Day 159 - Windy, Wavey, Stormy, Rainy
October 14, 2009 – 9:59 amYuk! What a lot of rain. I’m surprised the North Pacific hasn’t become drinkable with all the rain that drenched us last night. While there is a certain satisfaction with being inside and listening to the rain fall outside (on the other rower) there is also a sense of foreboding that either the rain will continue until it’s your turn at the oars or at the very least that you’re in an area with lots of rain in it so if this cloud doesn’t get you then the next one will.
We’ve done all we can to try and separate the wet side of the cabin by the door from the dry side of the cabin at the far end but inevitably there is a fair amount of cross over and everything (even the sleeping bags) has become slightly damp… yuk!
We’re now sitting with a large drogue streaming out the stern as 40kt gusts whip up the sea into some quite respectable waves (up to 6m are predicted). The best part about all of this though is that we are getting a good shove in the right direction. It looks like we’re back in the game and in the hunt. San Francisco watch out there are 2 very hungry rowers inbound.
40°59′20”N 135°16′56”W
Chris & Mick travelled 41.6 miles East (heading 95.9°) on day 159
They ended 717.0 miles from San Francisco (41.3 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 4324 to 4365 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 27.5 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 26.1 days remaining at this rate, so would arrive in San Francisco on 9 Nov 2009
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East-South-East (heading 103.6°)
See where the boat is
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
23 Responses to “Day 159 - Windy, Wavey, Stormy, Rainy”
Great news that the waves are pushing you in the direction of the 668. What is the food and tea bag situation? What is the record amount of times for re-using a tea bag?
I had my first ever golf lesson last night - after 4 months of ‘living’ on a golf course - I could have done with some waves/wind to shove my balls in the right direction… x
By Horsey Claire on Oct 14, 2009
Great to see that you’re taking pleasure from each other’s discomfort. Morale is not lost!
Even better to see you’re pointing the right way.
By George.Simpson on Oct 14, 2009
Guys, fantastic effort your making out there on Mrs P…
What happened to all the coconut thingies that you didn’t care for? Got enough packs to get you to GGB I trust - else Dorado should be edible size by now…. (Do not peer under Bo during a 6m wave)
Stay safe boys
By Dizzie Blonde on Oct 14, 2009
Hi guys,
PHEW!!what a big sigh of relief to know that things are moving again and in the rite direction as well and hopefully we should have you both on dry land again…keep rowing,keep ur chins up and believe.
@ Laser.Beam no hard feelings eh?!:-)
By Grace Dawson on Oct 14, 2009
Good to hear that our collective counsel(s) with Neptune & Poseidon are bearing fruit, even if they are only miles in the right direction and not actually edible. Two strapping boys in a boat together with no other distractions and no one around - isn’t there any passion fruit onboard … ??
Solid effort lads: “Onward - the sailors cried” (The Skye Boat Song)
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 14, 2009
6m waves eh? you’ll be able to bring your surf rowing skills to the fore…do we need to winch BoingBoing onto the boat so that he can sweep you in to SF harbour?
Glad to hear that the weather gods are finally giving you a hand in the right direction.
By Higgsy on Oct 14, 2009
Horsey Claire there’s a joke in there somewhere about balls being shoved in the right direction… I’ll leave that one hanging in the air for other bloggers to imagine.
As L.B says it is good to hear that you are both revelling in the discomfort of the other in the rain. It shows morale is still high, as it should be!
And Higgsy judging by Boing Boing’s own estimation of his skills as a sweep…. best he awaits Bo on the bridge!!
By Biff on Oct 14, 2009
I did manage to hold a wave this year! Only one, but that’s one more than last year, progress indeed.
Press on Gents.
By Boing Boing on Oct 14, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
Conditions seem horrible (gorgeous autumn days here), but glad you are able to use whatever nature is giving you to clock up those miles.
Missing Richard’s computer for the miles, days left,and map. As long as you know the facts I’ll be patient.
What’s the hair like nowadays? Could the discarded sheepskin seats be butchered to make a stylish piece of headgear to accommodate the hair and ears at the same time. Just an idle thought.
In the meantime keep focussed, keep cheerful and hopefully keep rowing. GGB here we come. x
By great auntie anne (ludlow) on Oct 14, 2009
Wow, guys! What a difference a few days make! Despite the lousy weather, it really sounds from your texts, emails and blogs that you’re on the ‘up and up’ (as opposed to the ‘up and down’ dictated by those 6m waves). Obviously, the content of texts and e-mails is private; this is right and proper, and should always remain so! Nevertheless, do forgive me Chris, I really feel I must share a magnificent bit of understatement which headed up your latest e-mail to the folks back home:
“Hi there. It’s been a bit tough over the last few days but…..”
After over FIVE MONTHS at sea, let the record show………things can get “a bit tough”.
Feeling uncharacteristically low on Monday, Mum Martin was blown into orbit by the arrival of a magnificent bouquet of flowers in the middle of the afternoon, duly accompanied by a little card announcing: “Surprise flowers from the North Pacific”.
