Update from Cliff 24 Nov 09
25/Nov/09 00:08 Filed in: Nyamezela
News from Cliff, 24 November 2009:
We had a hot day yesterday - Pete spent it in the cabin glueing in the foam to reduce noise and make it a bit cooler and most important to protect him if the boat should capsize (of which there is a very real chance). The boat is receiving lots of admirers. I asked a few people what makes her special because to an untrained eye she is just another carbon rowing boat. The main response is that it’s because she is so neat and simple. When you look around, that’s exactly the case. Pete has pulled off a great job. Simple, no frills ... just a working boat.
After we had done all the sweaty hot work we came up to our apartment which is about 200m from the boat village and we spent an afternoon going over the medical kit. We had our medical scrutineering today at 11am. There were a few things missing - we had fun though trying to get some stuff from the local pharmacy.
The town La Gomera is small - about the same size as Hermanus town but with a lot fewer houses. It is built in a small valley on steep slopes and it’s very Karoo-looking in its shrubs and bare mountains. The houses have almost a Greek island feel to them. There is a beautiful old church in the town square. In the afternoon the shops all slow for siesta and open again in the evening after which the entire village comes to life with kids playing in the promenade and riding bikes and families walking around. It’s amazing to see. The whole village changes when the rowers come and there is a lot of interest in the race.
This morning I could not sleep so I woke up at 5.30 am SA time (3.30 am La Gomera). My body clock is still stuck in SA. I woke Pete with the smell of hamburgers on the stove (his lunch) and also made some avo sandwiches which will go with bananas. It is hard work making sure Pete eats. I feel like such a nag ... "Pete have a sandwich ... Pete have some water ... Pete have another sandwich ... Pete here is some coke ... Pete some brownies ... mmmmm yummy ... look at the chochoo train come now open wide"... I am trying all the tricks but they are working - Pete has put on a bit more weight for sure.
The race is going to be very interesting. The main rival and the talk (but you never ever know) is a guy called Charlie Pitcher. He is British yachtie and a nice guy. The boat he is rowing is a totally new concept and this is the worry. It is shorter in length by 1.5 m. This means it is that much lighter. It also has the cabin in the front of the boat. The cabin is about twice the height of Nyamezela’s cabin and will act like a spinnaker downwind. It’s a very clever idea. The aft cabin is low and small so Charlie can see oncoming waves. Charlie is a nice guy and has done many ultra marathons like Kim does and has also done the marathon in the Sahara (marathon de Sables) so he has a good head. Why am I telling you all this? Well just to show you that this race is exciting and is going to be a nail biting race. I must also add that there are three other single boats that are very quiet and getting on with the job so one never can tell. It really is up to the weather the rower and his head of which I have no doubt we have the best. Pete is amazing - he freely gives his experience from the last race and just been an all round cool guy. The other younger rowers are picking his brain and he does not act cagey and shares what he can with the most amazing enthusiasm and care. No inflated head or an ‘I am better that you’ attitude. The truth and fun of competing together against elements is what it’s about. I am so proud and stoked to be associated with him. He truly is a wonderful caring man!
Liberty is in good company here - there are a few other insurance company sponsors and Pete has by far the most impressive. The Own Your Life branding along with ‘100% committed’ is so powerful and is going down awesomely with the racers and the public. I think a lot has to do with what lekker guys us South Africans are
So, what else did today hold? We had the medical scrutiny at 11 but we were missing a rectal thermometer. We’re going to have to get someone to bring one in as La Gomera is fresh out. Then we started fitting the water maker. Pete has arranged for a technical representative from the company which manufactured it to come out from the UK to prime (pickle) the water maker and test it before Pete sets off. We were also intending to do the dagger boards as well as fix an eye bolt which was not properly fitted and broke!
We are both doing well and it’s so great to have the messages of support from the home town and country. It’s good to have solid support to read to Pete daily. I know it helps with the butterflies in his tummy.
We had a hot day yesterday - Pete spent it in the cabin glueing in the foam to reduce noise and make it a bit cooler and most important to protect him if the boat should capsize (of which there is a very real chance). The boat is receiving lots of admirers. I asked a few people what makes her special because to an untrained eye she is just another carbon rowing boat. The main response is that it’s because she is so neat and simple. When you look around, that’s exactly the case. Pete has pulled off a great job. Simple, no frills ... just a working boat.
After we had done all the sweaty hot work we came up to our apartment which is about 200m from the boat village and we spent an afternoon going over the medical kit. We had our medical scrutineering today at 11am. There were a few things missing - we had fun though trying to get some stuff from the local pharmacy.
The town La Gomera is small - about the same size as Hermanus town but with a lot fewer houses. It is built in a small valley on steep slopes and it’s very Karoo-looking in its shrubs and bare mountains. The houses have almost a Greek island feel to them. There is a beautiful old church in the town square. In the afternoon the shops all slow for siesta and open again in the evening after which the entire village comes to life with kids playing in the promenade and riding bikes and families walking around. It’s amazing to see. The whole village changes when the rowers come and there is a lot of interest in the race.
This morning I could not sleep so I woke up at 5.30 am SA time (3.30 am La Gomera). My body clock is still stuck in SA. I woke Pete with the smell of hamburgers on the stove (his lunch) and also made some avo sandwiches which will go with bananas. It is hard work making sure Pete eats. I feel like such a nag ... "Pete have a sandwich ... Pete have some water ... Pete have another sandwich ... Pete here is some coke ... Pete some brownies ... mmmmm yummy ... look at the chochoo train come now open wide"... I am trying all the tricks but they are working - Pete has put on a bit more weight for sure.
The race is going to be very interesting. The main rival and the talk (but you never ever know) is a guy called Charlie Pitcher. He is British yachtie and a nice guy. The boat he is rowing is a totally new concept and this is the worry. It is shorter in length by 1.5 m. This means it is that much lighter. It also has the cabin in the front of the boat. The cabin is about twice the height of Nyamezela’s cabin and will act like a spinnaker downwind. It’s a very clever idea. The aft cabin is low and small so Charlie can see oncoming waves. Charlie is a nice guy and has done many ultra marathons like Kim does and has also done the marathon in the Sahara (marathon de Sables) so he has a good head. Why am I telling you all this? Well just to show you that this race is exciting and is going to be a nail biting race. I must also add that there are three other single boats that are very quiet and getting on with the job so one never can tell. It really is up to the weather the rower and his head of which I have no doubt we have the best. Pete is amazing - he freely gives his experience from the last race and just been an all round cool guy. The other younger rowers are picking his brain and he does not act cagey and shares what he can with the most amazing enthusiasm and care. No inflated head or an ‘I am better that you’ attitude. The truth and fun of competing together against elements is what it’s about. I am so proud and stoked to be associated with him. He truly is a wonderful caring man!
Liberty is in good company here - there are a few other insurance company sponsors and Pete has by far the most impressive. The Own Your Life branding along with ‘100% committed’ is so powerful and is going down awesomely with the racers and the public. I think a lot has to do with what lekker guys us South Africans are
So, what else did today hold? We had the medical scrutiny at 11 but we were missing a rectal thermometer. We’re going to have to get someone to bring one in as La Gomera is fresh out. Then we started fitting the water maker. Pete has arranged for a technical representative from the company which manufactured it to come out from the UK to prime (pickle) the water maker and test it before Pete sets off. We were also intending to do the dagger boards as well as fix an eye bolt which was not properly fitted and broke!
We are both doing well and it’s so great to have the messages of support from the home town and country. It’s good to have solid support to read to Pete daily. I know it helps with the butterflies in his tummy.
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