Charlie's B(oat)LOG
3rd February 2010 - Day 30
Imagine this - get a piece of paper, landscape, draw a line right across it. Below the line, colour in dark blue, above the line, very light blue with two or three white puffy clouds (just as children do). Add in one bird as there is always one about. That's it. That's what I see every day, except what you can't do on the paper is add in the light from the sun, the wind and the motion of the waves, all of which constantly change what I see. The wind adds shadows to the waves from one direction, the light from the sun to a totally separate direction. The whole lot is wildly alive and I see a different view as each second passes. The ocean can be very entertaining, enjoyable and mysterious which is why I guess I didn't listen to any music etc for the first three weeks. A magnificent place to be .... on a good day!
At night-time - change the colours to black and dark blue, make the clouds "whiter", then put in the millions of stars and a bright moon. To finish off, throw in a couple of shooting stars. That's what I'm looking at right now.
I made the silly mistake of not keeping hydrated whilst on the sea anchor (I thought I wouldn't need as much whilst being inactive)and it caught up with me today, 48 hours later. I became exhausted this morning, had a bad headache and my urine was not clear. This is a big wake up call as I'm normally very good about keeping hydrated, have special electrolytes I add to all the water I make and know how critical an issue this is. It's sorted now, 14 hours hours later and I'm feeling a lot better. My other problem is I'm pushing myself too much when I don't need to, but I am very competitive and always look to improve on my situation all the time, regardless of position. A lot of people will understand this. My body is starting to feel this as well, especially my back and now my hands and arms. I can't close my fingers at all and the tendons up to my elbows are taught. I can't begin to explain how much TLC is involved in keeping my bottom clear of sores and infection. The creams (bloody messy, it's on everything!)and hourly massages are just keeping me ahead of the game here, but not for long, I guess.
I do all my thinking and dreaming whilst I am rowing and sometimes four hours seems like two minutes. I completely shut off from the physical job I am doing and sometimes find myself in a totally different place dealing with every day issues, before ANOTHER lost cross wave smacks me in the face! Talking of which, there I was this morning sitting on my bucket in the middle of a big job, as what I saw got bigger and bigger, there was absolutely nothing I could do...and SLAM, a following wave crashed right in my face. I screamed, then laughed as I had very
cleverly put the toilet roll out of harms way.
Ship's log - The wind has been up and down today, but now I'm flying along with a good following wind (ENE 15 knots)and well behaved waves. Everything on the boat is still working well and there has been minimal maintenance to do.
Michael and Karen, I'm just confirming I do get your emails, thanks. Sprinty, I love your stories and hope everyone at the gym is well, say hi to them for me and hope the tri training gets better with a change in the weather. Darren, I hope you and all the others inside are doing ok too.
This solo effort isn't without it's constant team in the back ground. Again, Andy, David, Richard and Simon, thank you for the constant information and encouragement. It and all the other wonderful messages keep my alive.
SPECIAL NOTICE - If anyone reading this has the time to switch over to the TEAM QBE INSURANCE CHALLENGER and send them a message of encouragement, telling them to overtake the French boat, stop drinking tea or what ever, because these great guys, Oli and James, are my close friends and we have been training together all last summer. Wouldn't it be great to have a first in both classes from the two boats from Burnham on Crouch in Essex, eh? That would just be sooooo amazing.
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 3rd February 2010 03:19:01
Edited By: Charlie Pitcher, 3rd February 2010 03:25:52
Hi Charlie,
Your doing fantastically well - my tips must be helping you. I have attached a rowing joke to keep you amused.
Keep it up, rowing that is lol! Two blondes were driving along a road by a wheat field when they saw a blonde in the middle of the field rowing a row boat.The driver blonde turned to her friend and said "You know - it's blondes like that that give us a bad name!"To this, the other blonde replies "I know it, and if I knew how to swim, I'd go out there and drown her."
Fabulous descriptions Charlie. Thank you very much.
I've told Oli and James to leap frog the frogs and to catch up with you too.
Dig in! The race is on!
All the very best,
Andy, Sadie, Esther, George, and Ted.
Hi Charlie - kidney research are going to be utterly thrilled with your achievements. As we know from first hand how miraculous a transplant (or even 2) can be - "thank you" with all our hearts for everything you are doing. You're a star.
Sally + Paul Hinkins
Hi Charlie
With Amy in Southampton, She has just realised she has got to work so its a wasted trip. Silly mooooo. Happy to see you going so well, left message for James and Ollie and not long now to seeing you in Antigua. First rum punch on me.
