July 26, 2011
Today was another day of much work for little reward, as I once again pitted myself against the relentless current that has thwarted my progress for the last few days.
This is where I almost wish I had a crewmate. Crews of two typically alternate shifts, each rower rowing for two hours while the other rests. It’s a brutal regimen, but it does mean that the crew can push on through a current because there is somebody always at the oars. I, on the other hand, go backwards when hunger or tiredness force me to take a break. And so I end up rowing the same piece of ocean again and again.
Today was another day of much work for little reward, as I once again pitted myself against the relentless current that has thwarted my progress for the last few days.
This is where I almost wish I had a crewmate. Crews of two typically alternate shifts, each rower rowing for two hours while the other rests. It’s a brutal regimen, but it does mean that the crew can push on through a current because there is somebody always at the oars. I, on the other hand, go backwards when hunger or tiredness force me to take a break. And so I end up rowing the same piece of ocean again and again.
However, there was a little dollop of inspiration in the book I was listening to today – “Empire Falls“, by Richard Russo. One of the characters, a woman of indomitable character, does the same thing that I do when faced with an enormous task – she breaks it down into a multitude of smaller steps, and then each day composes a realistic To Do list and checks off those steps until the task is accomplished.
The phrase that stood out for me was used to describe what happened when things did not go according to plan. She would keep on going, “delayed, but not deterred”. I liked the mantra so much that I have written it up on the whiteboard in front of my rowing position.
I am most definitely delayed on the Indian Ocean. But not deterred. Well, only a little bit, sometimes. But I’m still here, and still rowing, one oarstroke at a time….
Other Stuff:
I’m tired after a long day at the oars, so this is your lot for today. I’m off to bed, and will get up early tomorrow morning to start rowing again before I lose too much ground.
Quote – a bumper- juicy quote to make up for the short blog:
“Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path, and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god. And where we had thought to slay another we shall slay ourselves. Where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone we shall be with all the world.” (Joseph Campbell)
Photo: it’s a big, big, big, big ocean.
Sponsored Miles: 2 new sponsors to help Roz regain those lost miles. Thanks to Daniel Collins and Peter Lisker.
The phrase that stood out for me was used to describe what happened when things did not go according to plan. She would keep on going, “delayed, but not deterred”. I liked the mantra so much that I have written it up on the whiteboard in front of my rowing position.
I am most definitely delayed on the Indian Ocean. But not deterred. Well, only a little bit, sometimes. But I’m still here, and still rowing, one oarstroke at a time….
Other Stuff:
I’m tired after a long day at the oars, so this is your lot for today. I’m off to bed, and will get up early tomorrow morning to start rowing again before I lose too much ground.
Quote – a bumper- juicy quote to make up for the short blog:
“Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path, and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god. And where we had thought to slay another we shall slay ourselves. Where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone we shall be with all the world.” (Joseph Campbell)
Photo: it’s a big, big, big, big ocean.
Sponsored Miles: 2 new sponsors to help Roz regain those lost miles. Thanks to Daniel Collins and Peter Lisker.