Monday 20th July- Day 25

The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done

I honestly don’t know how much longer this pace is sustainable.

Day after day we’re rowing into the wind, fighting to hold some kind of useful course and stay on our planned route. It’s physically exhausting, but if anything it’s even more mentally draining.

I’ve rowed a lot of oceans.

I’ve had storms, equipment failures, sleep deprivation and long periods of isolation.

But I can genuinely say…

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

After every three-hour rowing shift I climb off the seat thinking exactly the same thing.

“I can’t keep doing this.”

Then I have my rest.

Something to eat.

Maybe a short sleep.

And when it’s time, I climb straight back onto the oars and do it all again.

That’s ocean rowing.

You don’t have to feel ready.

You just have to keep turning up.

We’ve still got another couple of days of battling these headwinds before there’s any chance of a bit of respite. At the moment we’re rowing ourselves to exhaustion every three hours to achieve the sort of mileage I could probably cover on a slow walk.

It’s fair to say the novelty has well and truly worn off!

The Atlantic did give us one lovely moment yesterday though.

A pod of dolphins appeared.

They weren’t close enough for us to get any decent footage, but it didn’t matter. Watching them effortlessly slice through the water, crossing in front of our bows before disappearing towards the horizon, was enough to lift both our spirits.

Sometimes that’s all you need.

Then this morning came the best gift we’ve had for quite a while.

Sunshine.

Not just a brief glimpse through the cloud…

…an actual sunrise.

As I sit here writing this, I can feel the warmth of the sun coming through the little window in my cabin door.

It feels wonderful.

After so many days of grey skies, I hadn’t realised quite how much I’d missed it.

We’re now closing in on 1,000 nautical miles rowed.

Not quite there yet…

…but very nearly.

Even though progress has felt painfully slow, every single day has moved us a little bit closer to home.

One stroke.

One shift.

One mile at a time.

And I have to admit…

I’m really looking forward to seeing land again.

Dawn

“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”

Hometown Row

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