Katie
Dear Charlie
We have become "log on to Charlie" addicts. Can't get enough of you! Thank goodness you are over those ghastly few days and really moving again. I just remembered that I didn't get that song I sang to you at the end of the pontoon downloaded on your ipod as you requested. Remember how it went.....
Oh lord its hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. I cant stand to look in the mirror caus I get better looking each day. Some friends say that I'm egotistical, hell I don't even know what that means. Perhaps its got something to do with the way that I fill out my skin tight blue jeans.
JJ and I are coming out to visit Sarah and Nic and will be in Antigua on or abouts the 12th March, with the way you are going you will have arrived and departed - our loss and your gain!!!!!
Regarding your bum and the underpants situation, the last time you and JJ met was in M&S when you were buying a container full of underpants - He thinks you should get sponsorship from M&S and free advertising as well as an enormous contribution to the charity for the most travelled "pants" in the world.
Can't wait for the next blog!!
L Yvonne & JJ
We are enjoying reading your blog and so excited about your rowing in such a fast pace every day. Keep it up Charlie, you are doing great. Tony and I are going to be in Barbados on the 28th of February and then cruising to several islands, unfortunately not to Antigua, but we will be looking out for you.
You are amazing!!!
Marianna and Tony
Hi Charlie,
There was me thinking this was going to be tough! You are making a tremendous effort and it is fantastic to see. Your words are quite inspirational to all of us who are following you - well done. I can't imagine how tough it must be but you are seeing some incredible things - beats my desk at the mo! Keep it up we are thinking of you.
Good luck and regards
Paul&Sally
GOOO CHARLIE...
Well done on halfway, you are flying along again putting distance on the fleet again. Look like your North/South position is spot on for where you are in the middle of the atlantic. Tactically perfect! Well done!! Keep hydrated..
Dino
What an inspiration you are. Just been following some boys from our place of work in the race and jumped on your website, absolutely brilliant work your doing. When you’re done breaking the world record call in to Manchester there’s a pint waiting for you!
Russ
Fantastic to see you are striding along again, cant imagine how hard that bad weather must have been, reminded me of when a fully fit racehorse has to go on box-rest - you must have been climbing the walls!!! Loving your blog, glad you have sorted your hydration - keep on it, you dont want to need the renal unit however smart it is going to be!! You are well on target no need to overcook yourself! So proud of you Charlie
Big hugs Annalisa
Hi Charlie, Greetings from Canada.
I'm a complete stranger who reads your blog every day and find it inspirational. Your commentary and thoughts are fascinating and bring out a vision of your efforts and travails in the clearest possible way. I admire your perseverence and strength in competing in such a rigorous race. Please keep it up and good luck in the rest of your journey.
Graham Jones, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Heeeeey dude,
what an expereance you are having, made my hairs stand on end when you menshoned the shooting stars. I was wondering if I had been nicked a few hundred years ago and sent to Austraylea, I would have seen all that you have diskribed. Would have been better than staring though bars at a dark grey sky!
Bloody funny you having a numba 2 and the wave hitting you, hahaha lol, I have a numba 2, if big Bob wants to use it he bloody hits me, not so much worried about saving the loo roll as not spillin the contents all over me.
I did drop Olly and James a line to motivate them past the frogs, told them not to pass you though as it would ruin the betting here. Also mentioned you putting cream on your bum and that you enveed them as they could do it for each other, it must get lonly out there and to have company must be a blessing. The long termers in here get lonly and always put cream on each others butts, I have not seen them rowing though, so how they get sores I can only guess.
Thanks for the menshon again, thats the third one now, best leave it at that as Andy will start to get jelus, I think he may have the hots for me as he is starting to come here more now, dont know what his missus will think!!?? My gramma is getting better though!!
Seeya buddy, oh and remember you are strong and fit despite how you feel!! the others are all struggling and in pain!!
Darren
Truly Amazing
When you first explained to me that you were rowing single handed across the Atlantic i thought you must be bonkers but after reading your blogs everyday i find your stories amazing and when you cross that finish line infront of every one else, as you nodoubt will, it will all seem worth it.
Your mental strength and physical strength must be incredible and as a fellow 46yr old you put me to shame!!! I'm getting worn out just typing this e-mail :)
All the best Charlie
Nigel and everyone at Protosheet
We talked about you with Julian (Salter) last week (remember Cowes Week 1991) and were told you are on the way to Antigua; rowing. Great effort. I need a crew for the Antiguan Dragon Championships on the 2oth February; do you think you can make it? Will keep an eye on you from now and if we are on the Island, come out and to meet you. Good luck; not far now. Best, Poul and Sophia
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