to about 00 30S. To the north of you beginning at about 3 30N there is a band of Eerly flowing current of about 0.5 to 0.7kts. South of the equator along your longitude there is a band of Werly flowing current of about 1.0kt.
Forecast (low confidence) Date/Time HST Wind kts Seas (ft) est 13/1200-14/1800 E 5-15 2-4 14/1800-15/1500 E-ENE 5-15 2-4 15/1500-15/1800 ENE-E 5-15 2-4 15/1800-17/0600 E-SE-E 5-15 2-4 17/0600-18/0000 E 5-10 2-3
Next Update: Monday, 16 August
Hi Roz,
Ah, ha, so the fingernails will be the determining factor of which island will be awarded with your presence by which one has the best beauty salon, eh? Good idea! We’re with you, all the way to the salon! Cheers! Doug S.
Sorry to hear of the physical problems – Glad that they are no worse that they are. I hope that a good day of progress is in your near future. Sounds like you need a vacation – may I recommend a long cruise?
It’s amazing how we don’t really appreciate the little niceties until we have to live without them. Flushing toilet! Woo! I could do three months without a flushing toilet much more happily than I could go that long without a hot shower, though.
Is it just the constant stress on your fingers that make the nails start to separate I wonder? You must have an unbelievably strong grip.
Hello Roz, just wanted to say hi – even though I don’t comment very often I did want to let you know that I’m following this year’s adventure as often as I can – with interest, excitement, amusement and trepidation! You are still such an inspiration. I heard Sarah Outen being interviewed on Woman’s Hour the other day, seems she had a very unwanted bail-out at the end of her row and I hope you have a smoother landfall when it comes. Am also following Mick and Chris who at least have each other for company.
Seem to remember that on the Atlantic row someone asked you who your twelve most desirable dinner guests would be – so to give you something to think about instead of worrying about running out of food, how about your twelve most UNwanted ‘nightmare’ dinner guests? Obviously you might not want to blog about them, but it might be fun to imagine. Persons living or dead …
Take care out there! Come for a treatment when next in the SW London vicinity. xx
Greetings! I seem to be far busier lately, and not able to read your posts every day. However, when I do get the chance, I’m rewarded with more inspiration to do better in my own life. Thank you, again.
Hmmm – so rowing across the ocean seems to be a key to weight loss! Reading though Sarah’s blog she even had daily chocolate. Wonder if its not too late to take up rowing now 🙂
Hope you get through the Equator soon!
Today seems to be a slow day for comments, so maybe it’s time for another poem. I actually wrote this a few weeks ago, when you were getting a lot of questions about what had happened to the booby. I know that your appreciation for birds depends (in part) on their manners toward you and the boat and the solar panels. But when I wrote this, I was trying to take a more wistful view of the whole situation.
And I also wrote this because, how often in life do you get an opportunity to write about a booby?
ODE TO A BOOBY
Booby, booby, over the sea,
Why have you abandoned me?
Was I unkind?
Did I drive you away?
Have you found another boat,
On which to play?
I miss you now.
I didn’t before.
Did I hurt your feelings,
With my swinging oar?
It was just that,
I’m sensitive to smell.
And frankly, my darling,
You reeked to hell.
And now also know,
I’ve got things on my mind.
What with rainstorms, and currents,
And remoras on my behind.
So you can see, my sweet,
That you’re in my thought,
Although our friendship, probably,
Will come to naught.
I’ll remember you, though,
And I’m not blaming,
But frankly my love,
You needed toilet-training.
Wha-Hoo! One million oar strokes! And you’re moving in a good direction!
Roz!
You’ve busted 2N and a million strokes. Bravo!
R’B
Neat poem Richard! Glad you are well Roz, 2 degrees, WOW.
You’re so tough. Inspirational. 🙂