An evening this is like a soothing balm to my itchy feet. How could I possibly wish to be anywhere other than England on a perfect summer evening?
Hayling Island
Posted in: Atlantic Row
Monthly Archives: August 2005
House of Commons
Posted in: Atlantic Row
Sitting here in the Central Lobby of the House of Commons, Saints George, Andrew, David and Patrick gazing down at me from their mosaics, and Lord Gladstone (known to the security guards as Old Baggie) on his plinth to my … Continued
The importance of 0.01%
Posted in: Atlantic Row
Yesterday I was talking with Victoria Humphries (nee Riches) who in 1998 with her mother formed part of the first all-female team to walk to the North Pole. ‘Apparently,’ she said, ‘if Scotthad taken 10 extra steps a day, he would have got … Continued
The Meaning of Life
Posted in: Atlantic Row
On the news this morning I heard that IBM are teaming up with Swiss scientists map the human brain cell by cell on the Blue Gene supercomputer. In April 2003 the completion of the Human Genome Project was announced. It was billed … Continued
Steering System
Posted in: Atlantic Row
It doesn’t look like much – yet. But this is the first component of my revolutionary new heel-steering system with its designer, Richard of Dolphin Quay Boatyard. The two diamond shapes are where my feet will rest. The left footplate … Continued
First Aid kit
Posted in: Atlantic Row
And if you thought that was a big pile of stuff I showed you yesterday, check this out – and this is just my first aid kit. It’s mandatory – all �400-worth of it. For a person who hasn’t taken … Continued
Lot of stuff for a little boat
Posted in: Atlantic Row
This used to be a workbench in the workshop at Dolphin Quay Boatyard. Now it groans under the weight of my assembled goodies (including all my Simrad, awaiting installation on the Solo. There’s another pile, at least as large, filling the inglenook … Continued
Dear Ollie
Posted in: Atlantic Row
Relieved to see from your daily dispatch you’re fully victualled again, courtesy of the Royal Navy‘s finest. Cool photo, too! Who cares about unsupported anyway – you have my deepest respect regardless, just for being out there and keeping going - KBO! When … Continued
Tiny Little
Posted in: Atlantic Row
Yesterday I met Tiny Little, who entered the ocean rowing Hall of Fame earlier this year when he rowed solo across the Atlantic in a time of 116 days. His row was most notable not for the amount of time it … Continued
Dunking
Posted in: Atlantic Row
Dunking is something I thought only happened to witches, but it seems it’s shortly going to happen to me. Through the generosity of the Royal Navy I’m going to be treated to the dubious privilege of a session in their Underwater … Continued