Living on a rowboat there is little more to do than row, but every week or so it is important for me to check the bottom of the boat for slime and barnacles. If I see any growth, I simply scrub it off, making for a slightly faster ride.
It was a smoldering hot day, so I thought around midday would be the perfect time to jump in and inspect the hull. In the morning, I heard and felt some bumping against the boat but thought it was just some fish. I also hit something with my oar, thinking again, must be a fish. A really big fish, perhaps.
I grabbed my snorkel, mask, and scrubber and took a quick look into the water. I started to dangle my toes in the water but something did not feel quite right. Another glimpse and … there it was. It was deep in the water but looked too big to be a fish yet too small to be a shark. Either way, it certainly did not look friendly with green spikes. So, I crawled my way back into the boat and decided to keep my mantra: “just keep rowing”.
As I was rowing along into the early evening, I felt it again; a loud thud and the whole boat shook. Peering over the side, there it was. Times eight. It looked like they were on a mission, the way they were swimming so quickly and closely to the boat. To me. Two hours of circling around and bumping into the boat.
…but it was only a tuna!
{ 33 comments }
Poor baby! And yo0u with no mayo or celery, to make salad!
Wait, I don’t get it, so those aren’t sharks? How could you tell that it was tuna? Oh thank god. The whole idea just sounds terrifying! What a crazy lawless world it is out there. Tschuess Mate! Nicole
Hello Katie!
Go away nice fishy fishy!
Nothing hear for you to eat :-\
You Row Girl!
Glad they were just tuna — the whole thing is fishy. (Ha ha ha)
Keep it up Katie — we are sooooo proud of you. Your adventure is so inspirational and we love reading your updates.
Love from chilly Illinois to you in the warm Atlantic.
**I bet the moon was gorgeous last night!
Hello Katie,
Even it was a shark, it can’t stop you from reaching your goal as you get those many people’s prayers. You have already finished almost half of the way. Keep rowing and showing the whole world,
“If you really want, you can…”
Our studens must have finished their cards on the weekend, so your family will be receiving them this week. We are with you and can’t wait to see you back home….
Noble Academy Cleveland has become Excellent in three years, Katie Spotz has crossed the ocean at the age of 22.
Go Katie, Go Noble….
WHEW – what a relief, but they sure do seem big! When I first saw the picture, I thought you had had a run in with some sharks, but glad to read otherwise. Good thing for them you aren’t from Starkist or Chicken of the Sea!!
Good thoughts are following you as you continue your journey in the big, blue sea. You are doing such an awesome job and I can’t wait to tell my students about your latest adventures. God speed.
Hi Kate,
Where was the wasabi and pickled Ginger when you really need them?
Keep up the great job your doing. Many people never even take the first step and you are all most half way there!
Lynn
South End Rowing Club
est 1873
Katie, just can’t wait for you to finish this row, take the banacles and all for a ride, that really sounded scary! Hope the weather stays good and you have no more bumps in your road, love you and prayers are with you.
Katie, It would not be an adventure without bumping into a school of (hot) Tuna!
Thank you for writing to us everyday. We are with you.
Unbelievable adventure! You sound so cool, calm and collect in your description. Mind over matter…..and I can hear your mantra just like in the Disney movie Finding Nemo. Instead of Ellen Degeneres singing “Just keep swimming”, I can hear her singing “Just keep rowing”. Thoughts and prayers with you, and thanks again for sharing!
Andrea
Is the water really that blue?!?
Katie,
That would have made me a little nervous. My daughter (Alana) will love to read this when she gets home from school. Keep working hard. I hope you had a clear view of the full moon last night.
Tom
Dear Katie,
You’re so amazing!!! I’m so proud of you. I wish we could have more young people like you to set a goal, thinking of others beside themselves and going for it with perseverance and a cool attitude! I just found out about you today…I wish I did before so I could follow your journey since day one.
My prayers are with you and may God bless you! Keep it up!
Mari
Katie-WOW! What an adventure for you, thank you for letting the rest of us share your experiences!
