Happiness at the moment is….
-Putting on happy socks at the end of a day (NB Will write a whole blog in praise of happy socks soon)
-Making lemonade after finding a lemon in one of my hatches
-Finding food I thought I had eaten : two more packets of rye bread (with almond butter and raspberry jam for lunch-divine), two packets of biscuits (ginger and rich tea), a tin of pineapple, snickers bar and having the self control to calmly restow them for another day rather than guzzle them all at once. Well, all except the snickers!
-Other marvellous discoveries include a bottle of knobbly mustard and a Little Miss Chatterbox cup -now Port can be supped in a refined, elegant sort of way rather than glugged from the bottle
-Finally clearing the bag of washing which was festering in the corner of my cabin
– Starting a new tube of toothpaste
– Washing my hair (half a cup of water-that’s all you need) NB Above two made more fun by the fact I’m using goodies from the lovely Greenpeople – organic, biodegradable and designed for crazy skin as mine is apt to be.
– Lying down the length of my oars/safety rails to stretch my back (feeling triumphant at not having fallen in or causing myself serious injury). Lying on top of the cabin also works nicely and is slightly less precarious though, you understand, it’s all relative
– The 5 Day Plot – adding the latest position to the chart and joining up the dots and happily seeing we’re still bound for Mauritius
– Message from Ricardo saying weather still looks rosy
– Emails from my Joke Laureate David Hirst and messages from the website
– Waking up to see the sky brightening from behind me and the sky ahead clear – I know its going to be a beautiful day
– Making porridge as the sun comes up, while the day is still cool
– Rowing under a starry sky – saying hello to the constellations, watching satellites, perhaps the odd plane scoot by
– Being greeted by the Tweedle crowd when I stand at the edge of the boat
-Resting for a couple of hours through the hottest part of the day and then rowing in the cool of the night
-Looking up to see an albatross out over the waves
-Sprouting lentils and so eating truly fresh stuff
-Rereading letters and pressies from family and friends – I say re read as I lack self control where I know surprises await (still a child at heart) so had a letter-opening binge of the remaining 10 letters the other day. Worry ye not, the birthday bag is still in tact.
Really are happys days out here – and hot too at the moment. The deck was a toasty 35°C over lunch so I had another swim this afternoon. Bad luck google earthers – I’ve learned that wearing clothes to swim in gives the impression of cleaning them, while also protecting me from the big C!
More tales from the abyss another day,
S x
PS
Mikey – Yes, lets scuba together! Just need to get this ocean rowed first.
Geoffers (Holt, the first Geoff in my life!) Did the boat arrive safely and did Master Tim survive the shark feeding?
Janet -Hello Dark Energy! I’m predicting nothing yet as we’ve still got a way to run..
Geoff (My Australian Geoff!)- More about my Dad another time. You’ve met me and I carry such a lot of him and Mum in me that you practically know them. Both two of my heroes.
Jenna-Ooh, watch out… The Fun Police might get you! Loved your letter. Freedom indeed!!
Sue-Who’s your boy? Is it James and James? Apart from Andy & Guy they’re the only ones I know. Any swapsies will have to be very special if its in exchange for chocolate!Shout if they get close – would be fun to chat on the satphone. VHF only works if we are really close i.e see each other. Good luck and happy days to them.
So great to follow up your voyage. You are something really!
Best wishes from Helsinki, Finland – summer is soon here in Scandinavia too!
Anna
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. ~Mahatma Gandhi / Beautiful dreams…
Sounds like everyday is a food hunt!
Do you have a rowing routine? ie hours on/off?
Hehe, swimming in clothes is no excuse, unless using bio-degradeable wash powder!
Great the weather is holding up….Long may it continue.
Graham
Happiness indeed Sare! I’ve got an image of you glugging from your Little Miss Chatterbox cup like an alcoholic three year-old. And it looks grand.
Thinking of you lots, and checking your progress – can’t believe how far you have gone!
Keep it up sailor.
Amz x
We’re part of your avid readership and following the line on the tracker – you can nearly see it moving! (well in our imagination)
Wishing you all the Best – Hugh, Debby, Sophie & Alex.
Special thanks to Dan…from Kent , who sent a donation of £500 for Arthritis Care after hearing Sarah on the radio. What a lovely surprise. That will boost the charity funds. Thanks.
Mum
hi Sarah,
Glad you have done some marine archaeology and found trove of errant victuals – must be the equivalent of finding that solo Rolo down the back of the sofa when you’re 6! Wa-hay. And how stylish of Dippers to have a well-stocked cellar – are you inventing cocktails? Sarah’s Citrus Stowaway. Indian Tonic ‘Water’, Port Outen, Starboard Home’….
Like everyone else, I’m loving the descriptions of your ‘Indian summer’, and getting to know my way round the boat, the routine, the local fish and birds….
Glad weather is rosy – hope you feel yourself gobbling up the miles as we see you doing on the tracker. Best Jane
Thank you so much for the lovely flowers, Sarah. I was totally unaware that carnations and freesias grow in the Indian Ocean – but there, you learn something new every day!! What a fantastic surprise and such a very kind thought. I feel supported by so many folks, including a totally barking adventurer on her way to Mauritius.
Thinking of you often and with you in spirit all the time – keep on rowing.xx
Hi Sarah
I have been quietly following your sojourn. 🙂 It is 04:30 and I noticed the moon, the ripples in the water, light wind, and of-course thought about you, where you were, and what you were doing. Rowing of-course, silly me.
As Barbs would say, “Go sister”!
Regards
Kirk
Sarah: I’m so glad you found your cup. Port is so much better sipped than chugged. Hmmm… wonders why they don’t make Starboard wine.
If and when I get to go rowing in Glacier Bay, I plan to bring some home Brewed Beer (Porter, not quite Port) I also want to brew a small batch on board for drinking after the adventure.
I also plan to Video tape the trip and make DVDs, Calendars, postcards etc.
I still need a coxswain so if you aren’t doing anything in 10 years, you are welcome to come along.
Sarah,
Reckon you might miss this when it’s over?
The solitary bliss that is all yours?
I know I do after remote sojournes.
In fact, I rarely want to go home, because I am so at home ‘out there’.
How about you?
Anyway here’s to calm seas, clear light and a prosperous voyage.
Jan in Fremantle, the eastern edge of your seas.
happiness is doing the impossible… and proving that it is not impossible.
happiness is setting a goal for yourself… and doing everything in your power to achieve it.
I think I might be rather happy in your shoes(if you are wearing any) 😉
B.G. asks Why don’t they make Starboard wine ? Classic low-volume sales problem – customers are always complaining they can never find “The Right stuff” Could be why Madiera is usually substituted to accompany the Port.
Cracking good progress Outey. Don’t forget another Anniversary entry for your diary. It’s PE ‘Breathing fish day’ on 14th. (Alternatively, you can regard that date as ‘ignore and overcome all the doubters day’) Whether you take a memorial dip or stay feet-dry is your choice. I vividly remember my first ‘hands to bathe’ experience in deep Ocean. It’s a strange sensation to realise that the deep end doesn’t end for many miles below you.
With you in spirit*, Crewmate.
*Preferably Rum
Hi Sarah, Glad to see the progress is so good and strong, The hands and body are obvously holding up cvery well keep it up and look forward to hearing the next instalment of your fantatic adventure.
Good speed,great winds but no storms. Keep the swimming going, what is it like sitting in salty clothes?