Faced with an adverse current, I rowed all morning and only made two miles. I don’t know quite how that works, as I would have thought I could out-row a 0.5kt current by more than that, but anyway, such is ocean life.
So, this afternoon, rather than continuing to bang my head against the figurative brick wall (the nearest literal brick wall being some 1,500 miles away), I decided to wait for the wind to increase to help me across the current, and to treat myself to an afternoon off. The conditions were the calmest they have been since I left from Fremantle a lifetime ago, so it was a perfect opportunity to do a few more domestic chores.
It took me an hour or two to hang my sleeping bag out to air, do my laundry, sort out my recycling from my rubbish, and brush my hair for the first time in 70 days. Then I sat down to figure out how to end world poverty, which took me a little longer.
So, as today draws to an end, all is quiet on the Indian front. The ocean is silent, just slapping and gurgling around Sedna’s hull. The last time I looked, a couple of my yellow-finned friends were milling around “downstairs”, under my boat. The sun has set and the sky is almost clear, with just a few cumulus clouds blotching the western sky, like disappointed groupies hanging around after the rock star has left the building.
And on that poetic(ish) note, I shall bid you goodnight. I have a chance of a good night’s sleep, with my freshly-aired sleeping bag, freshly-laundered pillowcase, and the waves on best behaviour. The other great joy of a calm night is that I can sleep with the ventilation holes open, which means I don’t wake up with a stuffy head and feeling as if someone is sitting on my chest. In fact, the only bummer is that I will wake up tomorrow even further away from my destination, but no doubt conditions will change soon enough.
Other Stuff:
Vince and Scott – Thanks for the ID on my fishy friends. Yummy though sashimi would be, I think I would be a bit squeamish about preying on my companions. Friends are few and far between out here.
Shana – easy for you to say that a buggered iPod is no big deal! I spent 103 days alone on the Atlantic with no iPod. Been there, done that, and no urge to do it again. I’m going with Eric’s view that “morale” is the primary power source of my boat. Luckily the iPod is still staggering along, and a couple of the reserve team iPods are also showing good vital signs.
John H – Omega Point Theory sounds very interesting, and I have made a note to follow up on that when I reach dry land. However, I do find it rather scary to consider the possibility that humanity could be the pinnacle of the universe’s achievements. I suspect it could do a lot better if it tried. I would have a few recommendations for Humanity 2.0.
Quote: There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.
(Aldous Huxley)
Sponsored Miles: No forward progress, but thanks to new sponsors covering some of the miles that will need to be rowed again – Kathleen Miritello, Richard Baguley, John Herrick, Laura Prouty and Joseph Kwiatkowski.