Friday 21st August 2026- 9pm
The Next Plan Takes Shape
Another really nice day in Salcombe today.
After the emotional rollercoaster of the last week, having a couple of days where life has slowed down slightly has actually been very welcome.
Most of this morning was spent doing what seems to have become one of my specialist subjects on this expedition…
Planning!
Charts, weather, tides and logistics were all back out as we worked through the options for the next stage of Penny B’s journey home.
And I want to make one thing absolutely clear because I’ve seen a few questions about this:
29th August is VERY much still on!
We are absolutely planning to arrive in Burnham-on-Crouch on Saturday 29th August, and we’re incredibly excited about it.
What we’re doing now is making sure Penny B is in the right place to make that happen.
The weather and tides along this stretch of coastline mean that continuing to push east by rowing every available window could leave us stuck somewhere waiting for weather, or ultimately make us late for the one date that really matters.
We’ve crossed the North Atlantic.
We’ve done the big ocean challenge.
This part of Hometown Row has always been about enjoying the coast, meeting people and ultimately bringing Penny B home to Burnham.
So rather than turning the next week into another endurance test and risking missing our homecoming, we’re going to relocate Penny B by road and relaunch her closer to home ready for the final push into Burnham.
The important thing is that Penny B will be back on the water and we will be rowing her into Burnham on the 29th.
And after everything that’s happened, I can’t wait for that moment.
The rest of today was considerably less complicated!
Our friend from Atlantic Campaigns came to join us for lunch and we spent a lovely afternoon chatting, catching up and enjoying the sunshine.
It’s been really nice having time to actually see people again rather than waving at them from a rowing boat while disappearing towards the next waypoint!
Tomorrow, though, the logistics start again.
Penny B will be coming out of the water ready to be moved to her new relaunch point.
Exactly where that will be is still being worked out as we look at the best combination of access, tides, weather and somewhere suitable to keep her until we’re ready to go again.
Then it’ll be time to get her back on the water and prepare for that final journey home.
For now, though, there’s one extremely important piece of expedition business to attend to…
🍍 HAPPY PINEAPPLE FRIDAY! 🍍
We may not be in the middle of an ocean anymore, but some traditions are absolutely staying until Penny B reaches Burnham!
Eight days to go. ❤️
Burnham-on-Crouch…
We’re coming home.
Dawn
“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”
Hometown Row
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