Spending New Year with barnacles, flying fish, whales…oh and a shark!
Race Diary as told by Alison Payne (Miriam’s Mum)
Friday 13th January 2023
A very Happy New Year to you all. I do hope 2023 is a good one for you!
As I’m writing this, we got the news yesterday that Miriam has passed the half way mark! What an achievement for a solo rower. This I’m sure will be a big boost to her morale. Miriam is continuing to make good progress albeit a bit slower the last few days. This has been due to choppy seas and the weather conditions but things look to be improving over the weekend and into next week.
New Year for Miriam started on a somewhat high note with a Hogmanay visitor!! Not someone tall, dark and handsome but a shark! Yes, I said a shark. She managed to get her go pro in the water and get some excellent footage of the shark circling round her boat! 🦈
Once the shark went Miriam got into the water and cleaned her boat! I think I would have left it for another day. Those of you who know Miriam know fear is not a word in her vocabulary. Flying fish have been frequent visitors too, often landing in her boat. Miriam has not seen any dolphins or turtles as yet but hopefully with calmer seas ahead she’ll hopefully be lucky and might be able to see them too.
Although very tired which understandably is par for the course at this stage Miriam is getting into a good routine of eating, rowing and sleeping. She continues to struggle with the freeze-dried food but knows it’s a means to an end. Miriam has a music list on Spotify and numerous audio books to listen too. I think Harry Potter has been a favourite. Two satellite phones mean she can keep in touch with us at home and its lovely get a call form her. One of the phones is kept for contact only with the race organisers. She will speak to them most days and any issues or problems can be discussed and sorted out during these calls.
On a twice daily basis Miriam gets a weather report from her weather router. This allows her to help plan the best way forward taking into consideration the weather and sea conditions.
Miriam is allowing herself a very well-deserved treat of a chocolate orange, a can of Irn Bru and a tin of fruit every 500 miles. This just gives her a wee boost and helps to keep her going. Miriam very much enjoys her food especially chocolate and fruit. On a lighter note, my weekly shop has decreased considerably both in volume and cost since the race has started. I will need to stock well up before she comes home.
Miriam’s progress so far - She’s crossed the half way mark! 🎉
Miriam in the Media!
Both Christopher and I would like to thank everyone for their kind messages and support. This is all very much appreciated and we do enjoy hearing from you all.
Alison x