Official Jessica Watson Blog
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Ella's Pink Lady has been steadily plodding along north and east out into the Atlantic and yesterday I was treated to a day of incredible sunshine. It was so lovely that I actually drifted off to sleep, sprawled out across the cabin top (of course, with my Ella Bache sunscreen on!). The warm sun and the sound of the water against the hull had me nodding off within minutes.
Better still I was woken up by a pod of beautiful back and white dolphins swimming along next to us. As always they were a treat to watch, playing in the greeny, blue swell. Then there was the pretty pink sunset that I could actually enjoy sitting outside without feeling like my fingers and toes were about to fall off. Sorry, I feel like I'm bragging!Seeing as I've been out here for over three months and very almost 100 days, I thought I'd put together a list of what I miss the most. Not that it's not all totally worth it out here!
Family and friends pretty obviously come first .Particularly my brother and sisters. Second is being able to sleep and relax without the constant feeling of needing to be ready for anything. Third would be sleep - long, uninterrupted sleep with no alarms and nothing to wake me! (That's how I intend on spending my first few weeks back home, so please don't make any plans for
me!).
Then there's walking. I really miss being able to stretch my legs on the beach or anywhere actually. And food. Even though I'm still not at all bored with what's on-board, I'm often having a craving for various types of fresh food, a crunchy salad, any type of fruit, even vegetables. I'd give a lot for a good cup of coffee, as you can't do much with slightly gross tank-water and powdered milk!
A long hot bath goes without saying and I can't say how much I'd appreciate someone else taking a turn at washing the dishes for a change!
Oh, and chocolate that hasn't been melted and re-set, I certainly miss that. It just doesn't taste the same!
It's another nice day in this part of the Atlantic. Ella's Pink Lady is reaching at 5knots with 13knots of wind. I'm off to put the fishing line out again. Something that I've neglected since it got cold. I'm not sure what there is to catch down this way, but no harm in trying right?
Jesse
Recent Posts
- Only Six Weeks Until Our Exciting Campaign Starts!
- The Mini Fastnet, Turning 18 and World Food Programme Youth Ambassador
- Our Youth Should Have A Voice!
- Study, Ella’s Pink Lady and New Zealand
- Introducing The New Project!
- Bilbies, Bike Rides and Other Events
- Jessica the Bilby!
- Young Australian of the Year & Germany!
- Lion’s Club Fundraiser for the Flood Appeal this Sunday
- Happy New Year, Sailing & QLD Floods
Archive
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- August 2010 (5)
- July 2010 (2)
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Comments
Thank you for sharing your stories - I wish you and your team strength to face each new challenge. From afar we can only try to imagine the depth of despair and sadness that must envelope Haiti at this time.
You are in our thoughts, all the best,
JJ
xx
WOW
Touching story
Hearing things like that just rip your heart out. They seem unreal.
God bless you and all the teams that are in Haiti trying to help.
what's an adventure without challenges! great show in handling those storms.
sail safe
mahati & sundar
We will see how it unfolds.
@queenslander, rough measurement on my globe suggests that the distance of one degree of longitude at latitude 45 south is 45 nautical miles. She has about 180 degrees of longitude yet to cross, but it would only amount to something less than 9,000 nautical miles. She has to sail further than that to qualify, right?
Hi Jesse,
Fair Winds,
Richard Lathrop
I am grateful for your addition to my recipe book lol Im with Amazedbyou on this ....
(Back shortly ...
So Happy
Ty
Steve P
Cheers
@Samson Aka Peter.
You where the one that talked about the ‘Elle McPhersonish posing snake’?
I have just had an outer body experience, overloaded with embarrassment. Cause if it was not you, that post of mine and your response makes for an interesting read.
I normally have a glass of water around to wash my foot down. What snake do you think I was fondly thinking about?? The snake I was referring is definitely the slippery kind. (let me explain that a bit better) The ones that have two eyes and hiss. It was you, I am sure it was you (Please god let it be you) Dehlia would be asking questions…..
Pssst. Seriously re-think picnic spot…they aren’t rocks, they’re are drop bears..!!
