A pattern is emerging.............
Red Arrow
Rich Hume & Tom Barnes
Sat 9 Jan 2010 18:06
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I wasn't expecting my first dip into the Atlantic
to be collecting our floating toilet! Thankfully I avoided a Kevin & Perry
going large in Ibiza moment and wasn't confronted head on with any large
deposits on my way back to Red Arrow. Lesson now learnt and that won't be
happening again!
Anyhow, we're now off the para anchor and headed
due South for a day and now we've made the turn West towards our waypoint some
750 miles away! We spent some time planning our routes - think of them like
"Strike it Lucky" there's a top one (most direct), middle one (Northern
Route) and a bottom one (Southern Route) and each route has 15 or so
waypoints all finishing in Antigua. The route we'd take would depend on the
conditons at sea and we're now heading on the Southern Route - which is
hopefully where the strong trade winds will be. We're moving along
nicely today and the weather has been kind so we're eating into this leg. I
was watching Love Actually in La Gomera before we left and I think it
was Colin the geeky guy said, "I'm on shag highway, heading west" - well
there's been no shagging, I haven't seen a turn off for the highway but Red
Arrow is heading West!
I just want to try and give you all an
understanding of my "typical day" on Red Arrow and to try and show you
how each of our 24 hours are broken down. In a normal 24 hour period I will row
for 12 hours and rest for the other 12 hours - Rich will do the same. We've been
doing 2 hour shifts and this is how it has been working so far and I've made
some comments as to how I've found each so far.....
06:30 -
08:30 1st Rowing
shift So far this has been my
favourite shift of the day as it is picturesque with the sun is rising
over my right shoulder.
08.30 -
10:30
Rest Have
some breakie and then try and stay awake for the rest of the
morning.
10:30 -
12:30 2nd Rowing shift
Sun is normally shining and tend to chat
to Rich as he's been on deck for this time.
12:30
- 14:30 Rest
Lunch - as much food as I can fit down my
gob in 2 hours and then a short siesta!
14:30 -
16:30 3rd Rowing
shift Normally blast
out some cool classics and hot hits out through the on deck speakers and
sing along very badly!
16:30 -
18:30
Rest Try
and catch up on emails/texts/blogs which is what I'm doing now.
18:30 -
20:30 4th Rowing
shift 1st of the
night shifts and the top and bottoms go on for this one. ipod needed as no
power to run the on deck speakers.
20:30 -
22:30
Rest Bite
to eat and then sleep.
22:30
- 00:30 5th Rowing
shift Proper night time now and on a
clear night the sky is covered with stars - very different from Lower
Weybridge!
00:30 -
02:30
Rest Straight
to sleep.
02:30 -
04:30 6th Rowing
shift The
graveyard shift - the hardest one to wake up for but okay once I get
started.
04:30 -
06:30 Rest
More sleep...................
06:30
- 08:30 New
Day
Pattern starts again!
Obviously, during my rest periods is when Rich is
on the oars and we give each other a 10 minute warning when the other one
is due on shift. I always say "thanks mate" or "cheers Rich" although I can tell
you at 04:20 in the morning when he's knocking on the cabin door I'm actually
thinking "would you please just f*ck off". During my rest periods is when I need
to sleep, eat, drink, wash, do boat maintenance, check all communications
(emails/texts) etc and try and take in the scenery!
Just some various personal messages now as I'm
really sorry that I haven't got time to reply to everyone
individually......
Rachel & Lin -
thanks for all texts and the card from you
both. You could have told us it was going to be hard
work!
Ad -
terrible "Dad" jokes you are sending
through. Really pleased about your new job - love to Manda & Grace.
Anton -
good to hear from you
and sorry to hear about your trip across the Atlantic. Keep in touch and we're
hunting dowm Mick & Lia!
Michelle Mitas -
very funny letter and you are one crazy chick! I'm
working my way through all the letters that Laura rounded up and read yours
first - I needed some loo roll!
Oli Dudley -
sounds like the Sisterhood owe you 10 ladies if
all the other auction items arrived????? Hope Oz was good.
Matt Hort -
a real surprise to hear from you and I
can't believe this time last year we were having a drink in Perth discussing our
forthcoming trips. Great updates, thanks.
Swifty -
thanks for the text and
sorry to hear the news about your dicky ticker. We'll get you ship
shape when I get back - just don't let big jaw get you back into
any other bad habits!
Nelson -
love the quote of the
week, cheers pal.
Coach Amy
- thanks for the email
and you'll be pleased to know that your pupils are remembering
all the coaching points you gave us. I must say it is much nicer rowing not
having anyone shout at us the whole time!
Everyone else who has text or emailed - thank
you.
Really looking forward to speaking to Laura
tomorrow morning - the first time since we left on Monday. She has been amazing
with everything and I'm missing her loads.
Antigua here we come!
Barnesy
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