Surfing is exhausting in big seas – you have to be on the ball all the time or you’ll get an oar in the tummy, a wave over your head or you’ll be shooting off in the wrong direction. Or if you’re really unlucky, all three at once. It seems every muscle is continually squeezed in contraction, working to keep everything in order. It is a different sort of tired from a still hot day or where the wind is against you. Hard to explain but it just is.
At least it’s not land-tired though, where my head is usually full of lengthening To Do lists and schedules and so on. Out here I can be happy-tired, where it is not due to stress but pure physical and mental exertion against an ever-nearing goal, in beautiful surroundings. A simple setup meaning that I have time and space to ponder and enjoy all the sights and sounds of my salty wilderness. It is a satisfying tired. Especially when I see from my chart that we are half-way to the rum punch! Yes folks, we are homeward bound.
******Ye Olde Tracker******
Expect another little wiggle in the tracker at the weekend for there is another cold front coming through, to be followed by another beautiful (and extended) bit of Red Carpet, so says Ricardo. June obviously didn’t listen to May, then. I did ask her to pass on my preferred weather patterns – some months, eh?
Meanwhile we shall continue marching West. My efforts to get North will be somewhat hampered by the increasing E and NE in the wind as it approaches. It is already backing. Did you notice the flattening out in my tracker overnight?
*****Albie Therapy******
Anyway, further south there are more albies so hopefully they will compensate for any looping we do at the weekend. I had one fly over as I said good morning to the world today and I can honestly say I shall never tire of them. They always make me smile and stare in complete awe.
Now I need to learn The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner….
Cheerio,
S & D x
PS Did I mention we’re halfway to the rum punch?
PPS
Anita – Can I tell myself that too?! This isn’t Party Jelly, this is Boat Jelly. Very different. I’m sure you’d like it. You eat it barefoot, too- no need for patent party shoes.
John Skevington – Absolutely nothing towed when surfing – I want to get to the other side as quickly as I can! We’ve nailed some big waves and never felt in danger. If we were running in anything too crazy and steep (i.e storm) then I have options for drogues which I might use.
Jill & Stan Lewis – Try Michael Morpurgo instead- don’t know about Michael Murpongo! 😉 Long nights out here too.
Barry Gumbert – Normally I collapse Bob when I get to him, without the retrieval line which floats free with a pickup buoy (didn’t want lines tangling). But…I’m now going to lengthen it and either bring it back onboard or attach back to the main line. Ah, if you’re an inventor-please may you magically invent me a new sweety supply?!
David B – Yes, the English summer can be soggy but if I miss it altogether I will have left in the snow (Feb) and be returning to rain!September is usually lovely.
Marcel – Sounds great. A bed that doesn’t move will be brilliant and sea view just perfect. All fingers onboard are crossed…
Adrian Moss – Beautiful place for canoeing. Scotland should be next on the hitlist- I can recommend the Tay.
Fabulous to see you over the half way mark Sarah. Definitely Mauritius Sea Rescue territory now. Best Regards
Nick, Fremantle Sea Rescue
Well you are half way now.
Congratulations.
From now on it is all downhill.
It is too late to turn back.
John
Hi Sarah
Have been following every blog message, well done on halfway and enjoy the helta skelter home.
Nick
Congrats on halfway. dont forget you promised yourself on of the bottles of fizz. jill and stan
Hi Sarah, Did you get my ecard last week? It was sent to your old gmail address. Congrats on doing so well from us all at CLASH.
Sara
Just wanted to say you are an inspiration. I’m 48 now and have watched life pass me by 🙁
Always putting things off till another day and more content to watch other peoples achievements on the discovery chanel.
But you have been a great inspiration, and hopefully now i will get off my backside and do something!
All the best, will contiue to follow your progress 🙂
Bill
(Edinburgh)
Half way to the rum punch! I’m sure it is chilling nicely for you. Looking forward to the wiggles at the weekend. Great to hear you are on form as usual.
Lots of love, Zanx
Enjoying the geo lessons, following adventurous gals. Rather curious coastline — little isle off Mauritius — appears to cantilever over the water! Beautiful, with some soft landings, too. May you land on Mauritius at a fine luxury resort with “cabana boys” to bring you libations and plenty of sweets to please! Congratulations on the half, and happy un-birthday to you! And, many more! Learned of your adventure from Roz Savage’s blog. Much respect for you both from a very novice kayaker in Los Angeles. Prayers for your safe crossing!