Ba ha ha ha
@Faye and Max, January 22, 2010 7:28 PM so you don’t bite the corners of the Tim Tams and suck Port through…I was going to do that…!! How funny. I’m having a great day.
@William, ha ha ha, I reckon that would be about right…!! Cheers, Paula
♣Grant Fjermedal, Seattle... your words about Abby Sunderland (she who can't be named, lol) were nice.
She seems to be getting her fair share of negative press just like Jessica (but more to do with wealth it seems).
This of course is in direct contrast to the positive press her brother got during his 'laid back' solo sojourn around the world a couple of years earlier (through the tropics via cities such as Darwin of all places, lol) It's far easier to be male.
It's going to be a tough attempt for Abby with a modern style yacht (looks fast)
It's a HUGE ask for her to do it without any gear problems but good luck to her anyway.
I'm loving the end bits of this post...
♣Anon..."now put your bib back on."( ru forgetting that bit abt toad drool?)
and
♣Amazed by you ..."5 finger fountain" , that's easily 2 x lol's.
All in good spirit of course =D
♣ Rich (Yes, there's two) wrote...[In the book Moby Dick, the author Melville calls them (Dolphins) "the lads before the wind" ]. Nostradamus or just a good reader, lol.
Hoo Roo.
You said...
Anonymous said...
@Richiparis
Cape leeuwin is off the sw cnr of western australia, now put your bib back on.
@Queenslander
Bob is already working over 12hours a day. thats what were here for. not too many asking quetions anyway i'm sure we can handle it.
January 23, 2010 10:13 AM
I think your comments that sneak through are brilliant! As it confuses the young people who read them as they ask why someone would go out of their way to put others down, it gives me the opportunity to explain to them that that is what some people are like and you might come across them in your life. It gives me the chance to explain that this is not what you want to become as you will always be that bitter person and know one will ever want to be around you unless they are the same.
I must say that at least you have something in common with Jesse!
She is the solo trooper taking on an awesome challenge whilst you're running solo as well! You are the only clown in your own pathetic circus!
Your Bozo the idiot!
Sorry Jess!
Don’t you miss green? You have a pink boat with blue interior (with graffiti all over the walls and ceiling) don’t you miss green lawns, plants and trees?
It's a long shot, but you haven't got a skinny brother that lives in Eagle Hawk have you???
because you said on January 23, 2010 2:52 AM,
Blogmeister Andrew... An FAQ page would help answer questions like this! Especially for the late comers trying to play catch up!
How are you, Jesse? Could you manage to stay warm and may be not too wet?
@Stephen M., Transplanted Aussie in Maryland, Tranplanted Marylander in Haiti... Hang on, we are all with you by thoughts. Everyone seems to be quite supportive for this poor doomed country, but the hardest work is yours; it looks awfully easy to send money, we feel we did our duty, but the hearts remain full of horror and sympathy.
The details you tell us are sharp and touching.
Be brave. I wish you had a them scallywags crew too, to help you with the Haitian children.
Earth is not always (as we would like to believe) a merry-go-round with frolicking yachts circumnavigating, and has sometimes the dreadful looks of a sorry-go-square, with tsunamis and earthquakes.
Jesse is involved in a hard and long challenge, and the fact she is doing so well should not make us forget that the task she is facing is BIG.
By the way, the route is supposed to be Equator crossing + the 3 big Capes (Horn-Good Hope & Agulhas, Leeuwin for America, Africa, Australia, and the cherry on the cake is the South-East Cape for Tasmania. No shortcuts for our Ladies!
@Faye and Max, Susan in Oregon... great posts again!
@Peter Gold Coast... Emma Chessit! OMG!!!! Unbelievable, and so funny! Reminds me of an Irish bus driver who talked to me in english, and I got my first few words after 20 minutes!!! From then on, I had understood the accent and I started followin what he said. Accents are the pepper of a language, there are so many of them, it's like a game, and to play, you have to pay an entrance fee.
