Thanks for all your messages everyone, really appreciated. Hayley and Rosanna, thanks for yours, we're fine.
We are trying to use as little power as possible so sorry to ask this but please keep messages to a minimum now, it's not that we don't want to hear from you all, just that we may not be able to recharge the phone if it's battery dies. Also need to ensure we have power for the VHF so we can speak to the coastguard as we near Cape Verde.
A BIG thank you to Caroline and CARPHONE WAREHOUSE for organising the Iridium phone for us. We couldn't have done without it, even if the bill is going to need a mortgage to pay it off. Hope you had a lovely honeymoon in Colarado Caroline. Thanks for all that you've done.
NIGHTSEARCHER
At night we no longer use the main light as it drains the battery too much, so it's very dark! We've got some battery powered lights but they are not as strong. I think we've both adjusted to the nights but it's still as eerie as hell at times.
Thanks to all our sponsors, friends and familes and the kind people that have provided equipment on loan. Wishing you all the best for 2009!
Bye for now, Ken & Aldo xx
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
New Year's Eve - Rock bottom!
Just a quick update to let you know we are both fine. Jupiter and Neptune are still at war with us and we're struggling to make any headway. We are both absolutely gutted. We just want to be able to get on and row.
The disappointment cannot be put into words. Two years of hard work and detemination to get this far and the Gods of the sea and sky are determined to derail us. The technical problem just adds to our frustration and we really have no choice than to try to get ashore as soon as we can.
We estimate we are about 415 miles off the coast of Cape Verde, which is now our final destination.
Latest coordinates N23 31 707 W20 54 122.
We should be so much further by now but just haven't been able to put in the rowing hours! Urrrrrrgh! Why? why? why? Such bad luck with the weather!
We are aiming to row to the island of Sal. Will keep you posted, but at the moment the conditions are holding us back and it feels impossible to get anywhere. Just need a little bit of luck to get us on our way!
Thanks everyone for your support. It's not going to be the outcome we wanted and I'm sorry. The disappointment feels overwhelming at the moment but that's all part of taking on such a challenge, there are no guarantees and the big challenge now is making it safely to Cape Verde. I guess that in itself is going to be tricky but we're up for it.
Certainly isn't going to be the start we had hoped for to 2009 but I'm looking forward to coming home. Sorry we wont be going to Antigua Dawnie. Hope the funeral was ok yesterday.
Gill, no doubt you'll be pleased to see Ken, as I hear the blow up husband you got for Christmas is a very poor substitute. Ken sends his love to you and all the family.
Everyday is the same out here and I've only just realised it's New Year's Eve. So wishing you all a happy and healthy 2009.
Hope to see you all a bit sooner than planned. Let's hope the weather is kind over the next week or so. Gotta go as trying to preserve what power we have left....
Happy New Year from a very disappointed Aldo & Ken xxx
The disappointment cannot be put into words. Two years of hard work and detemination to get this far and the Gods of the sea and sky are determined to derail us. The technical problem just adds to our frustration and we really have no choice than to try to get ashore as soon as we can.
We estimate we are about 415 miles off the coast of Cape Verde, which is now our final destination.
Latest coordinates N23 31 707 W20 54 122.
We should be so much further by now but just haven't been able to put in the rowing hours! Urrrrrrgh! Why? why? why? Such bad luck with the weather!
We are aiming to row to the island of Sal. Will keep you posted, but at the moment the conditions are holding us back and it feels impossible to get anywhere. Just need a little bit of luck to get us on our way!
Thanks everyone for your support. It's not going to be the outcome we wanted and I'm sorry. The disappointment feels overwhelming at the moment but that's all part of taking on such a challenge, there are no guarantees and the big challenge now is making it safely to Cape Verde. I guess that in itself is going to be tricky but we're up for it.
Certainly isn't going to be the start we had hoped for to 2009 but I'm looking forward to coming home. Sorry we wont be going to Antigua Dawnie. Hope the funeral was ok yesterday.
Gill, no doubt you'll be pleased to see Ken, as I hear the blow up husband you got for Christmas is a very poor substitute. Ken sends his love to you and all the family.