Go away little tunafishes!! Come back dolphin buddies!
Katie:
That is so cool! You had mentioned in your other blog entries that you had some fishy friends swimming with you on your trek. Your friends were problably dorado and smaller fish. The tuna were most likely trying to pin those fish against your boat and make a fishy snack out of them. Tuna are power eaters and your boat will attract smaller fish, so you can expect them to come back. Keep enjoying the adventure.
Tuna? It looks like Uncle Darren.
Hi Katie; Tuna?! Everyone knows that tuna comes in tins. It probably was uncle Darren. Best Wishes Alfred
Vancouver, Canada
Wow, you’re brave, I hope you don’t have to go into the water too often!! Glad to see Nicole commenting from Germany. You have lots of guardian angels watching over you. Happy February 1st, Maureen and John
Keep going strong Katie! You’re almost halfway there!
-Matt
Katie, I am so proud of you. I love reading about you and I have started to post your blog on my facebood profile. My prayers and the prayers of my friends are with you always. Roberta
Hello Katie,
I just Love the Twitter updates
Re: “Wow – bright orange full moon. Definitely doing some night rowing tonight!”
I was driving home last night to a great big beautiful orangey-red moon with wisps of cloud over it, rising up over the Delaware River. Made me think of you out there just row’n your heart out underneath the moonlight, so I sent some good wishes your way via the moon!
“I shall jump over the Moon for Joy!”- Charles Molloy
Stay Strong!
Mike D
katie-nothing happening in your ocean except a continuing rapid heartbeat,bumping into hugh ocean fish and being an example to all of us of what strenght and courage mean. all our love, doo and ellen
Row Katie… just row…. love ya
Wow, they sure look like the “other guys”, glad they were just Bumble on the fin (can’t really say on the hoof here can I)
I am glad you are ok and smoothly rowing on. Keep up the great job “girlfriend”! No pressure but all woman hood (hmmmmmm is that one or two words),anyway we are all looking up to you for proving yet again, “I am woman, hear me roar”! 
Talk to you in a day or two.
Oh, and my husband Hilly says go “Turtle”! (he says he was the turtle when he was on the swim team in college):D
All our best,
Beth
Katie the boys and I were reading about tunas this morning – looks like they like to follow boats – they may be along for the ride – make friends. Keep rowing – we are ever so proud of you!
aunt sheli
Re: “Had a word with the big fat tunas to explain that my boat is not a pinata. They don’t seem to understand”
Stop play’n with those fish and git-to-row’n! Sheesh!
Hi Katie,
Reading your post is better than the book I am reading right now…Hee, Hee.
I love your mantra.
How sore are your arms or your lower back? Maybe so some yoga to help relieve soreness and or discomfort.
Gloria~
Hi Katie,
I read your posts everyday when I am at work and think of you out on the ocean.
Well done Katie!! You are progressing so well.
I hope those Tuna stop bothering you – maybe you can train them to start pushing your boat all the way to South America
Keep smiling, singing, dancing & rowing.
Jill
We promise you the biggest – coldest – sweetest lemonade icee when you get back to Mentor! Send us a picture!! We miss you – now get back to rowing and get home soon!
My brother, (a retired minister)follows you everyday and has out family cheering for you. You are an amazing person! I wish I could send you CD books to listen to as you row so you could pass the hours that sometimes get tedious. What wonderful memories you are creating not only for yourself, but others.
Hi Katie, wow you are a heroine in the Cleveland area or in the world, for that matter. I think that this is a stupid idea, but one of the bravest I have seen from a young person like you. Everybody should have a grandiose dream and try to fullill it in their lifetime. I am hoping to meet you in the Cleveland area after your victory over the ocean!! Good luck and God Bless.
I recently read about your endeavor in a magazine. Just wanted to wish you a great journey and letting you know that YOU are a great inspiration for many people everywhere! Keep up the great work!
P.S. just for fun-other name you could use are: Barracuda Kate,
Cuda Katie & the crafty rower.
hey hope ur having fun
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