Two weeks at sea with sun-tan, blisters, a few bruises, and I’m finally beginning to feel like an ocean rowing gal! I’ve quickly learned how to cook a meal while being hit by waves, how to wash my hair with 10 oz of fresh water and, more importantly, how to fit 5,000 calories into my body on a daily basis (and it turns out the latter has proved to be the most difficult).
The last few days have been hot with light to no wind. I’ve mustered up the courage to go for a swim (there are sharks down there, after all, and it’s a bit awkward to crawl back in) and am glad I did. Today was so hot that I ended up taking a dip five times and, with my snorkel and mask, saw the same six fish every time. Recently, I have also been noticing hundreds of fish quickly and tightly swimming westward; perhaps some sort of migration pattern.
Now that I’m adjusted to sea life, I have been doing more night rowing which has been a real treat. The stars are amazing! It’s just so humbling to be such a tiny speck in the blue.
{ 37 comments }
Keep it up katie. love the updates. my daughters look forward to your updates every day.
I have to say it again, you look so good.
Great job!
Katie,
You look great and it is nice to see your beautiful smile. Keep up the good work and be
careful swimming. I bet the stars do look amazing.
Thinking os you,The Schinke Family
Keep it up Katie! Enjoying reading about your adventure. Everyone in my office is following you
Your Cousin,
Bob
Been checking on your progress daily. Seems like your doing fantastic. Keep up the great work.
How in the world did you take that picture?
To row at night. Oh my God… How sublime.
Great photo, Katie! You look great! But hey who took the picture? Mr Turtle who was following you a day or so ago?
awesome Katie, still with you all day and most of the nite, cant wait to talk, enjoy and remember every feeling, I am so selfish, I want to share them. God speed~
I think you are Amazing. I think of you everyday and send you Love and Power!!! GO KATIE!!!!
Great picture!
And I love the idea of you rowing under the stars. Has to be pretty amazing.
Way to go Katie!
-Jim O
I’m happy all is going so well,Katie! We pray for you every day! You are really having an amazing journey!! Peggy M. (mom’s friend)
Amazing story! We have been following you every day since we heard your interview on NPR the day before you left for Senegal. We have told all of our friends about you! My daughter, Aine (pronounced Anya) , six years old, has you as her idol now. I’m so glad my child has someone like you to look up to. Keep up the great, inspiring work!
I just googled “AMAZING WOMAN” and your pic was #1 hit!!!! Keep it up, may the wind always be at your back!!!!
Just another thing you have over my little trip; no fishermen can walk up on you while bathing!!
If you get a chance, describe how you cook in waves with such a small stove. Keep going, enjoy, you brave and lucky woman!
Rick
Have been following your progress ever since I heard the story on NPR. Just so impressed with your fortitude and passion for this adventure. With the recent earthquake in Haiti your mission to bring awareness re world water supply is top of my list for international aid and pray that many more will take up the torch. Thanks for doing this and may you have smooth sailing (uh rowing)
Hadn’t seen a post in a bit and was hoping all was good, as it certainly seems to be. I can’t imagine snorkeling in the middle of the ocean and rowing under the stars. That’s awesome!
Be safe, you continue in our prayers.
: >
A
Just found your blog through a tweet! Amazing, inspirational stuff. I’ll be following your journey and praying for your safety daily. Already looking forward to the next update.
Keep it up Kaite, I am checking your progress every single day counting your spot.I am happy you got some friends in the sea. But becareful.
Katie, You look fabulous – keep it up – we can’t wait till you get home – we all miss you!
Aunt Sheli and Uncle Pat and the boys.
No alarm clock. No boss. Just sun up and sun down. Looks like so much fun.
WOW – what an amazing adventure you are having. I look several times a day to see where you are, what you might be doing (based on your speed), and hoping for there to be something written about how things are going. How fantastic it must be to row under a blanket of stars! Keep up the pace, be safe, and full speed ahead. May God be your co-pilot.
what a great picture you look great keep up the good work not only do you have gaurdian angels you have gaurdian fish how cool
Dear Katie,
Myself and my husband are following your daring adventure every day. God be with you and see you reach South America successfully. We are praying for your safe being and success. Be careful!
love
S
Like so many others, I am now officially addicted to checking in on you every day. You look and sound great. Great job!
Hi Katie. I amazed of your stamina. You look and sound great being in the middle of Atlantic. Be careful with the sharks,though. They are very unpredictable.
Katie,
You look great…keep it up. We are praying for your safe voyage and will be glad when you accomplish your feat safely.
Take extra care
Having been following the “adventure”; you haven’t mentioned anything about the stars at night, the sky must be fantastic. Have you experienced any rough seas; I was concerned the earthquake in Haiti may have an effect. God speed.
Katie,
Looks like you are having a ball! Good luck, you are a couregous person.
Larry
Get back in the boat.
Thought you ought to know; a friend of mine paddled a war canoe 1,000 miles in Alaska last summer, in 6 days. She thought she’d lose some weight, especially since they’d be eating dehyd. food. Didn’t happen. Just be ready, in case you don’t. From the looks of your photos before leaving, you didn’t have much to work with, anyway.
we are so proud of you and always thinking of you. we love you. aunt stephenie and uncle D
Katie, its great hearing of your wonderful accomplishments. miss you and love you. doo and ellen. more soon.
hey good luck out there your cousin Joyce Gurber is my principal and she is a really nice girl and i just want to let u know i been praying every bight sense i heard about you and your long journey have fun and i hope u have a safe trip and in one of my classes we r collecting money to help u out and i am really happy u r doing this Katie u r a secrently a really nice and good lady to do this keep up the work and good luck bye Noah Jenkin
I have 4 daughters with big dreams. As a mom, I am praying for your safety as you travel in the awesome beauty of God’s creation.
I love keeping up with you…..I am a three year rower at the age of 57. I wish I could of done what you are doing at an eariler age. You are my inspiration….keep up the good work and be safe!
You are just AMAZING. I can’t imagine how you are doing this but you and all the other solo sailors are inspiring. You are not sitting at home, overeating or mindlessly shopping or watching reality tv, you are out there DOING something, daring yourself and showing people it CAN be done. You go girl!
(Do you mean 5000 kilojoules – calories would be a heck of a lot of food for anyone in one day… ?)
Comments on this entry are closed.