Day 9: Does It Have My Name On It?

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Added: Tue. Jun 02, 2009 10:07am
Posted in: Eco-Travel

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I used to take weather very personally. When I was rowing the Atlantic,
just over 3 years ago, I used to imagine that helpful weather was some
kind of a reward, and unfavorable conditions had been sent to teach me a
lesson.

I don't know if this sprang from some kind of Hollywood myth, or
classical mythology, or just from my own confused psyche, but I had this
notion that if I could just figure out what it was I was supposed to
learn from my present circumstances, then everything would suddenly be
transformed, the wind would change direction, and I would be whisked on
my way towards my goal.

Of course, weather doesn't work that way. This was brought home to me in
one pithy phrase delivered by a massage therapist in Antigua, while she
was trying to alleviate some of my post-row aches and pains. She said
that when something bad happens to her, she asks herself, "Does this
have my name on it?" Sometimes it does – and there is a useful lesson to
be learned. And sometimes it doesn't.

So now I've learned not to take weather so personally. It hasn't
rearranged the laws of physics for my personal enlightenment. It's just
doing what weather does.

And this is a very long way of saying that – today – the weather has
been a bit of a pig. I have rowed for 10 hours, 10,000 strokes - same as
yesterday, same as the day when I did 38 miles, close to my personal
best – but today I have achieved a measly 16 miles.

I used to get very bent out of shape about this kind of thing. My mood
index was almost a precise reflection of my day's mileage. But what can
I do? Sure, it's a bit demotivating to work so hard for so little
result. But it's not my fault. It's not the weather's fault. It just is
as it is. Sigh.

And the best thing about weather, as with most things, is that it
changes. Eventually.


Crave of the Day: ice cream. I was listening to Barack Obama's "The
Audacity of Hope" and he talks about how he and Michelle went to Baskin
Robbins on their first date, and how their first kiss tasted of
chocolate. This brought on daydreams (no, not of kissing Barack Obama)
but of ice cream sundaes with maple pecan ice cream, bananas, and
chocolate fudge sauce. Ooh, and maybe some nutty sprinkles.

Rave of the Day: Carob Energy Nuggets, bought for me by Lorrin Lee from
the Down To Earth healthfood store in Honolulu. Honey, sunflower seeds,
carob, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews and peanut butter. Very good
indeed. In fact, would be nice sprinkled over an ice cream sundae (see
above).

[photo: yesterday I promised you a picture of the small fishy escort
party that has congregated under my boat. And here it is – sorry it's a
bit blurry. They might defy identification. But they are most definitely
fish.]

Special hellos to:

- Dogmouse33, teacher in Pearl City, and all your students. Aloha!

- Laurey Masterson, who runs a carbon neutral catering company and
restaurant in Asheville, NC - FANTASTIC!! What a great example - keep up
the good work!

- And everyone else who has posted comments on my blog. I can't read
them directly, but Nicole is copying and pasting them into an email and
sending it to me daily - lovely to know you're all following me and
wishing me on - thank you!!

Today's weather:

Wind: 5-10kts, SE-E
Sea: swell increasing, 4-6ft, from E
Intentions: have been pointing due south, rowing parallel to swell - not
fun, but trying to mitigate W drift

Weather forecast:

No update since yesterday's forecast