Charlie's B(oat)LOG
11th February 2010 - Day 38 - Night
Ship's log - The bad weather this morning got better and I've been tapping along with a soft following breeze and friendly wavelets. The show this morning was just temporary, but it is now 0030 UTC and there is hardly a breeze which tells me there is going to be an imminent change in the next twelve hours. My weather boys have been glued to all the available info etc and it is going to be hard work for me until the 15th. Hopefully, I will then go for it, the last five or six hundred miles before another system comes along (yeah? don't kid yourself Charlie Pitcher!). Course 265T ENE soft breeze, calm waters and clear sky. A few puffy clouds and of course the light show goes on. I wish my boys could see the shooting stars for real, as I know they would just be amazed!
It seems the more gentle I am on the oars, the faster the boat goes. I've been experimenting all afternoon. I've found that moving 2 x 5 litre water tanks around is now something to do all the time and always trying to give equal pressure on both oars is essential, thus keeping the steering neutral and creating less drag. It all works for a rowing boat. On a sailing boat, we trim the fore and aft sails for the same effect and the crew will move around the deck for trim.
I love being out here on the water and wish I could be doing this all the time, like the old days, only my weapon of choice would be the foredeck on a race boat, not a 6 metre rowing boat! However, This little boat is my idea and my own little campaign and it has all been just how I wanted it to be. With only two or three weeks left, I'll be sad to see it come to a conclusion. The boat is now for sale.
My body is pumped up and starting to feel the strain of continuous light weights and aerobics. I am as strong as I'll ever be now, but I was fitter before as there is not enough CV work going on and the last run I had was in the hills of La Gomera. All my tendons, now the legs too, are getting tighter and my toes are tingling (anyone have an idea on how to get rid of this?). The lack of fresh food is now starting to show as I've got one or two small ulcers and my lips are starting to crack up and the eyes are very sore. Otherwise, looking good and feeling fine!
With this story soon to come to it's end, I will continue to raise funds for Addenbrookes Charitable Trust until we meet our target £100,000. There are a few things in the pipeline (yes, my wife does know!), but my business partner, Neil is going to need to put his legs up, so my focus will be on our brilliant company in London and it's fantastic workforce.
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 11th February 2010 09:18:24
Hi Charlie,
They can't make me believe that it is the boat's fault that they got left behind - I get the very strong impression you have had an awful lot to do with it! An absolutely brilliant effort! I was amazed to see what a distance you had covered during the last 24 hours.
Very sorry you have had so much unhelpful wind.
I hope Jenny is going to have a computer on-line soon, so she can follow your progress more fully.
Keep going superman.
Love from all.
Chris.
well done charlie very proud of you .doing so well.i love your blogs! keep going not long now
lots of love and awarm hug jean morrisonxxxx
Hi Charlie
We believe ALL our prayers for you are being answered! Stay positive, despite the forecast, for are praying to the God who rules the seas, the weather and EVERYTHING!
All da best
Lorna & Paul
Hi Charlie
I just read "The Crossing" again at the weekend to get a feeling of what it's like for you right now, and yet you make it sound like a walk in the park! More CV work please!!!
You'll probably find if you take off those stilettos, the tingling will go from the toes, and you will really show the others a turn of pace!
We're all willing you through this last quarter safely and speedily (hope however much you are enjoying yourself that it is more like 2 weeks than 3 which will mean more time on the beach with Emma and the boys)
Keep at it - we're all so proud!!!
Mike
Keep it up Charlie not long to go now and what a pace you have set!
My idea of getting fit it is doing some press-ups/running on the spot and using the dumbbells. Maybe one day running across America would be a great challenge.
Is the water really beautiful in colour terms and where you are and have you seen plently of wildlife.
Best Regards
Charlie Hobday
Mike is right Charlie! Haha! :-) Also loosen the suspender belt and take Emma's knickers off.
All the best,
A,S,G,E and T
Subject: A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
Too good not to share!
> A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
>
> If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong
> with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a
> regular workout routine
>
> Dear Diary,
> For my birthday this year, my husband purchased a week of personal
> training for me at the local health club. Although I am still in
> great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago,
> I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
>
> I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer
> named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics
> instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
>
> Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club
> encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
> ________________________________
> MONDAY:
> Started my day at 6:00 am. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was
> well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting
> for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes,
> and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
>
> Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching
> the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my
> workout today. Very inspiring!
>
> Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was
> already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around.
>
> This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
> ________________________________
> TUESDAY:
> I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door..
> Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air
> then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the
> treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all
> worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
> _______________________________
> WEDNESDAY:
> The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the
> counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a
> hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to
> steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
> Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other
> club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the
> morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY
> annoying.
> My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the
> stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate
> an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would
> help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
> _______________________________
> THURSDAY:
> A******e was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his
> thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help
> being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.
> He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran
> and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me.
> Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.
> _________________________________
> FRIDAY:
> I hate that b****** Christo more than any human being has ever hated
> any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny,
> anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my
> body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
> Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And
> if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or
> anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
> The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition
> teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach
> or the choir director?
> ________________________________
> SATURDAY:
> Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly
> voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice
> made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the
> strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight
> hours of the Weather Channel..
> ________________________________
> SUNDAY:
> I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and
> thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my
> husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a
> hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would
> have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
...stilletos, Emma's knickers, suspender belt - not another man who likes to dress up in ladies' clothes - or is it just the underwear for you! The mind boggles and I shall look at you in a different light now!!
Well done on your progress, Charlie, you're really cracking on and still enjoying yourself out there - I'm enjoying your accounts of what you experience during your days. On the loo roll issue, we have just received a palletful from our supplier and, although we advertise that we deliver on a daily basis, I can't guarantee that we could get them to you tomorrow!
I'm spreading the word about your blog and the most amazing journey you're having - it's just something most of us will never be able to experience and that all of us want to read about in that book you're going to write when you return. It could all be part of the fund raising ....
Take care out there x
I dont think you're going to have a problem selling your boat. The others however wont be so lucky. Well done on changing the face of ocean rowing! Enjoy the last bit.
Hi Charlie - were your ears burning yesterday? - I had lunch with Rachel and Emma - you were much discussed - all the important things like your body and your bottom!
I am glad to hear you are in a better frame of mind than a few days ago - however I am somewhat concerned by your possible loo roll issue - if you send me the number of rolls you have left, the number of sheets per roll, and the average number of poos per day you generally have - I will calculate for you the average number of sheets per poo per day you can use between now and the end of your trip!.............. Ha Ha - Keep it up Charlie - my thoughts are with you every day xxxxx
Hi Charlie - I'm reading your blog in complete awe of what you are doing and how you are just blitzing the rest of the fleet. Keep up the good work, Jules xx
Hey Charlie!
You are still going great guns - I printed the latest progress from the web this morning and you were still in the 800's and lo and behold this evening you are into the 700's - way to go!
Unfortunately LA **itness wont allow me to put anything up for you. All I had was an A4 sheet with info on who you are raising sponsorwhip for together with your BoatLOG and a picture of the progress report which I was going to replace each day. Anyway its a no go - everything has to be of a set standard in every gym - sorry :-( they won't even allow it in the changing rooms!
Anyhoo, still at work and its very late so gonna dash now. You have plenty of chuckling reading above & I defo cannot compete. That said, Im in agreement - lose the stilletos and the tingling should stop.
Over and out for now!
Roz x
Hi Charlie another great Blog I have read all of them since you started. Are you able to continue them once your back, just make stuff up you seem to have a natural talent for making the most mundane things sound great. You could talk us through how to put an RSJ in and then plaster over it. What are we all going to do when this is over?
Too much blood in the wrong area so stop thinking about Emma and the blood should return to your toes and stop them tingling.
All the best keep stroking those oars and look after your rollocks.
Keep going your still way ahead.
Cheers Chip
Charles, you are an industrial strength, piston legged, bone headed, oar yanking machine.
Go for gold old friend! An inspiration to us all!
You are over the hump...all down hill from here!
Si
Charlie,
Yvonne and I played bridge with Jenny on Wednesday evening at the Corinth and it was wonderful to see how incredibly proud she is of you - and Y and I also thought how immensely proud your dad Dick would have been of your remarkable exploit and amazing voyage.
Yvonne and I are so impressed by your fantastic blog and follow it everyday - as do most of Burnham and the RBYC I'm certain!!!! We had an RS Elite get together last night and talked about you a lot and how we can get you out racing with us next summer - trouble is we only carry 2 small paddles on the Elite, no watermaker, no satphone and no dvd's - so you might get bored!!! The important thing though is that we share the same naval architect with you and don't we in the Elite class know how good he is - our downwind performance is almost as good as yours but I think ours upwind might be a little better than yours - but I know which boat I'd prefer to be in in your position!!!!!!
Keep up the fantastic effort Charlie, we're all rooting for you here in Burnham and so hope the wind turns eastwards to speed you home.
Good luck and bon voyage old mate,
Cheers,
JJ - Johnnie James [very honoured to share your boats name!!!!]
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