It is not a good day to be a British ocean rower about to embark on a Pacific row. It seems the entire US of A is too busy celebrating their independence from Britain in 1776 to help a modern-day Brit to get away from their shores. My last-minute shopping - for bilge pump, extra hatch handles, jerky, and sundry other items - will have to wait.
It is probably also the worst day I could have chosen to be flying back into the US from Canada, where I've been in exile on a last-minute dash to get a visa (click here for the full story) - airport security is possibly going to be more over-the-top than ever. Ocean rowing may have many drawbacks as a means of transport, but at least I don't have to endure security checks...
By the way, a big hello to all the new people who have been subscribing to my blog since Monday's appearance on the CBS Early Show. I will try to keep you entertained, enlightened and inspired over the months ahead. Welcome aboard!
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A few weeks ago, as I was towing my boat from Washington State to Colorado, I did an interview in Salt Lake City that has since been broadcast on NPR.
Click here to listen to the 4-minute feature.
And yesterday I was on the CBS Early Show. I didn't see it, as I'm still in Canada, but it seems to have generated a lot of website traffic and some fantastic messages of encouragement.
And boy, am I going to need that moral support. I have just one week now before I go on standby to depart. I had secretly hoped the weather might force a slight delay to give me more time to get ready, but at the moment it looks as if I may launch on July 11, as scheduled.
And still SO much to do! But I know it will all come together in time - with a lot of determination, hard work, and eternal optimism...
Click here to find out more about the factors that will affect my departure date.
[photo: filming with Phil Keoghan of CBS - with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. This is where it will all start - and maybe soon]
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02 Jul 2007, Leeds, West Yorkshire
In 2005 before Roz set out to row the Atlantic Ocean, I was able to spend two weeks with her in La Gomera, helping with preparations. I feel a bit helpless now, being so far away from San Francisco. I wonder whether she has remembered to fill her water ballast bottles? Where has she stowed her favourite snacks? And so it goes on . . . .
There are tasks that I can do for her though - dealing with her mail, relaying messages - as indeed I will be continuing to do while she is at sea. One recent letter was from an organisation in the UK called "Women of the Year". For over 50 years the annual lunch has brought together outstanding women from all walks of life. Each guest has to be individually nominated by their Council, and is considered a 'woman of the year' because of a special contribution to society or the workplace. Roz has been nominated as a woman of achievement. Further information is available on their website: www.womenoftheyear.co.uk.
I have watched the video on their site of the awards given in 2006 and what those award-winners have done is truly AWESOME.
Roz and I both hope that she will be able to attend the lunch, which is in the middle of October. It all depends on the winds and the waves of the Pacific allowing her to reach Hawaii in good time.
Meanwhile people here stop me and ask where she is now, when is she departing, or remark about having seen us on TV in March.
As a proud mother, I anxiously watch and wait!
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If you're into text messaging - maybe you get a notification every time Arsenal score a goal - you may well be interested to know that you can sign up for SMS updates on my Pacific row. A typical daily text might look like this:
"Good progress today. Actual miles travelled: 36. Miles made good towards Hawaii: 30. Miles from San Francisco: 250. Miles to go: 2240. Weather sunny and warm. Waves 3-5ft. Saw pod of whales (or some other overview of day's news). New info and pics/podcast/video at www.rozsavage.com".
To sign up, just click on the button on the right - the one with the cute little phone on it - and follow the instructions. It takes about 30 seconds to subscribe.
This service has been provided through the generous support of Agile Communications.
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