27 Aug 2008, The Brocade
I've been at sea for over 3 months now, and it's starting to take its toll on my body. I've been fortunate so far - but this week I've started to fall apart. Nothing major - fingernails lifting from fingers (apparently due to some fungal thing), aches in the back, sunburned skin - but worst of all is the saltwater rash. It may sound like a trivial complaint, but grown men have been reduced to tears and/or excessive use of painkillers by this undignified ailment.
The best way to avoid the rash dreaded by all ocean-rowers is to bathe in fresh water, which I haven't been able to do due to the water shortage since my watermaker expired, so I am surprised that the affliction did not strike sooner. I have done my best to stay clean, bathing with salt water, supplemented with wet wipes and liberal application of tea tree oil. These measures probably bought me some spot-free time.
But now it has struck, and has struck with a vengeance.
Maybe it would have been better if I hadn't looked. Out of sight and out of mind. But I knew something was going on, so today I took out the small mirror and used it to take a look at my backside. It was not a pretty sight. For anybody who saw the pictures of James Cracknell's bottom after he had finished the Atlantic Rowing Race.. Well, I may not be able to beat James on the ergometer, but when it comes to spotty-botty I reckon I could give him a run for his money.
The main problem with this is that it makes it painful to sit on my rowing seat - which is the one thing that I simply can't avoid doing. So I shall have to grin (or grimace) and bear it. Only a few more days to go, but they may feel like long days indeed..
Other stuff:
Position at 2030 26th August HST, 0730 27th August UTC: 21 53.089'N, 154 43.757'W.
An underwhelming day on the mileage front today. Same number of rowing hours as usual, but it takes the cooperation of the weather to produce impressive leaps forward. At the moment I would say I'm 70% likely to arrive on 1st Sept, 30% likely to arrive later than that. I won't know for sure until I get there!
Mum sent me all the messages that had come through before she had to leave for the airport. So I probably haven't seen them all. Thanks for the ones I've seen. and for the ones I haven't!
Helena - fantastic effort on the beach-cleaning front. Well done! Interesting what you said about the number of straws. I wonder if there are reusable ones, or biodegradable ones. What did we used to do before straws were invented? That's quite an interesting question for most plastic objects - what did we used to do before they were available? After all, we survived for thousands of years before plastic came along!
Thanks also to Sandi (for my ongoing journey from Lands End to JO'G), Olivia in Oxford, and John H - informative as ever!
Click here to view Day 93a of the Atlantic Crossing 3 March: (I) Like a ship Passing in the Night. At last some news from Roz, via a passing ship.
Books Box: Do check the list of recent "reads" mentioned by Roz when talking to Leo Laporte. Available from Audible.com; and also from Amazon if you click on the title.
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26 Aug 2008, The Brocade
In 2002 I went to the Explore weekend seminar at London's distinguished Royal Geographical Society. I was to be the sponsorship organizer for an archaeological expedition to Peru, going in search of Inca ruins in the cloudforest near Machu Picchu, and the expedition leader had recommended Explore as a great opportunity to learn about the nuts and bolts of planning an expedition.
At the end of the seminar a man came on stage to demonstrate the "Buff" - a tube of thin fabric that could be twisted into all kinds of headgear (beanie, balaclava, skullcap, snood), tied around a ponytail, used as a tourniquet, whatever. And we were all given a free sample.
My faithful Buff then traveled with me the length and breadth of Peru, up mountains and down gorges. It came with me across the Atlantic, holding my baseball hat on my head on the windier days. And now it is here with me on the Pacific, still going strong.
But I'd never really LOOKED at it until the other day. It was just a garment, not something to be examined. But it caught my eye, dangling from a line in the roof of my cabin, while I was eating my dinner. And what did I see when I looked at the grey repeat pattern of the fabric?
Waikiki Beach.
