Charlie's B(oat)LOG
10th February 2010 - Day 38 (Morning)
The bad weather has just knocked on the door, so I've set up for slow progress over the next few days and am looking forward to having a lazy day, knowing I can't achieve anything else (unless of course the natural elements change again). It isn't windy, just from the north, I don't want to go much further south, so I've "locked" onto about 250 -260T which is generally the right direction, but slow. Never mind, I have plenty of food and plenty of miles on the next boat.
I used to live and work in Cowes and have many old friends there. My sister Katie lives there, next door to my ex-wife, Sally (Godmother to my youngest son! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!). Katie has made all the old crowd aware of what I'm up to and I know just what they might be thinking. "Why would anyone go and row an ocean when you can sail it, especially Charlie?" I have often wondered that myself. However, it is the physical challenge itself that interested me initially. I understand Sue (Queen of the Pier view)has a poster on the wall to get some awareness for the cause (ACT), well done Sue. Another person who is an old Cowes Mr Funny man, Doug Peterson is constantly in touch with me all the way from Texas. I can only ever remember Doug laughing. Thanks for the messages. So thanks to my little sister, a whole bunch of people on the South Coast are following the story too.
Answers to FAQ's - I wash all my rubbish, wrap it up tight, tape it up and store it in a black bin liner. When I'm not rowing, I'm drifting. (No, there are no places to tie up to over night!) I think I miss not being able to stand still, most of all. I forgot to bring any kitchen wipes and I'm really down to wondering if I have enough toilet roll too! A good inspirational book for a young reader - Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Adams. I even have the film on board. I must have read it a dozen times since I was about twelve years old.
Please keep those emails coming, especially in these coming days, which I know are going to be extremely difficult. Opening my messages is the favourite thing I look forward too each day, then knowing how many miles I've done!
Ship's log later .
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 10th February 2010 09:41:56
Hi Charlie,
The wholefamily are keeping their eyes on you and wishing you God speed
Lots of love
Marilyn
Hello Charlie,
Sorry the weather has got at you again, it looks very frustrating.
We are amazed that you can find or make time to write your wonderful, interesting blogs. We love reading them, and feel very connected to you as a result.
Hope you can find time to start writing a book when you have been home long enough to stand up without wobbling.
Filled with admiration for your efforts.
Chris
Amazing Charlie keep going mate! What you are doing, is well words cannot describe!
You are seiously fit! I will have to try and get a little fitter myself-what an inspiration you are!
Best Regards
Charlie Hobday
By now, you may be interested to know what the weather is like in Antigua; light Easterly and sunshine in Nonsuch Bay today. Keep it up; you are doing a great job. Will be there when you arrive. Poul and Sophia
keeep going daddy :)
love you so much!!!
xxxxxxx
Jonathan Livingston Seagull fabulous book.
'Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding.' - R. D. Bach.
4 days left to beat the record. Plenty of time! If a frog can do it in 3 days...
If not there is always next year (only kidding Emma!) (No I'm not Charlie ;-))
Keep going handsome, every stroke champagne! Do you remember the Ryde and Shanklin Rowing regatta's? They had a commentator back in the early eighties, I'm trying to remember his name. He was brilliant. Old bloke. 'Every stroke champagne' was one of his. He used to commentate on his Burt's Ale coming up the esplanade too, 'Here she comes, 400 yards away, not long to go... oh no she's spilt a bit... back on course, soon be home.' And his commentary on the ladies races were as legendary as they were graphic, 'Pulling up to their heaving breasts, down over taught stomachs, gently stroking their tight thighs and firm buttocks'. Marvellous stuff announced over the sea front PA system to a shocked audience.
All the best,
Teddy, Esther, George, Andy and Sadie. x
To the sexiest man in Burnham (sorry Jeremy!),
Nicky and I are on our Gap Year right now, recently finished a 2.5month stint in the Himalayan mountains and are soon off to Chile, but whenever we now get the chance to go on internet, we check your progress as well. And we are so so so proud of you!! And very seriously impressed. Keep up the good strokes, and your strength for when you get back on land- I suspect a lot of the ladies will be chasing you after this!
All our love and luck,
The Twins
Hi again Charlie,
Here on Ninita in La Gomera we are still avidly following your progress and are seriously impressed!!! Fantastic and you have now passed the 1000 mile to go mark.
