On Thursday night I will be in San Francisco for an ocean rowing event. My friends Mick Dawson and Andrew Morris first rowed together in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 – the same race that I did.
Andrew’s crossing got off to a rocky start (literally) when he fell and banged his head within the first few days. He was brought back to shore with a concussion. While Andrew was recovering in hospital, his French crewmate decided their bid was over, and returned to France. Andrew emerged from hospital still raring to go, but now lacking a partner. Over a beer or several, he managed to persuade Mick, who was then working for the race organizers Woodvale, to give up the next couple of months of his life to hop in the boat with him and row the Atlantic.
They set out about 10 days behind the rest of the pack. I was most disgruntled as they rapidly gained ground on me and cruised on past. Only kidding – they are great guys. And big and fast.
So if you are in San Francisco and want to come and support them as they raise funds to row the North Atlantic in 2012 (the voyage that I had penciled in, but then thought better of it) then join us for a reception at the Golden Gate Yacht Club at 7pm this Thursday. Andrew will be there, but Mick has had to return to the Indian Ocean to fight pirates. (!)
Then this weekend I will be at the Making Waves event in Boulder. If you are in the area, come and join us at Boulder Public Library between 1pm and 5pm.
My presentation is at 3pm, with Alison Gannett, extreme skier and climate campaigner and veteran of the Big Ben To Brussels walk. Other speakers include Marcus and Anna of the 5 Gyres Institute, Dianna Cohen of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Margo Pellegrino of Seattle to San Diego paddling fame, Dr Sylvia Earle, Jim Toomey and David Helvarg of Blue Frontier Campaign.
Speaking of Blue Frontier, if you care about our oceans and would like to support their worthwhile work, for TODAY ONLY they are having a fundraiser on Give To The Max. Check it out on their Twitter page!
Phewee. And that’s about all for now. Hope to see you at one of these events sometime soon – or right back here on my website.
Vetrans Day, Remembrance Day or Poppy Day … some words a friend shared reminded me of Roz this morning… http://bit.ly/ulPZne
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom,
lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will: remember not past years!
So long thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Yesterday, environmentalists achieved a significant success, the first of many that lay over the horizon. One stroke among many yet to come.
Here is the official announcement: http://1.usa.gov/1stOfMany
Doug, after all the time you have put in about the pipeline, I hope that this latest review is an encouragement. Keep up the good work! Rita.
Thanks, Rita. Yes, it was a sweet symbolic success on the journey to transitioning from fossil fuels to carbon-free energy, and a time for a bit of reflection and celebration. But, this is just one of the first successes, like the first step on a thousand mile walk, one oar-stroke among 5 million.
Onward and upward. Cheers!
Interesting history
http://www.balangay-voyage.com/index.php?pg=read-article&newsid=2077
http://rozroams.squarespace.com/
Podcast Episode 56 “Visiting the Golden Buffaloes” is online
Recorded Nov 8th, Roz talks about being chill with being a world traveler and an Eco Super Hero! Costume not withstanding…~Jay