Day 142 - Sunny But Bouncy
September 27, 2009 – 8:25 amLast night or should I say early this morning the predicted easterly wind started to blow. Gradually at first but then stronger and stronger. By around 1.30am it became clear that as it was due to only get stronger and with it becomming almost impossible to make headway so the sea anchor went in and we took to the cabin to sleep for the rest of the night.
Today the wind is still around but we’re hoping that it’ll only be a 24 hour stalling of our progress and we’ll be rowing again before too long. It has been a lovely sunny day though and with a full tank of water and batteries that are approaching full charge we’re in good spirits despite the current lack of miles.
The predicted weather beyond around 130 to 132 degrees west blows us more readily towards San Francisco so we’ve got around 10 degrees to go until we make ‘the turn’ for the bridge. This section of the row was always a fear for us as it can be a case of so near and yet so far. However we’ve been told to expect westerly winds from the 30th and not entirely unhelpful winds until then so hopefully we can get a lot closer to the turning marker at around 130 - 132 degrees west and 41 degrees north.
We’re happy to report that Elizabeth and Grace (from the Hearts of Gold Hospice) have fully recovered from their surgeries and are back home and doing very well. This might be a suitable juncture to remind those of you that we’re not just doing this row for any random whim. We’re also doing it to raise cash for Hamilton Lodge and the Hearts of Gold Hospice. If you haven’t already sponsored one or two of the miles left then NOW is the time. Click here, or on the “Donate” button at the top of this page.
There really aren’t that many miles left and each one that you sponsor makes a real difference. You even get a mention on the blog for the mile that you sponsor. Or you could always buy a T-shirt (I believe there are still some spare.)
41°0′42”N 140°53′25”W
Chris & Mick travelled 4.5 miles East (heading 79.3°) on day 142
They ended 1005.3 miles from San Francisco (4.3 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 4072 to 4077 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 28.7 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 35.0 days remaining at this rate, so would arrive in San Francisco on 1 Nov 2009
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East (heading 96.7°)
See where the boat is
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
8 Responses to “Day 142 - Sunny But Bouncy”
Good Morning Chris and Mick
Ooooh, I think I may be first to blog this morning - everyone else is still asleeep!
A message to Dad Martin - how wonderful for you to have such amazing memories of Chris rowing the Atlantic on Pacific Pete - and before too long you will be able to top those memories up with the even larger memory of Chris and Mick rowing across the North Pacific. When reading your blog about this last night, I wondered whether you and Chris had given any thought to putting those memories into a jointly written book?? Hey, if you do decide to do that, I will be first in the queue for a signed copy!!
Enjoy the short rest Chris and Mick before getting back to work on the oars. Keeeeeeep smiling, keeeeeeeep rowing and keeeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Sep 27, 2009
Morning all.
Sue - Thanks for the encouragement about the idea of a book. After the heady days of ‘transatlanticforce’, I did toy with the idea of a book, as I think Chris did. I actually went along to a literary workshop and also got a paperback out of the library entitled ‘How to get Published’. However, for whatever reason, things never went much further. Other things happening I suppose.
I guess now we’ll have a whole new collection of raw material to play with. Who knows? Ultimately, of course, it has to be Mick and Chris’ decision, but I’d certainly be prepared to kick the idea around a bit.
I like Chris’ description in the latest blog. This talk of a ‘turning marker’ is reminiscent of an aircraft on its final approach before landing. I like it!
Also, I’d like to reassure fellow readers that T-shirts ARE still available, and are sure to become increasingly desirable items after realisation dawns that this is a little bit of history in the making. Don’t forget; they make excellent birthday presents, and indeed stocking fillers for Christmas! They represent an ideal means to signify your support for this fantastic GOLDEN GATE ENDEAVOUR. Gentlemen, if you already have one, what about buying one for the lady in your life? Alternatively, ladies can buy their own! This isn’t male chauvinism: it’s just that we have more ladies’ T-shirts available!!! Just click on the ‘T-shirts’ button on the bar the top of THIS page. Come on, folks, 142 days and counting, I rather think our lads are doing their bit………How about it? What do you say?
By Dad Martin on Sep 27, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
My server has been down for the last few days but all seems to be OK now. It was so good to see you have made so much headway. GGB sees so close now (relatively speaking of course.) Pleased you have an opportunity to top up your and the boat’s batteries before you turn for home.Do as Sue of C says as well as staying resourceful and warm.Oh yes, please don’t cut the hair before you land. A neat little ponytail will suit the maritime image! x
By great auntie anne (ludlow) on Sep 27, 2009
Comment to Great Auntie Anne - the thought of Chris and Mick with pony tails when they land….. but you forgot to mention the Parrot on the shoulder and the hook for a hand and the buried treasure - ooooooh aaRRRRRRRRRR- it be the Pirates of Penzance me thinks!!
In the meantime, I hope C and M are still enjoying “dry” weather (if that’s at all possible when bobbing about in a small boat in the middle of a huge ocean) so that they can get on with the rowing - and that they keeeeeeeep smiling (as always), and keeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Sep 27, 2009
Watcha lads ,well i wear my tee shirt with pride ,glad the sun is shinning ,just checked the weather for Kona at the weekend when we arrive an its 30 deg ,oh yeah,anyway be safe soak up the rays an love to bo.x
By jenny b on Sep 27, 2009
When you have a son on the water, he is never far from your thoughts. Whether things are going badly or going well, and whatever you’re doing, thoughts of your rower inevitably return many, many times each day.
So there we were again this morning, scrabbling around in our back garden, excavating the ground prior to constructing a shed base. During the last week, several items have come to the surface which reminded us of ‘the man’. First a marble, next a carefully concealed Mars ice-cream wrapper, finally a small transparent plastic nose cone from a kid’s toy plane. Each caused us to cast our minds back to when ‘the man’ was a boy.
This afternoon, we went out to Chiswick House. Chris’ present to us last Christmas was joint membership of English Heritage, so we’re trying to visit as many of their properties as possible. After a conducted tour of the house, we took a walk around the extensive gardens, basking in the warm sunshine. Who should we meet along the way? Hodge, together with his Dutch girlfriend. The first question he asked: “What’s the latest with the lads on the Pacific?” Indeed, it was Hodge who was kind enough to draft a suggested introduction to a book publisher after Chris’ solo Atlantic crossing. Perchance we’ll follow things up more assiduously this time. We enjoyed a good chat and they sent their best wishes for Bo’s safe arrival in San Francisco!
PS. Hearty congrats to Rich on Lewis’ first place in Singapore!
By Dad Martin on Sep 27, 2009
Disastrous news from the world of sport. Hull City lost 6:1 to Liverpool. However, it was a close run thing and if a couple of refereeing decisions had gone our way I think we’d have had it in the bag … almost.
Better news:
Congrats to Lewis H and for Jensen for remaining top despite being 5th.
Better still:
England are already into the semi-finals of cricket in South Africa with a game to spare.
Even better still (for Mick anyway):
1st October is Nigerian Independence Day so as it’s a public holiday, you get the day off.
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Sep 28, 2009
So 1st October is a day off for Mick??? That means that Chris will have to stay awake all day and actually do the rowing, allowing Mick to rest-a-while! Lucky for some eh?
And to Dad Martin - please, please please keep thinking about that book……. don’t throw the idea out of the window just yet - maybe Hodge can offer a bit more encouragement?….
And just think, while the book is being compiled, there will be several people keen to help with checking the grammar!!
So, back to Chris and Mick, keep working at those oars, weather permitting - keeeeeeep smiling, keeeeeeep rowing and keeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Sep 28, 2009