Wednesday 1st July
- dawnysmiff
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Pea soup anyone?
We covered 55 nautical miles in the past 24 hours, our best day's mileage so far, so we're really pleased with that. The conditions have certainly been helping us over the last 12 hours, with a nice following current giving us a helping hand. At times we even saw 3 knots on the speed display, which is a lovely sight after the slog of the first few days.
The morning greeted us with bright blue skies and sunshine. It actually started to feel... dare I say it... warmer! The horizon was alive with the now familiar sights of humpback whales blowing in the distance and dolphins occasionally breaking the surface. It still amazes me that this has become almost a normal part of our day.
Then, late in the afternoon, we had what has to be one of the highlights of the trip so far.
A whole pod of pilot whales came to visit.
Not just the adults, but their youngsters too.
They came right alongside Penny B, swimming effortlessly around us as if we were simply another creature sharing their ocean. They were so close that when one flicked its tail, it splashed us both with seawater. We certainly didn't mind—we were too busy grinning from ear to ear.
We managed to capture some spectacular footage, but as always, no camera can quite convey what it feels like to be sitting in a tiny rowing boat with these magnificent animals choosing to spend a few minutes with you. Encounters like that stay with you forever.
Unfortunately, our old friend the fog decided to make another appearance.
By early evening it rolled back in, swallowing the horizon once again. It stayed with us throughout the night and, as I write this at 9am, it's still wrapped tightly around us.
The biggest downside isn't just the visibility—it's the temperature. As soon as the fog arrives, it feels like someone has turned the thermostat down by about five degrees. Everything becomes damp again and the cold soon works its way through the layers.
The forecast tells us the wind is due to swing round from the south, so we've deliberately headed a little further south ourselves in preparation. Hopefully, when the breeze arrives, it'll push us back onto our intended track rather than carrying us too far north.
For now, the oars keep turning, the miles keep ticking by, and every stroke takes us one little bit closer to home.
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Dawn
“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”
Hometown Row
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