Everyday is the same out here and I've only just realised it's New Year's Eve. So wishing you all a happy and healthy 2009.
Hope to see you all a bit sooner than planned. Let's hope the weather is kind over the next week or so. Gotta go as trying to preserve what power we have left....
Happy New Year from a very disappointed Aldo & Ken xxx
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Tuesday 30 December - Thunderstorms without charge!
So here we are two days further into the trip and we haven't moved a bloomin' nautical mile! Frustrated, bored and p***d off is putting it mildly. The sun hasn't shone for days and the solar panels are still not working properly so we're running on very low power, so apologies for having to keep communication short.
The wind is still blowing a South Westerly, so against us all the way. It's been impossible to row against but believe me we've tried. Hence the sea anchor has been out more than in!
Last night we had severe thunderstorms and during the day heavy rain, so we beginning to think that Jupiter is determined to give us the hardest time possible. With that said we are considering our options. We're looking to drop south and row to Cape Verde Islands as without power and hence without any form of communication, the risk is too great to attempt the full 3000 miles to Antigua. We're both gutted to think our challenge may be over due to technical problems but we need to make a calculated judgement and think of safety first.
Hopefully we'll be able to give another update soon, power permitting, so keep checking.
Rest assured we're both doing fine, keen as ever to row and are determined to use our frustration to get ashore safely. Fingers crossed we could be there in 10 days or so.
No coordinates today as we've not really moved. We just need some good luck to come our way as we've had a distinct lack of any so far! Hopefully Neptune will be kinder to us now.
Thinking of you all. Ken & Aldo
The wind is still blowing a South Westerly, so against us all the way. It's been impossible to row against but believe me we've tried. Hence the sea anchor has been out more than in!
Last night we had severe thunderstorms and during the day heavy rain, so we beginning to think that Jupiter is determined to give us the hardest time possible. With that said we are considering our options. We're looking to drop south and row to Cape Verde Islands as without power and hence without any form of communication, the risk is too great to attempt the full 3000 miles to Antigua. We're both gutted to think our challenge may be over due to technical problems but we need to make a calculated judgement and think of safety first.
Hopefully we'll be able to give another update soon, power permitting, so keep checking.
Rest assured we're both doing fine, keen as ever to row and are determined to use our frustration to get ashore safely. Fingers crossed we could be there in 10 days or so.
No coordinates today as we've not really moved. We just need some good luck to come our way as we've had a distinct lack of any so far! Hopefully Neptune will be kinder to us now.
Thinking of you all. Ken & Aldo
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Saturday 27 December - technical problems!!
Another very disappointing day, not only has the weather been against us yet again but we're now without any charge from our solar panels. Fingers crossed it's just a little blip and when daylight returns the solar panels will get charging again. Needless to say we are feeling just a little deflated.
We've only managed about a mile per hour today, so it ain't good. We've even changed our routine to doing alternate one hour rows but it doesn't seem to have helped.
Our coordinates tonight N24 16 068 W 20 56 694. Yeah, not moved much have we? Well better not use what little power we have, so going to leave it there....
We're in good spirits and keeping positive but realise it could all be over if the solar panels don't kick in. Please God it's just a little technical blip!
Good night. Ken & Aldo xxxx
We've only managed about a mile per hour today, so it ain't good. We've even changed our routine to doing alternate one hour rows but it doesn't seem to have helped.
Our coordinates tonight N24 16 068 W 20 56 694. Yeah, not moved much have we? Well better not use what little power we have, so going to leave it there....
We're in good spirits and keeping positive but realise it could all be over if the solar panels don't kick in. Please God it's just a little technical blip!
Good night. Ken & Aldo xxxx
Boxing Day & strong South Westerly's
Having rowed about 29 miles yesterday we now appear to be going nowhere again! The strong South Westerly wind is making it impossible and we are bored and frustrated. The rain is back and we've decided to give up trying to row until the weather subsides a bit.
Last reading N24 36 595 W 20 54 168. Ken keeps twittering on about "now we know why sails were invented!!"
Polly, thanks for the Christmas box of surprises. Really at a loss with what we should do with the condoms you packed and more to the point, what's with the willie vibrator?? Getting enough rocking here without adding to it. Hope you've had a good couple of days and thanks for going to the trouble of packing up the goodie box for us.
