After meeting two Venezuelan fishing boats in the same day, I played it safe and did my evening shift with the nav-light on (I usually only leave it on while sleeping, as it can be difficult to watch for waves with it on). The light seemed to attract a different kind of visitor: a bird. It was flying rather awkwardly, almost like a bat, and found itself a spot in the cockpit.
Midnight … 2AM … 6AM … 8AM … it was still there. Most other birds leave by sunrise so I knew something must be up. And then it did it. It hobbled around, unable to fly with perhaps a broken wing. With a cockpit about 4-feet long, I debated whether or not this was the right place for an injured bird. I couldn’t bear to put “Hobs” overboard, so I let him stay.
After 10 minutes of rowing, I feared running him over with the sliding seat, so I fenced him in the corner of the cockpit with some snacks; they remained uneaten. Humans can have three days without water and possibly 10 without food; if that is the standard for birds too, I’m afraid Hobs’ days may be numbered.
With less than 150 miles to go, it’s now my personal mission to do what I can to save Hobs.
{ 27 comments }
Gooooo Katie!
Blessings for Hobbs and for you
as you Reach Georgetown
aided by the bated breath of we, your land side team,
filled to the brim with admiration, and relief for you.
Godspeed
Hobs, Get Well Soon!!
Katie, can you take a picture of him?
We pray for you everyday! We’re so excited you’re almost finished. Your pictures are posted on the map in our main hall. You are such an inspiration! All Saints School, Wickliffe, Ohio
Poor little bird. Can your team try to make contact with someone in Guyana who can take the fellow off your hands when you get there? The Guyana National Zoo (www.guyanazoo.org.gy/ ) might be of some help.
Take care and be safe!
Hang in there Hobbs! but… it’s also kind of fitting that you’re rowing for water and what that little bird needs most is fresh water.
Katie: you must be so excited as you approach land. I think you should write a book about your adventure. I think it can be like Hemingways “Old Man in the Sea”, I bet it would be a best seller. Bill
Sea birds can drink salt water with no ill effects…
Hi Katie,
Just wondering but where did the name Hobs come from? Did you get to make contact with the boats or not? You are so close! Can you see land yet? I hope you know what a difference you are making by taking this journey! You are so brilliant!
Love
Sophia S
Do you expect to have trouble walking when you hit land?! I just thought about how strange it is going to feel!
Nice for you to pick up a hitchhiker, what company he will be as you complete the final rows, someone to talk and share the last bit of the journey, who knows is he there for you or are you there for him!
Beth
How is Hobs doing? Hopefully he will make it the rest of the way with you and someone on land can help fix his wing. I know you are SO close to finishing your journey and I am SO excited for you. I have followed you since the moment you left Dakar and it has been absolutely wonderful to have shared your adventure with my first graders in Geneva. They become so excited whenever I tell them I have “news about Katie”. I have used you as an example so many times with my kids about how you can do anything you put your mind to, patience, being persistant, being brave, being able to change your plans, etc. We even “rowed” our spelling words this week in your honor. I wish we could all be there to greet you when you get to shore, but maybe you can come visit our classroom sometime when you get home. God speed, Katie.
I believe Hobbs is actually a messenger of St. Francis of Assisi, sent to assist you on this last leg. He was known to preach to the birds, and was of course a protector and friend to all animals.
From Saint Francis’ Canticle of All Creatures
Heavenly Father,
You gave Your servant Francis
great love for each of Your creatures.
Teach us to see Your design in all of creation.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
I have a bird. One thing you can do is use some of your desalinated water and make a sort of a mash with whatever you might have that he could eat. Birds can eat most people foods. Nothing high in sodium. If you have oatmeal, try that. When birds are sick or injured they sort of revert back to baby stage and mother birds feed their babies mashed food. He might go for that. If you have a water bottle with a squirt top you can try giving him some water that way, squirting it in his beak. Not knowing what kind of bird he is I don’t know how much danger there is of him biting you so I don’t know how close you can get to him safely. And…if one of those flying fish ends up on your deck again, put that within his reach and see if he eats that. You are amazing, inspiring, and Hobbs is a lucky bird to have met you!
Katie,
You are an inspiration! Have you heard the saying “There are no accidents”? It will be interesting to see what further role Hobs may have. If you can snap a picture of him/her and post it here, I’m sure we’d all enjoy it. Best of luck to both of you on this last part of your journey.
Kate
Hobs was sent to keep you company on this last part of your journey ! Leave it to you, Katie, to finish up rowing thousands of miles and nurse a wounded bird back to health at the same time……
We all remain GLUED to your site for your next update….. 
– Michelle
Katie,
How about one more pic of you at sea!! One of Hobs would be pretty cool too! We are so excited you’ll be home soon – we miss you like crazy and are so proud of you!
Uncle Pat, Aunt Sheli, Sean, Ryan, Connor, Matt
Hey Kate -
Do you see land? Or have your already? What’s that feel like to you – weird since you’ve seen blue for so long? Stay safe – see you soon; we’ll have a smoothie waiting. Can’t commit to the wheatgrass (yuck).
UM,AM,C,A,T
Katie,
I work with your cousin Bob and have been following your trip since I learned about it. You are an inspiration to many and I look forward to meeting you one day soon.
Ted
I sure hope Hobs makes it to land with you Katie – I’m thinking not a pirate – just a good person!!!!!!!!! You’re SO close! I keep wondering about your leg muscles – will you have a tough time walking? I hope you’ll continue to post either here or on facebook after your row is done. You’ve become part of my and so many other’s daily lives!!!!!!!!!!
elli
*Waves hello again* Hello sweet girl I am so excited for you getting to the end of your journey. So looking forward to hearing that you have reached land at last but will be lost not seeing your tweets or posts. You are amazing! Take care on this last leg, lots of hazzards out there close to land .
Good night and God bless pet, love from me.
Paulineb
Perth
West Aussie
Greetings From first grade Katie–Your former first grade at Holy Cross School. We are so proud of you, you are so brave, and you have taught us such valuable lessons about life. We have watched daily as you have shown the world what can be accomplished with determination, grace and purpose. We have followed you since you left and the children pray for you daily. We hope you can come back for a visit to Holy Cross School sometime soon. God Bless You Katie, Mrs. Patricia Pillar and your first grade friends. XOXOXO
Hobs because, he hobbles? Makes me wonder if you were a fan of Calvin and Hobbes…
I hope you can return to land safely and bring Hobs along with you. How fascinating that you now have a companion to help see you through your journey.
Godspeed!
Katie,
I am part of a philanthropic group that has been following the final leg of your trip – from Las Vegas, Nevada. You deserve all the help you can get providing pure water to people in need worldwide. I can make and share water purification drops and a food grade child and pet safe pest control product that can also save the lives of millions of children from insect borne diseases.
A possible additional reward for your hard work and accomplishments.
Hi Kate,
First: is the bird ‘hobs’ still alive?
If he is please let us know and your team can contact us at Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds Society to get him off your hands and help him recuperate…
If not, still do contact us so we can see what specie it is, send us a photo – we will still love to have it to do a skin specimen for the Species collection skin specimen at the Smithosian Institue in UG here.
if you have a photo of this bird – please donnot hesitate to send it to us.
Katie, our email address is gatbs@yahoo.com or you can call us once you get settled in and need to let go of the bird. 225-2190
What happened to Hobs?
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