Janis
Well done Sarah – half way to Mauritius and to the rum punch! We are thinking of you every day and we have a mid week time trial tomorrow and we shall be thinking of you suring those waves! Love Emily & Jamie x P.S We understand the happy/satisfying tired feeling – keep smiling x
I am trying some special Rum Punches for you.
When I get the right concoction, I’ll name it “SirenDPT”.
The mango/coconut/pineapple/passion fruit one is not bad.
But I’ll keep trying them out.
R You allergic to any fruit?
Sweets made from supplies found in the Indian Ocean? Could be a challenge..Even for me.
But there is something I can do for you.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner one part at a time (it’s rather long 7 parts)
PART ONE
IT IS an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
‘By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp’st thou me?
The Bridegroom’s doors are opened wide,
And I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
May’st hear the merry din.’
He holds him with his skinny hand,
‘There was a ship,’ quoth he.
‘Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!’
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.
He holds him with his glittering eye–
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years’ child:
The Mariner hath his will.
The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.
‘The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.
The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea.
Higher and higher every day,
Till over the mast at noon–‘
The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,
For he heard the loud bassoon.
The bride hath paced into the hall,
Red as a rose is she;
Nodding their heads before her goes
The merry minstrelsy.
The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,
Yet he cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.
And now the Storm-blast came, and he
Was tyrannous and strong:
He struck with his o’ertaking wings,
And chased us south along.
With sloping masts and dipping prow,
As who pursued with yell and blow
Still treads the shadow of his foe,
And forward bends his head,
The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast,
And southward aye we fled.
And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold:
And ice, mast-high, came floating by,
As green as emerald.
And through the drifts the snowy clifts
Did send a dismal sheen:
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken–
The ice was all between.
The ice was here, the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!
At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the fog it came;
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God’s name.
It ate the food it ne’er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;
The helmsman steered us through!
And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariners’ hollo!
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.’
‘God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!–
Why look’st thou so?’–‘With my cross-bow
I shot the Albatross.’
Poor Marcel puts fruit in his rum. Buy Myer’s dark rum. No additives needed save for some ice.
Sarah,
Halfway at last! Hozannah,Hozannah,and three hail Marys! Think I’ll mix up of Marcel’s recipe and toast your great success.
David B.
Barry,
Thanks for the Rime of the Ancient mariner…I haven’t copied that bit to Sarah, as she has a copy of it out there with her. ( Very kind of you to post it on th eblog comments though)
Helen ( Sarah’s Mum)
Hi Sarah
Chippy & Nay here, the breakfast team from Hot FM WA (Bunbury). We interviewed you before you left on your great adventure. We have been following your progress on and off, and after checking again this morning we’re both so excited for you that you’re half way!!!! Congrats!!
We are tired too but for different reasons, as we are both new parents! Nay had Lucinda May 8 and Chippy’s wife Jess gave birth to Oscar May 10. We are both on parental leave at the moment.
All the best……….we are sooooooooo happy for you! You go!!
Chippy & Nay
OUTS! Bought a pile of buns last night and thought of you… So so glad all is well and that your spirits are high. The little boy in Emma’s belly is already excited at the prospect of meeting amazing Auntie Outs! Lots of love, g
Hi Sarah
Have just switched my computer on and its good that you are 1/2 way, what an inspiration, here’s me thinkning about the day ahead and I read your great reports. Certainly I need to take a leaf out of your book.
Take care happy rowing and I shall look forward to reading your next blog, suppose I had better get ready for work. What a lovely way you have of putting the comments. I need some of your tiredness not the sort we have over here.
Much love
C & K
Gosh, that is a gloomy rhyme ! Made worse by having to learn it at school.
Much more appropriate to anything that flies and especially the majesty of the Albatross is John Gillespie Magee’s “High Flight”
Because the words are evocative, I can overlook the fact that Albies are masters of low-level dynamic soaring rather than upper air stuff.
MESSAGE FOR BARRY gumbert …………………..
Barry, I am sorry, I thought “Rime of the Ancient Mariner ” was one of the poems Sarah had taken out with her….she sent me an e-mail this morning to say she hadn’t!!!!
So, yes please…may you post the rest of it up tooo……………in installments will be fine. i am sorry for giving you duff info…what a silly nilly I am.
Thanks for all your comments too. Sarah really appreciates all the blog commenst.
Helen