Day 167 - The Last Few
October 22, 2009 – 9:28 amAs we approach the last part of our trip we’re starting to get to the end of certain items on the boat. A quick inventory yesterday brought up 2 VERY concerning points of note.
Firstly and most importantly of all we only have 9 tea bags left!!!!!!!!!!
Food we can certainly do without (at least for a few days) but I can only imagine what will happen without tea. We’ve been drinking it black for ages as the milk supply wasn’t quite as vast as we might have hoped for and we’ve been rationning tea to one cup a day for a while now, managing to pad out the shortfall with mint tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
It seems now that the large bag of 150 tea bags that we lost early on to sea water in the hatches really were vital. Hopefully we’ll see a boat to borrow some from before then but otherwise we’re looking down the barrel of some very dull and weak secondhanders. We’ve tried using a tea bag more than once and it barely colours the hot water. Certainly not what us English expect of a cup of tea. Of course if one of the tea companies could charter a plane and give us an emergency air drop we’d be most appreciative. hint…hint.
Secondly we only have 3 more rolls of toilet paper. Mick of course relishes in reminding me when we were going round the supermarket stocking up on the essentials that I almost argued us down from 24 rolls to 16. Thankfully Mick prevailled but we’re down to the last 600 sheets or so. We’ve got enough books to use if things should get really tight but unless one of us has a disturbed constitution we should just about be
okay.
The main thing to hope for of course is helpful winds so that none of this is a problem at all. We’ve got 9 degrees east to go to get to the Golden Gate Bridge. All of a sudden it really isn’t that far away at all.
40°48′46”N 131°21′4”W
Chris & Mick travelled 38.4 miles East-South-East (heading 102.0°) on day 167
They ended 517.2 miles from San Francisco (38.0 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 4527 to 4565 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 27.3 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 18.9 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 110.7°)
See where the boat is
Sponsor Thanks
Thanks today go to Dan McSherry, friend and fellow rower of Chris from Hampton School, and teacher of class 7M who are following the crew’s progress too. Dan sponsored miles 4550-4553, which the crew covered around midnight last night.
Would you like to sponsor a mile?
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
19 Responses to “Day 167 - The Last Few”
Maybe it’s too early to conduct the “lesson’s learnt” excercise, but next time I think you should secure your tea-bags in a sterdy Peli-Case.
By George.Simpson on Oct 22, 2009
Hi guys,sorry for the recent shortness in supplies but i’m sure you guys can find a way to make-do with what you’ve got till you can find a boat to get some from.I know this is the last bit of it and it seem to be taking forever now but just always remember that you are winners already and soon this will be all over.Just keep believing,have faith and hope…you have made it already.
Love and kisses to you from all of us here at the Cowbridge House Inn here in Boston and especially from me.HUGS
By Grace Dawson on Oct 22, 2009
Perhaps you could use old teabags in place of loo roll.
Oh and SfC, I’ve been cross country skiing with Mark Webber, you are right he is a great chap.
By Biff on Oct 22, 2009
At the 4565 and an eighth, Dawson and Martin have reduced their tea intake to one cup a day and further reduced their toliet paper use to three sheets (one up, one down, one to polish) and continue to lead the rest of the world across the Pacific by a considerable distance.
By Henley Commentary on Oct 22, 2009
Hmmm, a toilet paper shortage is always a problem. Why don’t you use the sea spray as a bidet? Two points to note with that though: 1) shut the cabin hatch and tie yourself on down wind; and 2) make sure that no passing ships think you are mooning them or you could scupper your chances of getting further supplies!
Superhuman effort guys. Routing for you all the way!
By Max on Oct 22, 2009
could of course adopt the army way of one sheet sh… poke a finger through the sheet, clean with said finger and then use the paper to clean your finger afterwards. Remembering to keep a corner for the fingernail.
Tea bag for paper, what about paper for…..no….stop it - anyone seen austin powers 2
By Fat Bloke on Oct 22, 2009
Well done on the mileage today chaps, another good step closer, hope the conditions continue to remain favourable. Hope you don’t resort to a Baldrick cup of tea a la Blackadder the Fourth!
I’m staggered by how much stuff you must have managed to squeeze into Bo at the start. Sounds like about 1 sheet of toilet paper per mile. A bizarre new metric for the ocean rower!
Keep safe!
By Beckers on Oct 22, 2009
Hello, we are the all new Class 4 High Bentham apart from Nathan and Calum who have survived from last year and are still here!
We have been really busy working hard since we started back in September - we had to do a test yesterday! But now Mrs Marshall has finally got round to showing us your blog.
Emma says you should definately have bought more tea bags. Jasmine thinks you should share tea bags. Catherine cannot believe you didn’t buy enough loo roll. Jessica thinks Santa could drop some off but hopefully you will be back on dry land before Christmas! Mrs Marshall says you can’t use books to wipe your bottom but Caleb thinks it depends on the book! Howard suggests SATS and Tests papers would be a good substitute for loo roll! Nathan thinks you should take measures to make sure you poop less!!!! (Fancy our first day back on the blog descending into toilet humour! Mrs M) Lottie says if things get desperate use the loo roll tube - but Caleb says he has tried that and it hurts!!!Nathan is now suggesting you wear nappies!!!!
Mrs Marshall says we have to stop now (I wonder why?)
Keep on rowing - not far to go now!
