Rita in 2005
No, I haven’t wandered grievously off course. Krakatoa is the book I was listening to today, not where I am. Simon Winchester’s book was, as all his books are, informative, interesting, and well written. I bet he’d be a great dinner party guest.
In 1883 Krakatoa, a volcano in Indonesia, erupted. That is probably rather an understatement. It exploded, rather than erupted. Four cubic miles of rock – the entire volcano – vanished. The sound of the eruption was heard up to 3,000 miles away. The shock waves registered on instruments all around the world. The dust lingering in the atmosphere created dazzling red sunsets worldwide for up to three years afterwards, and caused a dip in global temperatures.
It’s just staggering, the sheer energy of the explosion. Terrifying though the destruction was, there is something quite awe-inspiring about such a magnificent display of raw natural power.
I find it reassuring, in a strange way, that nature can be so powerful (although obviously I prefer to be reminded of this by proxy, in a book, rather than by being tossed around by huge waves). It gives me hope that when humankind is dead and gone, having made a right old mess of the world, nature won’t have any difficulty obliterating any trace that we ever existed. I’d just like that to be later, rather than sooner.
Other Stuff:
The sea anchor is out. All good things come to an end, and my few days of good progress have temporarily stalled. Such is life.
Speaking of life, I didn’t finish “Life”, by Keith Richards. I got rather bogged down in the minutiae of Richards’s early years. Even Johnny Depp’s narration couldn’t get me through it. I may well try it again later, but it’s on hold for now.
Great to get a message from Sarah Outen on my Day 23 blog. Sarah is busy doing a human powered trip from London to London via the world, with limited internet access, so honoured indeed that she checked in to comment on her Tweedles!
Eric – the towel you sent me is indeed coming in handy, although I have a confession to make. It is no longer in its original form. It is a perfect fabric for seat covers – absorbent when in use, and quick to wash and dry so I can keep a constant rotation going. So it is now chopped up into multiple rectangles, and is very much appreciated by my bottom. Thank you!
Pippa – thanks for being concerned about my warmth at night. I didn’t bring my Antarctic jacket – hopefully it’s on its way to Mum’s house along with my other luggage. It does get quite cool at night, but I have a lovely snuggly sleeping bag by Ocean Sleepwear, lined with thick fleece. It’s great, but can be very difficult to get out of in the mornings! 
UncaDoug – interested to hear about your friend Gary Braasch’s photographs of Tarawa. I’ll have to check them out when I’m back on land. It’s quite a unique place.
The comments on the bilge pump blog made me laugh out loud. Thank you! Bruce, I’ve been trying to get a tune out of it, but no luck so far. I don’t think I’ve got my embouchure quite right yet. Maybe I’ll have time to practice while the sea anchor is out. Maybe it will sound like a cross between a bassoon and a didgeridoo.
Our latest podcast has gone live. “Today I Am Quite Fond Of The Ocean” (did I really say that?!) is online at Roz Roams.
Photo: There was nothing especially exciting to photograph today, so I thought you might like another picture from the archives – a pic of my Mum, working on my boat in 2005 after she decided “if you can’t beat them, join them”.
Sponsored Miles:
Not many miles rowed today. Gary Stanley, Brad McDonell.
