Day 140 - Seasons Of The Stars And A Green Light
September 25, 2009 – 9:02 amObviously apart from the nice sunny days that a high pressure system brings the other benefit is the cloudless night skies that allow us an unpresidented view of the gallaxies, stars and planets that appear to hang in the heavens. Of course as the earth spins it causes stars and planets to rise and set. What I hadn’t expected was to notice the change in seasons by the angle of various stars to the horizon. I’ve noticed the change first in the fact that the constillation of the plough no longer sets as it once did but simply keeps on rotating under the north star “Polaris” which itself appear higher in the night sky. Hopefully we’ll soon be unable to see the stars because of all the ghastly light pollution thrown out by man.
The battery monitor gave us a bit of a treat last night. It has a three LED indicator to show us the state of the battery (red, amber and green) they indicate that the battery is in poor, medium or good state of charge respectively. Last night was the first night in ages that we had a green light for the whole night. It really is such a relief to get the power situation under control and no doubt the sunny weather we’re currently experiencing helps but we know that we’re onto a winner and in the safe green zone.
We’ve been plagued by a series of shortlived (6 hours or so) currents that hold us back and reduce our speed to well under a knot. Add that to a headwind and last night was rather a painful experience. Earlier on in the trip if we had got caught in one of these currents I would have put everything into breaking free from it pulling as hard as I could but now the mind may be willing but the flesh is weak and it is very tough to up the work load at all. Gradually though the wind came round to help more and then all of a sudden we were out of the current and moving along nicely at 1.5kts. It’s infuriating but unfortunately other than just keep Bo pointed towards SF and keep rowing there isn’t much we can do.
A special mention today to our webman Richard. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICH. I’ve got a card and present here but you’ll have to wait until you see me before you can have it.
40°48′27”N 141°45′10”W
Chris & Mick travelled 33.6 miles North-East (heading 52.3°) on day 140
They ended 1048.6 miles from San Francisco (25.0 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 4008 to 4033 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 28.8 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 36.4 days remaining at this rate, so would arrive in San Francisco on 31 Oct 2009
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East (heading 95.1°)
See where the boat is
Sponsor Thanks
Thanks today go to James Livingston, who sponsored miles 4008-4010 which the boys crossed yesterday morning. James, a.k.a. Bungle, attended Hampton School at the same time as Chris and rowed with him in their First VIII.
Would you like to sponsor a mile?
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
16 Responses to “Day 140 - Seasons Of The Stars And A Green Light”
A hero’s cheer for Rich; Happy Birthday! Sterling job on the blog Ricardo, without you we’d all be in the dark.
Chris and Mick, good work on the oars even in the currents, the further on you get, the more I feel the suspense mounting. It’s getting a bit exciting now!
Chris, I’m off to HSBC to tomorrow morning to see the A squad out on the water, I’ve been invited by one of the guys I used to row with in my very short lightweight career who now coaches and teaches at Hampton. I’ll give you a cheeky mention.
Keep it real Gents, press on.
By Boing Boing on Sep 25, 2009
Holy **** fellas, just checked the map, you’re getting pretty close! I’m going to check flights tonight as it looks like my work travel has been vetoed!
By Boing Boing on Sep 25, 2009
PS Christoph, did 4k in my Plastex the other night without falling in!
By Boing Boing on Sep 25, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD!!Keep safe guys and keep your chins up.
By Grace Dawson on Sep 25, 2009
WOWIE - you are making progress - can you see a blur on the horizon yet?? Not long now…
Keep it up, remember its all about the finish! And what a finish this is shaping up to be……!
By Dizzie Blonde on Sep 25, 2009
Happy birthday Rich. Please keep up the solid work, it is very much appreciated.
Keep plugging away fellas, GGB ain’t that far.
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Sep 25, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
Just looked at the map and you are getting closer - good work! Keeeeep smiling, keeeeeep rowing and keeeeep safe.
And to Richard - Hope you are having a great day on your Birthday! I was going to burst into song, but I will let others do that. Anyhow, luckily for you, you wouldn’t have been able to hear my croaky voice!
By Sue from Cornwall on Sep 25, 2009
Greetings chaps,
Am sunning myself in jolly ol’ Espana at the mo, avec mon parentals.. yes all jokes about being a cunning linguist on hold please!
The Plough always made me chuckle as over the Atlantic, it’s tipped up on the thin end, always looked like a giant cosmic question mark to me.. the ultimate “why?” have you worked it out yet?
Mum & dad say hi, they’ve been following you from the beginning but haven’t been brave enough to blog.. am in process of “don’t be so flippin daft ”
Keep chugging along, you’ll be there before you can say ” a pint of your finest brew my good man, and don’t forget the pig bits”
By cath on Sep 25, 2009
Keep going guys, we are all willing you on!
By Kevin and Sheila Reeson on Sep 25, 2009
Watcha lads an bo just hang in an dig deep ,be safe ,keep warm an love to bo.x an also it looks like Happy birthday Rich.,
By jenny b on Sep 25, 2009
I’m getting worried about Biff. Has anyone seen him? Or has he gone into a sulk because someone pointed out on Wednesday that he still can’t spell Molesey despite having rowed and lived there for at least a couple of decades.
By The Egypt!an on Sep 25, 2009
I think he’s licking his wounds that he pulled out of cycling Lands End to John O’Groats with me last week cos he’s a slacker…
(I also didn’t do it but that is a secondary issue)
By Laser.Beam on Sep 25, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO (OUR) RICHARD. GOD BLESS YOU FOR KEEPING US UP-TO-DATE WITH all the happenings across the seas. You surely deserve an award. Keep it up. LOTS OF LOVE FROM ALL THE THERESA ADEDOYIN’S CHILDREN. Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice.
By Theresa Hearts of Gold on Sep 25, 2009
Maybe Biff has returned to Cornwall….. after all, he really did like the place and enjoyed the pasties and beer! However, the sun has been taking a bit of a rest here today.
Hope all is well out there with Chris and Mick on Bo. Keeeeeep smiling, keeeeeep rowing and keeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Sep 25, 2009
Rich - Congratulations and Happy Birthday, that man. It’s as good a day as any to renew our sincere thanks for your fantastic, unstinting, nay indispensible efforts in support of GGE. We are ALL in your debt! Good luck to you, Lewis and the team in Singapore this weekend (ninth on Friday’s practice timesheet, they tell me, but hey, Sunday is another day!).
Dizzie Blonde - Thanks for those three gems a couple of days ago. I collect such linguistic quirks (anorak that I am) and will be proud to add them to my list.
You may like to hear a little ‘linguistic’ story. About five years ago, our Dutch friend Marjolein came to visit, together with the rest of her family. Everyone else shot off on a shopping expedition (not just any shopping expedition…..ah, the lure of M & S), leaving yours truly with Reinier, her then-16 year old son. We were discussing the peculiarities of the English language, and how confusing it is for foreigners to learn. I thought I’d amuse him with the old George Bernard Shaw favourite: “How would you pronounce ‘GHOTI’?”
There was literally a two second delay before his reply: “FISH - ‘F’ as in enouGH; ‘I’ as in wOmen; ‘SH’ as in staTIon.”
I was utterly, utterly gobsmacked!
“It’s OK”, he said modestly, “our lecturer taught us that only yesterday.”
I was still mightily impressed!
[PS. The plural can be ghoti or ghoties; both are acceptable, as Helen will tell you!?!*?!]
By Dad Martin on Sep 26, 2009
How much money can I make out of a vending machine?
By football news on Oct 30, 2009