Yesterday I mentioned that in the calmer waters I had done some barnacling.
The barnacle situation had got quite bad. I had hoped that the chaps downstairs might be keeping an eye on things, possibly scraping a few barnacles off when they knock against the hull, but no such luck. It was barnacle heaven down there, especially on the rudder – possibly because it is wooden, and hence more porous and inviting to barnacle feet. It took me over an hour to restore the hull to a reasonably hydrodynamic state.
I really loathe this job. It’s hard work scraping away at barnacles, and I have to hold my breath before each foray under the hull because it’s too deep for a snorkel. So it goes like this: deep breath, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape, surface, gulp air. Repeat about a hundred times until hull is relatively barnacle-free. I don’t like the feel of the barnacles catching against my legs as they drift off into the depths. Feeling anything brush against my skin while I’m in the water makes me very jumpy. Ugh.
Seeing it from the barnacles’ point of view, I’m sure they’re none too happy about it either. There they are, barnacling away, minding their own business, when along comes a giant armed with a white paint scraper to forcibly evict them from this nice convenient home they’ve just found. So there ain’t nobody happy.
Other Stuff:
I am listening to “Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change
Quote for the day: “The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river.” (Ross Perot)
We have now raised just over $4000 to bring my mother out to see me arrive. Huge thanks to all who have contributed so far. To make a donation, visit our fundraising website Send Rita To See Roz.
Sponsored Miles: Better miles, and grateful thanks to our sponsors today: Helen Webb, Christopher Senn, Dick Stivers, Uta Steckhan, Chris Lynch, Linda and Graham Pugh, Christopher Smith, Peter Bromley, Larry Grandt, Molly McCallum and Mark Dyson. Those who sponsored higher numbers beyond Roz’s destination: Larry Grandt, Linda Leinen, Doug Grandt, Nick Perdiew and Stephanie Batzer.
Anybody who can see it from the barnacles’ point of view has got my deepest respect. I like how you tell your stories so dramatically, and that you go about your business so empathetically …
Keep rowing empathetically, Roz!
Says Barnacle Bill the sailor.
Just be very careful of scratches from barnacles in warm water. I seem to remember they can cause infection.
I have never been that far out to sea and for that matter solo too.
What Roz does not mention and what is key to this story is the great care and calcultion she has to always keep in mind. She must keep herself safe. Close to and attached to Sedna. She must perform all tasks from exiting her cabin to getting back into Sedna not only by herself, but with such care as to not hurt herself too. Barnacles are sharp and tenacious. The boat is rocking and pitching, and it does not move with rythm. Even underwater, the boat is a constant moving target. Sometimes that target moves away from her grasp but other times the life capsule aims for her head. None of this is easy to do. Each move must be calculated and consequence managment attached to each of her motions(like unfurling a sea anchor at night in gale force conditions). Then one adds the 139 days of stressful cadence and the two weeks prior that were equally dramatic… well, I just feel that some of what Roz describes as routine chores are only routine for her. I am sure that if it were me, i would get a finger crushed when opening the hatch cover. Most of my routine chores I can celebrate the completion of with the pursuit of hoppiness or meet with a friend at town center, Where as Roz’s ends with a Miso sunset or Larabar stars. Has anyone celebrated a hard days work with soup or bean sprouts? Roz is too cool to add what I know about her sea worthyness. She makes warriors look like school-children in my book.
Row for the shore girl! We are keen to congratulate you.
Row Roz Row!
~Jay
Kids…don’t try this at home, these tricks are done by professionals under controlled conditions…not! Cheers, Stephen
You’re the man, Jay!!
OK, People. Pull up a chair and grab a cold one. It’s limerick time!
There’s more to a barnacle than meets the eye
Stormy seas, a vast blue sky
A vision, a quest
For a better nest
On Earth we all reside
There once was barnacle who could kiss
His companions on Sedna Solo, he soon would miss
He was reading the newspaper
When along came a scraper
And sent him on his way to the abyss
Hey Bruce. I like a wedge of limerick in my ice cold Corona.
hmmm …
There once was a Rozling moronic
Who fancied wedges of limerick.
When he squeezed them in beer
Some times he would tear.
The squirt had the sting of hot turmeric!
No apologies … you started it …
: 0)
Bruce … well, there was the one limerick that was not suitable for posting, so I removed it before anybody could notice … (I don’t know what got into me). Alas, that was several months ago … omg, Roz has been out there that long?!?!
ok … in keeping with the barnacle theme …
There once was a barnacle Bailey.
He clowned with limericks daily.
Rhyming fishies at sea,
‘Rados flipping with glee:
Entertainment for Roz never wailing.
Keep rowing gleefully, Roz!
Very nice!
Bruce, this is all your fault … but I hope Roz enjoys this one:
Roz loathes the feel of her barnacles.
Skin’s so jumpy, she has no control.
They give her the jitters!
Intentions of flirters?
She’d prefer their feelers in manacles.
Ugh, Roz, ugh ;((
Sorry, Jay, you share the blame for THAT one ;-D
Come on, UncaDoug, is that all you’ve got??
Apologies for responding to Saturday’s post on Tuesday, but I observe
that
your Ultimate Flexibility in the direction of environmental
concerns will
produce a substantial inflexibility in other directions,
such as economic
concerns.
It is known and certain that environmental regulations produce
a burden
on the economy by increasing the cost of doing business, producing
and
providing goods and services, and building infrastructure. So we
must
weigh the impact of each regulation that may or may not benefit
the
environment against the effects and costs it will place on
businesses
and individuals.
Neither can we divorce economic concerns
from environmental needs
because a robust economy is required to underwrite
the research needed
to discover environmental remedies and to fund the
implementation of
proven solutions.
Rather than a unidirectional
ultimate flexibility I would seek a
multi-directional optimum flexibility. In
the long run I believe this
would better serve environmental and economic
concerns.
.-. .-. .-. (3 r’s in Morse code – for Row, Roz, Row)
Hello Roz: Just back from a couple of week’s seminar/training thingy in Denver,
CO and now catching up with your blogs and progress. It seems that you are
actually getting pretty good at this solo rowing business and you’ll soon be
quite the expert! I’d give my eye-teeth to be there when you arrive; If I still
had them and had the remotest idea where “there” might be. Meanwhile here’s a
quick hug and squeeze for psychological help.
Your old maid friend in WAY upstate NY has not missed a day of your posts and prays every day for a safe trip. Stop doing those rolling over things. They make my stomach flipflop:-) Grantville NY Loves You. Gracecloud.
In the HUMOROUS TWEETS DEPT, I just now noticed this:
@AdrenalinJunky (Paul): @rozsavage edible barnacles?
I couldn’t resist: Hahaha NEW MEANING: “throw another barnie on the barbie”
Not sure if it’s grammatically correct. Anybody? Or just blarney?
Roz, you might be a giant in the world of barnacles but I’d like to mention that you’re a giant in the human world too (even if you are a short squirt!)
I washed my hair in the Solomon Sea
In solitude, save the swell
Aching for the freedom, to be free
caught in this salty well
Last night, I roped a satellite,
Rode it across three oceans,
And wished a prayer in stateless light
And got lost in my own potion
🙂
Look what strange thing appeared in New Zealand after a big earthquake! It is huge and covered all over with gooseneck barnacles! AWESOME TO BEHOLD! I love this kind of stuff… I wish I could go there and see this creature for myself!: Mystery Solved! http://www.lss-info.com/portal-to-pinterest_unforgettablethe2_lsquoalien-pod-time-capsulersquo-mysterious-object-washes-up-on-nz-beach-baffling-locals-photos.html