@Great Lakes Guy... Loved your schedule... Don't you think that it might make Jessica skip stopping in Sydney and keep sailing to a paradisiac Pacific island to preserve the peaceful life she has now? lol
@Romagirl... Your observations are sharp. Wide spaces and skies, and being in the middle of nature are points shared for inland and at sea. Thank you.
@Jony the Pony. You are welcome. I was astonished, that guy's entries being actually different from yours. We are so many followers now that a few weird ones might have sneaked in? Anonymacy is so easy... or any nickname... and why not stealing one, after all?
@71 year young Granny... Thank you for your so sweet words. I am just like you, I met a Mrs Right... Maybe she is married to your Mr Right? ;-)
@the McGraths. That sailing school sounds good. At least while the little paws are not with you!
@Trudy from Austritralia... A big hello and thank you for that unbelievable Moko story. What a story...
Thanks to your incredible shore team, I've just read your latest news.
Brace yourself alright, but I have every confidence in you and have a feeling you're going to enjoy this next challenge and reflect on it later with much appreciation for having experienced it and passed with flying colours.
This is what you and EPL have prepared for so go for it and take care. You can do this and you're doing an incredible job of it. I hope huey plays fair. Stay focused and safe and catchya on the flip side.
I'll be thinking of you so good luck and bye for now...(Aunty) Sam XX
Cheers from Seattle- USA!
Megan
aussie meat pie recipe.dont worry if you canthttp://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/Aussie-Meat-Pie-L4678.html get vegemite,will still taste good.
OMG Mate! It won't be much but I'll donate what I can!
Hope we can pull together as best as we all can!
Take care of them Steve!
Inspired through Jess!
Stay focused sweet heart and hammer this storm out! You will!!!
Billy!
Grant's video and song got me all puddled up! (Thank you, Grant). Jesse, In the sidebar I saw that your videos get tens of thousands of views.
This CyberPod of Pink Fans is so warm and talented!
Gotta go find Kleenex,
Patricia
"Bob is already working over 12hours a day."
I don't doubt it!
Why are you telling ME?
Hi Jessica,
Just had to say hello and wish you the best in this oncoming blow. I still feel very confident in your ability to ride it out. Strap yourself in, and make sure all them little scallywags have their belts on also.
When it’s over, have yourself a nice hot bowl of soup…..Yeah,….
I don’t have any idea when you expect to hit this storm, but like I said before, your shore crew will keep us informed when you clear it.
Loads of love and hugs, your faithful friend, fan and follower.
May God be with you and watch over you and may the angels keep your sails full, and I, I will keep you in my prayers.
Michael (75) from Kingwood, WV
CAN NOT TALK NOW
STOP.
WIFE IN NEXT ROOM
STOP.
WIFE VERY JEALOUS.
STOP.
ESPECIALLY SINCE I NOW HAVE #5 CREW CUT.
STOP.
WHEN SHE SEES ME IN CARGO COMBAT ATTIRE SHE GO CRAZY
STOP
WILL BLOG YOU LATER
STOP
PLEASE USE CODE NAME (SAMSON) FOR FUTURE BLOGS TO ME
STOP
I AM TAKING DELILAH OUT NOW FOR PICNIC AT #2 ROCK.
STOP
WE LIVE AT # 3 ROCK FROM FENCE (RABBIT PROOF)
STOP
MUST GO AS DELILAH IS GETTING SUSPICIOUS, will blog later, please provide code name.
LAST STOP
PETER BUSH (Samson)
HYDEN, WA, AUSTRALIA
Thanks for telling us about the dolphins playing beside you and the pretty pink sunset. Please continue to brag about your special moments. It brings a smile to our faces.
Missing things: I know when I return from camping I too love again the fresh fruit and vegies .. and showers. I love also being able to turn on the lights with a flick of a switch and opening the fridge to find ... yum. The camping expeditions make me appreciate so much things that we just take for granted. All those things that you now miss you will appreciate just so much more later on and for the rest of your life.
Take care and stay safe.
Ailsa
from Melbourne
Cape leeuwin is off the sw cnr of western australia, now put your bib back on.
@Queenslander
Bob is already working over 12hours a day. thats what were here for. not too many asking quetions anyway i'm sure we can handle it.