Yes, the design on my well-worn Buff shows an illustrated map of my present destination. As well as the beach, it shows the Outrigger Canoe Club, Moana Hotel, Waikiki Tavern (sounds promising!), Kalakaua Avenue and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
It seems just a little bit spooky.
And this seems like a good opportunity to say Aloha to Bobbie Jennings and the other wonderful people at the Waikiki Yacht Club. I was introduced to them by my friend Adrian Flanagan, who had to pull in there for impromptu repairs during his solo vertical circumnavigation of the world a couple of years ago. I gave a presentation there last November, and was given the warmest of welcomes. I know they have been working with my weatherguy, Rick Shema, in preparation for my arrival, and I'd like to say a big thank you, and that I can't wait to be back at the WYC.
And the Peruvian expedition? Yes, we did find our Inca ruins!
Other stuff:
Position at 2030 25th August HST, 0730 26th August UTC: 21 57.569'N, 154 14.907'W.
Today I crossed another line of longitude - and one of latitude. The Waikiki Yacht Club lies at 21 17.250'N, 157 50.550'W, so I am gradually homing in. Michael has kindly plotted my position, plus that of the JUNK and the WYC. Looks like I am following exactly in their wake! Very exciting to see how close I am to Hawaii. I am still using my Tomtom for navigation, but it hasn't yet found a road for me to follow to the Waikiki Yacht Club.
Meanwhile, my mother is homing in on Hawaii too. Today she flew from the UK to San Francisco. She spends a couple of days there before flying to Honolulu on the 28th to await my arrival.
More birds, more tweeting today. They seem to like traveling in groups of 5, and they circle vertically, as if they were on an invisible ferris wheel - very entertaining. I've been getting a crick in my neck, trying to watch them while not letting up at the oars!
Thank you to all the people who have written in, especially: Mikala - afraid I won't be in Hawaii for the Molokai race at the end of September - duty calls on the mainland - but I will be back January-March next year. I hope to see you very soon! John H - waves up to 25 feet in the Molokai Channel? Not sure I wanted to know that! Hi also to Milly, Ami, Margo and Greg., Sandy, Nancy and Cathy.
And if you haven't yet voted in the Amex Members' Project - please, please, please do so. You don't have to be an Amex cardholder - you can register as a guest. It won't cost you a penny, and could seriously help me out - and help me spread the message about the oceans. Thank you!
Click here to view Day 93 of the Atlantic Crossing 3 March 2006: Whether the weather helps or not.
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25 Aug 2008, The Brocade
.Not saying I've missed these things, because it is just a different existence out here - but they are all things I enjoy that I haven't been able to do for over three months now: And now that the end of my voyage is drawing near, I am starting to think about my "other" life again - my life on dry land.
- bathing in fresh, not salt, water - washing my hair - getting dressed up and putting on makeup - eating out - having a drink with friends - walking - trees - massage - freedom to do a lot more things than can be done alone on a small boat - NOT rowing - curling up in a comfortable chair with a good book - the internet - emailing my friends - not just my team - people - chance meetings - serendipity - using my Macbook rather than a PC - my coffee-shop-and-journal therapy sessions - going to see a movie (is "Sex and the City" still showing anywhere? I left a week before the premier!) - a glass of something nice - champagne (Veuve Clicquot), wine (chenin blanc or pinot noir), beer (English) or margarita (straight up with salt) - depending on mood - and, of course, caramel lattes!
I am not wishing my time away (much), but the ocean is a tough environment and I am looking forward to being somewhere where the sun is high and the living is easy (or at least easier).
Other stuff:
Position at 1945 24th August HST, 0545 25th August UTC: 22 01.106'N, 153 46.358'W.
Today has been a bit poor on the mileage. The wind is good now, but for most of the day it has been very variable due to squalls. And it was very light last night - normally I would expect to make about 9' of longitude overnight, but last night I only got 4', so that was not a flying start to the day.
But the weather varies quite a bit from day to day, so with a bit of luck tomorrow will be an improvement. But we may now be looking at Sept 1 or 2 rather than August 31. It doesn't matter too much one way or another - so long as I get there safe and sound.
