Blue Boar, Great Ryburgh
Steve and his partner Michelle arrange to meet Laura and I for a meal. Michelle knows what it was like to be on the ‘other end’ while Steve was away for 4 ½ months cycling around the world and wisely suggests we meet to allow Laura a chance to hear her perspective? She and Michelle will need to connect as well as Steve and I and this is an important get together for us all.
We meet at the Blue Boar in Great Ryburgh, www.blueboar-norfolk.co.uk/ not by recommendation, but proof of the value of a good website and a useful half-way house for two halves of a team that live 40 miles apart. A website, now that’s on our list. Any good developers out there who would like to offer their services. Please get in touch.
As part of our broader network building we take the opportunity to chat to the Head Chef and Landlord James, about our plans and promise to keep him in the loop so that he and his patrons can follow our progress in the build-up and live in two years time.
Monday, 30 September 2013
Atlantic Song
Atlantic Song
‘Atlantic Song’, previously 'The Reason Why' had been converted by Rossiter Yachts. info@rossiteryachts.com. Charlie Rossiter has had an association with the Ocean Rowing Society for years and had in conjunction with Southampton University created a pedal drive to fit into an oval slot in the boats hull just forward of the foot well by the main cabin door. They had also worked on an enhanced marine deckchair seen here in the photo of the boat.
I’ve found footage of the boat under comedian power and she’s moving surprisingly quickly I’m thinking for a big boat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWFAi1LnKoI discover later from ‘Tiny’ Little that Justin also answers to ‘Thruster’, so this is maybe why.
Anyway, we determine to follow all this up and to try and make contact with Justin.
‘Atlantic Song’, previously 'The Reason Why' had been converted by Rossiter Yachts. info@rossiteryachts.com. Charlie Rossiter has had an association with the Ocean Rowing Society for years and had in conjunction with Southampton University created a pedal drive to fit into an oval slot in the boats hull just forward of the foot well by the main cabin door. They had also worked on an enhanced marine deckchair seen here in the photo of the boat.
I’ve found footage of the boat under comedian power and she’s moving surprisingly quickly I’m thinking for a big boat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWFAi1LnKoI discover later from ‘Tiny’ Little that Justin also answers to ‘Thruster’, so this is maybe why.
Anyway, we determine to follow all this up and to try and make contact with Justin.
Pedal Power. NOT a Pedalo!
Pedal it.
Steve calls me to ask if I’ve thought about pedalling across! Left field or what! I’m thrown completely of course. I’ve spent 9 years thinking about how to put a rowing boat together to cross and ocean ignoring the biggest deficiency in my physique. I have no arm muscles to speak of and have spent my life cycling everywhere. I didn’t acquire the nickname of ‘chunkles’ for nothing. I know, you need legs to row, but be fair, you also need arms.
Steve has already found a boat. ‘Atlantic Song’ http://www.oceanrowers.com/?page_id=994 previously owned by Justin Coleman a comedian from Leicestershire. Of course he’s a comedian. Pedalos are for comedians aren’t they Freddie?
Seriously it seems this idea also has legs.
Steve calls me to ask if I’ve thought about pedalling across! Left field or what! I’m thrown completely of course. I’ve spent 9 years thinking about how to put a rowing boat together to cross and ocean ignoring the biggest deficiency in my physique. I have no arm muscles to speak of and have spent my life cycling everywhere. I didn’t acquire the nickname of ‘chunkles’ for nothing. I know, you need legs to row, but be fair, you also need arms.
Steve has already found a boat. ‘Atlantic Song’ http://www.oceanrowers.com/?page_id=994 previously owned by Justin Coleman a comedian from Leicestershire. Of course he’s a comedian. Pedalos are for comedians aren’t they Freddie?
Seriously it seems this idea also has legs.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Steve Phillips
Second piece of the Jigsaw
Steve Phillips of http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/cyclists-set-for-battle-in-epic-round-the-world-race-33068/ that introduces his Trans-Globe cycle race is worth a look. Some adventure. Maybe something for retirement. So this is the fella that's called in from the East.
I was in King’s Lynn this afternoon and had a spare hour. Steve was at home. This is weird calling in on a stranger whom your planning to spend 2 ½ months cooped up in a boat with. He’s normal enough! What did I expect really from an Officer of the Law!
In a short half hour we broadly establish that we’re in this for similar reasons. We’re not racers but live for the challenge. This seems to fit the bill. Has he thought about it before? It’s passed across his radar. He has a colleague who did it a few years ago. Mick Burchill, the first of many Atlantic Rowers that we are about to meet as it happens, who spent his allotted time riding the ocean waves with a late change crew-partner Lia in 'Dream Maker', back in 2009/10.
Have I thought about it before? Only for about 9 years my wife reminds me as we approach our 8th wedding anniversary and I still haven’t put it down.
Very quickly the conversation focusses on timing and I leave contemplating 2015, instead of 2017.
Steve Phillips of http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/cyclists-set-for-battle-in-epic-round-the-world-race-33068/ that introduces his Trans-Globe cycle race is worth a look. Some adventure. Maybe something for retirement. So this is the fella that's called in from the East.
I was in King’s Lynn this afternoon and had a spare hour. Steve was at home. This is weird calling in on a stranger whom your planning to spend 2 ½ months cooped up in a boat with. He’s normal enough! What did I expect really from an Officer of the Law!
In a short half hour we broadly establish that we’re in this for similar reasons. We’re not racers but live for the challenge. This seems to fit the bill. Has he thought about it before? It’s passed across his radar. He has a colleague who did it a few years ago. Mick Burchill, the first of many Atlantic Rowers that we are about to meet as it happens, who spent his allotted time riding the ocean waves with a late change crew-partner Lia in 'Dream Maker', back in 2009/10.
Have I thought about it before? Only for about 9 years my wife reminds me as we approach our 8th wedding anniversary and I still haven’t put it down.
Very quickly the conversation focusses on timing and I leave contemplating 2015, instead of 2017.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
IT! Hope this is no omen, though for those that know me, problems with IT would be no surprise. So the Istanbul cyclist has appeared out of the Turkish steam. Apparently trying to get in touch for ages, but with a disconnect somewhere over e-mail addresses.
What a huge relief. Of course this is no guarantee of anything. We might dislike each other or be completely incompatible. Hey Cilla, Blind date has nothing on us.
So check out the Trans-Continental Race website http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/and maybe see you at Westminster Bridge next August.
IT! Hope this is no omen, though for those that know me, problems with IT would be no surprise. So the Istanbul cyclist has appeared out of the Turkish steam. Apparently trying to get in touch for ages, but with a disconnect somewhere over e-mail addresses.
What a huge relief. Of course this is no guarantee of anything. We might dislike each other or be completely incompatible. Hey Cilla, Blind date has nothing on us.
So check out the Trans-Continental Race website http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/and maybe see you at Westminster Bridge next August.
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