Well Gigsy you'll be glad to know I wore my Welsh footie socks on Christmas day. All day! Hope you've had a good one.
We've both been reading for most of the day, as little else to do. Haven't even bothered to cook anything as we don't feel we deserve it. Really fed up that we're out of our shift pattern of two hours on, two hours off. Really hope things improve for tomorrow.
Thanks for the book Ziggy, I read it in two days, which is pretty good going for me.
Well going to sign off now. Keep sending your messages and sorry we cannot return them. Trying to keep the phone bill down as this trip is definitely costing an arm, leg, torso, foot et al.
Not sure my body will be worth anything after this!
Love to everyone back home.
Ken & Aldo xxx
P.S. Kiffy has been back and seems to be taking great joy out of the fact that we've hardly got anywhere. He's laughing at us!
Last reading N24 36 595 W 20 54 168. Ken keeps twittering on about "now we know why sails were invented!!"
Polly, thanks for the Christmas box of surprises. Really at a loss with what we should do with the condoms you packed and more to the point, what's with the willie vibrator?? Getting enough rocking here without adding to it. Hope you've had a good couple of days and thanks for going to the trouble of packing up the goodie box for us.
Well Gigsy you'll be glad to know I wore my Welsh footie socks on Christmas day. All day! Hope you've had a good one.
We've both been reading for most of the day, as little else to do. Haven't even bothered to cook anything as we don't feel we deserve it. Really fed up that we're out of our shift pattern of two hours on, two hours off. Really hope things improve for tomorrow.
Thanks for the book Ziggy, I read it in two days, which is pretty good going for me.
Well going to sign off now. Keep sending your messages and sorry we cannot return them. Trying to keep the phone bill down as this trip is definitely costing an arm, leg, torso, foot et al.
Not sure my body will be worth anything after this!
Love to everyone back home.
Ken & Aldo xxx
P.S. Kiffy has been back and seems to be taking great joy out of the fact that we've hardly got anywhere. He's laughing at us!
Friday, 26 December 2008
Christmas Day 2008 - Santa's helpers, please give us some!
Well sadly the winds have been against us once again today so we've made little progress. Thanks for all your text messages from home. Really odd being away from you all on Christmas Day. Hope you've all enjoyed your roast turkey lurky. We've been dreaming of a nice roast dinner but I settled for Chiken Korma again.
Ken and I had some fun with our gifts from home. We hear you were given a substitute hubby for the day Gill, of the blow up kind! We put tinsel on the deck and wore our Father Christmas hats (compliments of Dawnie)and pulled a few crackers (of the paper kind)but just not the same as being cosy with our loved ones at home as, I'm sure you can all imagine. Missing you all.
Have attempted to row today but may only have travelled about 10 miles as the weather is really not in our favour. I cannot wait to get home. The next six weeks feel like a lifetime away. Looking forward to our time in Antigua.
Well everyone hope you enjoy the rest of your day. How was the Queen's speech? Our coordinates at 2.30 were N24 51 294 W20 31 514. Don't tell me Pete, we're going backwards!!
Sorry our calls home were brief but lovely to speak to you all. Thinking of you.
Ken & Aldo xxxx
Kiffy has hardly been around today. I think he must be partying somewhere else. If only we could fly off for a day for a change of scenery! Saying that we've had some wonderful sunrises out here on the big ocean. My favourite part of the day.
God bless everyone and let's pray for some fair trade winds to blow us in to 2009!
Ken and I had some fun with our gifts from home. We hear you were given a substitute hubby for the day Gill, of the blow up kind! We put tinsel on the deck and wore our Father Christmas hats (compliments of Dawnie)and pulled a few crackers (of the paper kind)but just not the same as being cosy with our loved ones at home as, I'm sure you can all imagine. Missing you all.
Have attempted to row today but may only have travelled about 10 miles as the weather is really not in our favour. I cannot wait to get home. The next six weeks feel like a lifetime away. Looking forward to our time in Antigua.