Best wishes
Class 4 High Bentham
By Class 4 (used to be Class 5) High Bentham Primary School on Oct 22, 2009
Class 4 - Wonderful to hear from you all. Here are some jokes:
Q. How do you make a bandstand?
A. Hide all their chairs.
Q. What do you call a girl with sausages on her head?
A. Barbie.
Q. Why was the police officer under the blanket?
A. Because he was an undercover cop.
Q. What belongs to you, other people use it a lot, but you hardly ever use it.
A. Your name.
Q. Why didn’t Superman know he could fly?
A. Because he didn’t know his Cape-abilities.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive here, now let me in.
Q. Which dog smells of onions?
A. A hot dog.
Q. Have you heard about the magic tractor?
A. It turned into a field.
By Dad Martin on Oct 22, 2009
Two questions:
1. How did Class 5 become Class 4?
2. Nathan and Calum have “survived from last year” What has happened to the rest of Class 5 Mrs Marshall?
And Caleb is right, I have read some books that should be solely used as loo roll! Just don’t use your school books Class 5!
By Henley Commentary on Oct 22, 2009
Now then, here’s something that will hopefully be of use to everyone in class 4 AND stimulating to our dynamic duo. Of course, this is not to suggest that the spelling of either is anything less than of the highest order. However, EVERYONE can use the same principle to invent sentences which will help to spell words of their own choosing.
To many (small AND large) people, spelling can be tricky, if not downright difficult. This simple method can help. Just make up an easy-to-remember sentence where each initial letter spells the word you wish to remember.
Because - Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants.
Rhythm - Rejoice Heartily, Your Teacher Has Measles.
Embarrass - Every Mother’s Boy Acts Rather Rudely After Some Sausages.
Diarrhoea - Died In A Rolls Royce Having Over-Eaten Again.
Now try to make up some of your own!
By Dad Martin on Oct 22, 2009
Dad Martin, my spilling is abzolutlee perfick. I do nut no wot U meen. Bad spilling indod. I am kwite insalted.
By Biff on Oct 22, 2009
Biff, I see you’ve been taking some evening classes…
Dad Martin, the only one I can remember from the dim & distant past is
Arithmetic - A Red Indian Thought He Might Eat Tobacco In Church
Mind you, in these enlightened (?!) times that we live in, it probably wouldn’t work any more:
A First Nationer Thought He Might Chew Nicorette in A Non-demoninational Assembly Building AFNTHMCNANAB…doesn’t quite have the same ring to it
By Higgsy on Oct 22, 2009
watcha lads,well been out walking the dog an thinking about the tea bag an bog roll situation think ive cracked it .What do Tescos say “YOU SHOP WE DROP” ,so we do the shop they do the drop an you two just happen to row past it an pick it up.job done.
be safe an love to bo xxx
By jenny b on Oct 22, 2009
When a warship enters/leaves harbour, the broadcast is made “Hands out of the rig of the day clear off the upper deck, close all screen doors and hatches.” As that is to long to type onto the sailing orders, it is shortened to:
HOOTROTDCOTUDCASDAH.
Does that count?
Can’t believe it was Trafalgar Night last night and I didn’t have to ring in sick today, or at least come in 3 hours late, looking like I’d slept in my clothes.
I’ll have a word with my mate Sean Connery (another ex-TLM) and see if he will surface the Red October close by for a RAS(T).
Class 4:
a RAS is a replenishment-at-sea. A warship and a Fleet Auxiliary tanker or stores ship close to about 60 feet, connect up hoses and ropes and derricks whilst steaming side by side and pass fuel and stores.
In the Falklands war in 1982, we (RFA Resource) RAS’d the carrier Invincible in a force 5, with virtually no light and she had to turn into the wind to land Sea Harriers (fighters). Two 20,000 ships - 60 feet apart - in stormy seas.
So in history you should learn that Britain has produced some of the greatest seaman ever, a bit like the two this blog is all about.
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 22, 2009
Two 20,000 tonne ships, 60 feet apart, in rough seas?
You were lucky, to ‘ave ship. We used to have to RAS in swimmin’ trunks, in t’dark, wit’ eyes closed.
By Yorkshireman on Oct 22, 2009
Hello everyone
Today’s blogging will certainly put smiles on the faces of our two brave young rowers out there on the North Pacific - as it certainly did for me!
Ah Biff - you mix with all the right people, you lucky chap (including Mark Webber)!!
I know that a tea bag doesn’t taste nearly so good second time around, but at least the “tea” will be “hot and wet”, so will warm you up when it is a bit chilly out there.
Surprised to read that Class 4 are learning about “lavatory humour” in their class this term!! I agree totally with what TLM said in his final paragraph above!
So Chris and Mick, keeeeeeeeeep smiling - not too far to go now - keeeeeeeep rowing when you have the strength and please keeeeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 22, 2009
You’ll be pleased to know that my almighty employer has decided to let the racist idiot BNP leader onto Question Time tonight. So now we have protesters blocking our building’s exit and I’m having to resort to climbing out the window to get home. All in a days work!
By Margaret on Oct 22, 2009
Oh Margaret - climbing out of a window to get home from your place of employment is all in a day’s work?? Oh dear. I thought your place of work was supposed to be nice and friendly and homely…
Meanwhile, out there on Bo, when Chris and Mick finish work on their oars, they have to crawl into the spin drier!
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 22, 2009