M4 Service Station, near Bristol As I embark on writing the book of my Atlantic adventure, a few sobering thoughts from the great and good of literature: The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid and stable business. (John Steinbeck) It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because … Continued
Monthly Archives: September 2006
Painful Process of Prioritisation
Posted in: Life of Roz
Ashburton, Devon Further to the Full Plate Problem, I am going through a painful period of re-prioritisation at the moment. My priorities are organising the Pacific row, writing the Atlantic book, and producing the Atlantic documentary. But where does this leave launching the speaking career and dog-mushing in Minnesota? Alas, it looks as if they are going to fall off the edge of the plate. … Continued
Do Crazy Things in Sensible Ways
Posted in: Adventure
Whitsands Beach, Cornwall Last night I was interrogating Jim Shekhdar about his Pacific Ocean experience. I found myself falling into the same trap as I did before the Atlantic – screening out what I didn’t want to hear. I didn’t want to hear about huge waves, shark attacks, pitchpole capsizes, running out of water and having to drink their own urine. I remember smugly thinking: … Continued
Prospect Worse Than The Reality
Posted in: Life of Roz
Whitsands Beach, Cornwall Jim Shekhdar rowed solo across the Pacific, from Peru to Australia. Currently he is washed up in Whitsands Beach, Cornwall, at his Eddystone Cafe. I came here to talk to him about Pacific rowing. We’d been chatting for a while on the cafe terrace when he said, ‘Time for a swim. Are you coming?’ As with my reluctant row on the Columbia … Continued
Why Do We Go? Guest Blog
Posted in: Guest Blogs
Adventurers Club of Los Angeles I received these words in an email from Frank Betush of the Adventurers’ Club in LA. I was so impressed with his succinct summary of the appeal of solo adventuring, I wanted to share. “I religiously enjoy solo bike touring – miles days and weeks of open road, long periods at a repetitive task. You used the term, ‘liberating’. Yes. … Continued