Well everyone hope you enjoy the rest of your day. How was the Queen's speech? Our coordinates at 2.30 were N24 51 294 W20 31 514. Don't tell me Pete, we're going backwards!!
Sorry our calls home were brief but lovely to speak to you all. Thinking of you.
Ken & Aldo xxxx
Kiffy has hardly been around today. I think he must be partying somewhere else. If only we could fly off for a day for a change of scenery! Saying that we've had some wonderful sunrises out here on the big ocean. My favourite part of the day.
God bless everyone and let's pray for some fair trade winds to blow us in to 2009!
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Christmas Eve - going nowhere!
Evening everyone, sorry we can't call to personally send our festive wishes but I already need a mortgage to pay the phone bill - £356 so far! But we are thinking of you all back home and wishing you and your families a very happy time, hope you don't miss us too much as we'll be missing you far more!
No doubt you're all getting into the festive SPIRIT in more ways than one.
Think of us as you tuck into your roast and raise a glass for fair weather and good trade winds to send us on our way to Antigua.
Hmmmm the thought of a cool Guinness, hmmmm.
We've not travelled far today. The weather has been against us and the wind so foul that we decided to throw the sea anchor and stop rowing as all efforts seemed pointless. All in all it's made for a rather boring day. Kiffy has been back with us but even he got bored and scooted off to look for more fun. We even tried a double row - together- but to little avail. Had some lovely tuna today, sadly not one we caught but mixed with mayonnaise on crackers it was a treat. Not sure what we're having for dinner. "What's cooking Ken?"
Thanks for the footie updates Jason. Have to say my interest in footie has been washed away out here, certainly puts life into perspective. Sorry to hear about the loss of your Auntie Elsie, Dawnie. Hope Auntie Pam is better now that she is out of hospital. Send my best wishes to your Dad, what a great fella.
Good news is that we haven't been seasick for days, so long may that continue. If Neptune is kind to us we hope to get a crack on tomorrow. Antigua still feels a long, long way to go and I can't wait to get there.
Every muscle in my body feels sore and every bone creaks under the strain. So difficult to stretch out here and no place to go! My entire body aches and each movement reminds me that my "youthful" bounce must have bounced back and left me! Poor old boy!
So our coordinates today at 6pm N25 03 350 W 20 35 230, but doubt we've moved far from yesterday.
Ah well, Merry Christmas everyone. Have a lovely time celebrating, easy on the sprouts. We'll be thinking of you, I'm salivating at the thought of roast turkey with all the trimmings.... with love Aldo & Ken xxxx
No doubt you're all getting into the festive SPIRIT in more ways than one.
Think of us as you tuck into your roast and raise a glass for fair weather and good trade winds to send us on our way to Antigua.
Hmmmm the thought of a cool Guinness, hmmmm.
We've not travelled far today. The weather has been against us and the wind so foul that we decided to throw the sea anchor and stop rowing as all efforts seemed pointless. All in all it's made for a rather boring day. Kiffy has been back with us but even he got bored and scooted off to look for more fun. We even tried a double row - together- but to little avail. Had some lovely tuna today, sadly not one we caught but mixed with mayonnaise on crackers it was a treat. Not sure what we're having for dinner. "What's cooking Ken?"
Thanks for the footie updates Jason. Have to say my interest in footie has been washed away out here, certainly puts life into perspective. Sorry to hear about the loss of your Auntie Elsie, Dawnie. Hope Auntie Pam is better now that she is out of hospital. Send my best wishes to your Dad, what a great fella.
Good news is that we haven't been seasick for days, so long may that continue. If Neptune is kind to us we hope to get a crack on tomorrow. Antigua still feels a long, long way to go and I can't wait to get there.
Every muscle in my body feels sore and every bone creaks under the strain. So difficult to stretch out here and no place to go! My entire body aches and each movement reminds me that my "youthful" bounce must have bounced back and left me! Poor old boy!
So our coordinates today at 6pm N25 03 350 W 20 35 230, but doubt we've moved far from yesterday.
Ah well, Merry Christmas everyone. Have a lovely time celebrating, easy on the sprouts. We'll be thinking of you, I'm salivating at the thought of roast turkey with all the trimmings.... with love Aldo & Ken xxxx
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