Thanks to Karen and Megan for the kind donations - much appreciated, and Karen, I promise I will put it towards my day of massage and pampering. I can't wait!
To Texino and anyone else who is concerned about the safety of my arrival in Hawaii: please don't worry! It will be, errr, challenging, but my weatherguy and I (and various other helpful people, including the wonderful folks at the Waikiki Yacht Club) are all on the case and will make sure that my landfall is as safe as possible. Worry ye not! That's OUR job!
And thanks for all the other lovely messages of support too. Each and every one is read and appreciated.
Click here to view Day 92 of the Atlantic Crossing 2 March 2006: Has she or hasn't she? About drinking ballast water.
(Tomorrow these details will be rather late in the day as I am travelling to San Francisco from the UK - Rita.)
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24 Aug 2008, The Brocade
Today I saw five birds, all circling my boat at the same time. This in itself was unusual - I often see a solitary bird, sometimes two, but this was positively a crowd.
And the other unusual thing was that they were tweeting to each other. Then, later on, I saw another bird, on its own, and it was tweeting too.
This may not sound like a big deal, but all the birds I have seen on my crossing have circled my boat in silence. Not a tweet, a chirrup, nor a trill. And now I remember it was the same on the Atlantic - the birds in mid-ocean were mute, and it was only when I was nearing Antigua that they became more chatty.
I have no idea why this should be, but that's how it is. And it's exciting to get this first sign that I am nearing land. Today I crossed 153 degrees West. My chart of the Hawaiian islands starts at 155 degrees West, so soon I will be able to start plotting my position as I row past the Big Island and Maui, and approach the Molokai Channel that will lead me to Waikiki on the southern coast of Oahu.
The end isn't yet in sight, and many oarstrokes still lie between me and Hawaii, but I am starting to sense the nearness of my goal. It's been a long time coming.
Other stuff:
Position at 2100 23rd August HST, 0700 24th August UTC, 22 09.406'N, 153 19.723'W.
Thanks for the messages. Special mentions to: Sarah Outen- have a great time in Iceland. Sounds like the boat is coming on apace. Can't wait to see it - and you! Nancy Wilhelms - thank you so much for the donation. A thousand blessings on you and yours! Karen Morss - I listened out, and yes, I think I heard you cheering me on! Thanks for spreading the word among the Lemon Ladies about voting in the Amex awards. You're a star - and a great inspiration! Bob Proctor - I'd be really interested to see my list of daily mileages. Do you have them in a spreadsheet? If so, I wonder if you could send it to rozcomments@gmail.com. Annie - thanks for the Emerson quote. It was too long for the comments box, so it got cut short. Can you tell me which book it was from and I will order it up as an audiobook for my next row! Sharon et al - much love to you all! Sandi - so I'm nearly in Scotland?! Thanks for the little history lesson on Lindisfarne too! Katharine - 6 months before I set out again from Hawaii. Time to wait out the winter storms, refurbish the boat, catch up with friends, learn about Hawaiian culture, and fatten up! Helene - sticktoitiveness now joins justdoitiveness as new words created by my voyage! Also Mike D, Karyn, CabSav Lane, Duane, Dana, Erin, John H, Roger, Margo, Sindy, and Allen. For those people who don't already have all the reusable grocery bags they need, we are producing bags with the Savage logo on them, and the slogan "If we pull together, we can make a world of difference". They are made from recycled plastic, and are themselves recyclable. There has been a long lead time on them, but they should be available within the next few weeks, if you can hold out that long to save the world!
Click here to view Day 91 of the Atlantic Crossing 1 March 2006 Antigua Here we Come - getting nearer.
If you have not yet voted for Roz, please do - go to the Members Project box on the right and sign up as a guest - won't cost you anything, and could make a BIG difference to Roz and the film project. (But please don't vote more than once - it will be cancelled out.)
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