Think there are plenty of people in the sailing world following you, Sam tells us that on a recent visit to Diverse in Hamble, they could talk about nothing else! Sam too is following the rowing race whilst she prepares for her next sailing one.
Keep your spirits up, not long to go ....
Jenny and Paul
Charlie....stills sounds like your going amazingly strong....dont know how your doing it! what a shame that the weather is turning on you again..hopefully it won't be for too long!
thanks for rowing for me and angus the other day...it made my day!! went round telling all my friends and i think they're probably getting fed up of my consistent talking of your venture!!
off to amsterdam next week for rory's 18th....so we're all going to have some stories to tell!
stay happy!! all my love xxxxxx
Hi Charlie,
I'm writing this in a crowded Starbucks waiting for an even more crowded 18:50 commute back to BOC. It's snowing.
This is just to show you how much more interesting your blog is compared to mine!
Best wishes
Andrew
We walked 45 miles at the weekend with David and Lucy to raise money for the orphans of the morecambe bay disaster which happend 6 years ago. It was so hard, we walked 35 miles on the first day. That night we both had massive blisters all over our feet. Dan turned to me and said imagin how hard charlie has it, at least we can stop tonight. It really put things in perspective for us. We started at 6.30am and finished at 8 o'clock pm, we found this really tough over the 2 days - we take our socks off to you!!!!
Dan & Kirsty xxxx
Hi Charlie,
This is fantastic and you might just be mad, keep up the good work!
All the very best for this amazing challenge.
God speed. Pilch
Just want to say - WOW!
Hi Charley,
I see you are still going stronging. Just do not sleep too long. Pete caught up a little bit to-day. You really are doing well. Enjoy yourself.
Lekker Bly
Clive
Hi Charlie
Sounds bad that you are low on loo paper, i hope you find some sea weed, next best thing to using your hands.
Fantastic effort, love your blog which we read every day, your not a bad story teller.
Good luck and i hope the weather gets better for you.
All the best Guy.
Hi Charlie
Tremendous rowing. Great blog - beats TV etc.
Being a non-rower, how is it possible that a single rower can be so far in front of all the pairs etc? Is it that the benefit of pairs is not that great or that you are super super fit, super smart or just plain lucky - or all of these?
Enjoy the R&R - if you manage to get some.
David
Charlie,
the wevers changin here to, it geting colder, the flowery dell is like a frig, good news though Big Bob has constipashon (fugin great). Lots of loo roll for me and no smell, if you do run out of bog roll I have an idea, get a long tube, fill your mouth with water, put one end of the tube in your mowf and one near yer but and blow hard (may take a couple of gose though). It blows away all the poo (blow dont suck), some of the guys do it in here even if they have loo roll, not my cup off tea, but hey, if it cleans you up......
have a word with Andy, his quotes on the rowing comentaries have left a few of us in bits here, god nows what they have done to you, out there on yer own, heaving breats, stroking thighs.. oh thats when the loo roll may cum in andy!!!
Enjoy the rest buddy, then remember where you are going, what will be waiting there for you, why you are doing it in the first place and then remember that you are the best, you are strong and there is nothing that can stop you as you are driven by the power of the gods who are all on your side, along with the energy of of all your fans and loved ones!!
Darren xx
Since Katie turned me on to your blog, I'm loving it and read it every night before bed, so obviously I can have sweet dreams thinking of you and your fit body still rowing away.
Thank you for all the answers to the FAQ that I hadn’t even thought of but found very interesting all the same, but now you've got me and I'm sure many others extremely worried about the loo paper situation, which I’m sure you will begin to wish you had never mentioned as ideas from all over the world come flooding in as to what you can do about it. As I write I am already wondering about the rubbish that you mentioned earlier that you wrap up tight, surely that can be put to good use. Anyway if all else fails at least your surrounded by water!
Loads of Love
Lesley Xx
Hi Charlie
Just to let you know we're still tracking you each day, reading your blogs and marvelling at your progress. Hope the weather turns in your favour soon. In the meantime, a FAQ from us. We've been wondering about your food supplies and how you manage to have enough on board to pack in the amount of calories you need each day?
It's tremendous that you've been able to hold the lead for so long. Your skill and determination are putting you there. To show a little extra encouragement and support - if you make it first to the finish, we'll double our donation. Looks like it's well within your grasp.
We'll be out on the South China Sea next week and thinking of you, but from a cruise liner!
Keep safe
Gerrie & John, Hong Kong xx
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