Gentlemen, I have to say, BOTH of you are something else!!!!
Another great personal relief is that everyone else on the blog has ‘kissed and made up’. Apologies for offence have been offered and accepted. We all know we share the same goal (ie. success for our lads), I suspect it’s just that we all have different ’support techniques’, me included. Don’t let’s forget though, before their departure, the lads themselves asked us to remember that this blog would be read by children of primary school age. In my view, we should NEVER even THINK about being politically correct, just be aware of the possibility of upsetting folk. Your threshold might not be the same as their threshold. Righto, it’s time to hop off my soapbox! Thanks for your understanding.
[PS. It is for this reason that my story about Flintshire County Council will be postponed……..at least until tomorrow!?!?*?]
By Dad Martin on Oct 14, 2009
This week’s promised personal mentions of individuals, who have received the GGE flyer, comprise the following:
Kevin Shannon. I met him at the Cycle Show at Earl’s Court this weekend, where Chris’ brother Mike was exhibiting and selling 2XU specialist triathlon clothing. Kevin left uni last year and has, of all things, zookeeper as his day job. His main claim to fame, however, lies elsewhere. He is planning to raise money for ‘Combat Stress’ by means of a solo round-the-world cycling expedition, crossing 5 continents and sailing across 2 oceans, covering 36,000 miles in 3 years! I promised to mention http://www.becauseitisthere.co.uk and am happy to do so.
Bilal, who works at HSBC in Woking, was happy to receive a wodge of cheques payable to ‘North Pacific Rowing Expedition’; these have been contributed by a range of sponsors over these past weeks. Sincere thanks to you all!
Dan Gattermole and Mkunde Kibwana from Optical Express in Woking, were very friendly and helpful in conducting an eye examination for yours truly.
Needless to say, all send their best wishes to our lads!
By Dad Martin on Oct 14, 2009
Well TLMB started it.
By George.Simpson on Oct 14, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
Just sitting here with a cup of tea, enjoying the Cornish autumnal sunshine and wondering how you two are doing out there in the middle of that big ocean. Do hope you have had some respite from the torrential rain and giant waves so that you can put in a bit of rowing. My admiration of you two lads and your bravery and determination to reach your goal is 100 times higher than the biggest waves! Keep going - not too long now - so keeeeeeeeep smiling, keeeeeeep rowing when you can and please keeeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 14, 2009
I have just typed in your last recorded position into google maps: cut and paste the coodiantes below blog readers and view the satellite image, remarkable! Unfortunatley Google appear to have not updated the picture of that bit of sea yet so we cannot actually see Bo!
40°58’00”N 135°11’35”W
SF really does seem very close, just head south a bit and over the ridge and you’ll be there!
And well done on that wave Boing Boing, what percentage improvement is 1 from zero?
By Biff on Oct 14, 2009
Watcha lads well me an hubby h back home again ,6m waves eh well all i can say is HAWAII 5 O ,sorry brain an legs deffo still there ,but lads keep safe ,hold tight enjoy the ride an lets bring on G G B an of course love to bo.xx
By jenny b on Oct 14, 2009
Anyone who is raising money for Combat Stress gets my quid - everytime!
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 14, 2009
Greetings from deepest darkest Doooorset ! So deep in fact I can’t even get a mobile phone signal ! Terribly inconvenient on the phone front, but new place of work is right next to a rather cracking pub.. hoorah :@))
Enjoy those waves, keep surfing
How wrinkly are your feet? Has trench foot set in yet?
By cath on Oct 14, 2009
I bet Jenny b is sporting a lovely suntan - hope you enjoyed Hawaii - an amazing place where the sun always shines! I, for one, would love to go back there for an extended holiday! However, at least I have my memories… There may be big waves there, but the sun is usually shining and it is warm - somewhat different to the North Pacific at the moment, I believe!
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 14, 2009
Are Chris and Mick in a trench??
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 14, 2009
Good to have you back Richard. I now know just were our amazing menfolk are. We do miss you.
By great auntie anne (ludlow) on Oct 14, 2009
Great guys you two are. Drenched, yukkies, rowing rowers, thanks for giving so much for the benefit of mankind. Keep going, keep safe, keep well and dream dreams. God bless you. Lots of love from Hearts of Gold.
By Theresa Hearts of Gold on Oct 14, 2009
We live in Ferndale Ave., and I met your Dad recently .We are very impressed by your endurance and hope to hear of your safe arrival at San Francisco .Best of luck and hope the weather soon cheers up !
By Molly Woodget on Oct 15, 2009
Well, you may or may not be pleased to hear that it was raining like crazy here in SF/Berkeley too.. in fact the first time it’s rained since about May or June. Ah how quickly i’ve got used to this West Coast living and forgotten what it was like in wettest Wales
The weather is nice at the moment though, so hopefully you’ll get some good weather when you arrive.
Anyway, keep up the good work and take care - I was over by the piers and golden gate at the weekend and am training the resident sea lions to honk in unison as you arrive.
By Clathrin on Oct 16, 2009