Turtles, Sharks and Whales, OH MY!
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Category: Travel
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I put pictures of the race start on Angela's MySpace in an album and a slide show. There are 4 pictures of them on the water on www.atlanticrowingrace2007.co.uk Two of those pictures were taken by Coral Millepora. According to the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007 Website: "On 11th December 2007, at 10:05, Row of life were met by the Coral Millepora, a Liquefied Gas Carrier (LPG) from the Netherlands. The vessel has a net tonnage of 1,216 and a gross tonnage of 4,054." As you can see by the pictures, the Coral Millepora got too close to their boat for my comfort. The other two were taken by the support yacht a couple of days before Christmas.
The wind and seas have been rough. Angela described is as feeling like constantly riding a bucking bronco. It occured to me days later how difficult it would be to stay on a bucking bronco when you can't feel your legs or feet. Franck described rowing south as a "shit row"(Didn't need to translate that). But they did move south to catch the current to the west. In the last couple of days they have been rowing together, because the seas have been too rough for one person rowing alone to make progress. Today, there is an area of Cyclonic winds to their north, so rowing will be tough the next couple of days, unless of course they can catch a ride on an awesome westward wind.
Angela and Franck have seen amazing marine life. There was the time Angela was rowing and noticed something off the back of the boat. She thought she had left the Para anchor out (a parachute type device that keeps the boat from drifting aimlessly), until she saw the fin. It turned out she had secured the para anchor, and was actually being stalked by a 12 foot shark.
They also had an encounter with a sea turtle. He swam to the side of the boat and looked to say something to Franck. Franck spoke back and the sea turtle had an odd look on his face. Angela determined that the sea turtle did not understand French any better than she does.
They have seen schools of dolphin and been hit by flying fish. Angela says that flying fish cannot be used as a meal because they turn to mush as soon as the hit. The pieces have to be scraped up.
Many of the rowers have been rowing naked. Angela did try this one night, but it was a choice not a necessity. The JL Rowing clothes that Angela had made are working perfectly. No chaffing! They made clean water and wash their clothes. Angela has a tip for clothes drying....put the clothes through the unused oars for drying. Franck washed his clothes and hung them over the oars. DOH! Now there are some nicely outfitted marine animals wearing the striking navy, powder blue and purple Row of Life Gear.
Angela and Franck had a wonderful Christmas. Angela gave Franck the presents that his family had sent with her in September, and he was touched. Angela talked to her daughter, Jenn and grandkids, Amanda, Angel and Chyenne, as well as her Dad and mom, Ronald and Betty Madsen. They ate their dehydrated food and Franck drank a beer (I don't understand why the boat is so heavy). Angela decorated the boat with solar Christmas lights.
Keep sending messages of support on www.atlanticrowingrace2007.co.uk I read them to Franck and Angela when I get the chance to talk to them. The support has been an inspiration to them both so keep those messages coming.
This is really an amazing journey. Two differently- abled(Angela is not fond of the term, disabled) people, from two different countries, two different languages, two different ages, can come together and get the job done. They are doing the United Nations Flag that they are flying, PROUD
Well, that is all I have for now. I will try to do this more often, now that I am home and back on a regular schedule. Angela has pictures and movies, but we have no way to send them to me from the boat. So we will have to rely on Woodvale's support yacht pics for on the water shots (hopefully there will be no more near misses that result in anything more than pictures.)
Now, take 3 minutes of your day to check out the RowofLife green dot and send a message of support. Thanks!
Debra debmole@sbcglobal.net
May
02, 2007 207
days and counting
2: My
position at the gym on the navy base is secure and I can continue to train
there.
3: We
are current and paid up to date on the entry fees
4:
Frank has the Boat in
No
major sponsors yet. Biggest sponsor so far is my local Chapter of the Paralyzed
Veterans of America they sponsor 1/5th of the monthly payment of the
entry fee thru final payment in October. They have stepped up to the plate and
come to bat for us. It is not a lot but means a great deal. Contributions made
by individuals are appreciated and are helping a great deal also. So thanks
everyone for the encouraging notes, e-mails, cards, well wishes and the five's,
tens, twenty's, fifty's and hundreds. It all adds up and every little bit helps.
We
will get to that starting line!
The
documentary, possibility of equipping with live streaming video or any item or
service that would require additional funding is questionable at this point. We
are like the Spanky and Our Gang of Ocean Rowing.
One
of my favorite episodes was the soap box derby whereby the kids with money had
the best racers and Spanky and Our gang had to use junk yard stuff to build
their racer. That is like Frank and I. I would love to have some new custom oars
with more ergonomic grips, Fancy paint job and excellent sponsor logos but I am
just as happy and will make do with what we have. Maybe there will be no live
streaming video but people will still be able to log on to the site and track
our progress and there will be a book so if anyone knows a publisher?
Willing
to advance $$$
To
Frank
Lets
make an alternate plan and be prepared. My reality, our reality is that they
could deny our entry which may be why the wire transfer of the monthly
installment was returned. I will call them first thing in the morning to
inquire. I have sent them an e-mail. Even if it is an error lets make a back up
plan!
From
woodvale
Dear
Angela, I have tried contacting you a couple of times but unfortunately I
seem to keep missing you. I just wanted to speak to you about the money that you
have had returned to you and to confirm that this has occurred due to the fact
that we have changed bank accounts and the Barclays account that you have been
sending the money to is no longer active. All I can do is apologize that you
were not informed of these changes and for any concern or inconvenience that
this has caused you.
Please
do feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns about this
and I will be happy to discuss them with you. Our new account details are below
which should save you any inconvenience in the future.
To
Frank
It
was an error. A changing of the account with the new administration. They sent
me some more account information and agreed to let me pay 2 payments on March 2
so I don't have to pay another wire transfer fee.
Some
more good news. My local chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America has signed
on as sponsor. They will give me $500.00 US per month through October for the
entry fee. It is only 1/5th of the total every month but it is something and
Something is better than nothing. I am still working out at the Navy base gym
and now take training classes on the indoor rowing machine. Working out with a
group is more fun than sitting there doing 2 hours of steady state rowing by
myself. I am also on the water 3 days per week. Its all good!
See
if you can keep our training March 24-April 8 if not there is always the surf
event in
5 day simulated training session.
March 12, 7 AM Monday morning thru March 16, 9AM Friday morning
I regularly go to the gym workout 5 days per week for 2 hours and spend an hour
or two on the erg. I have done a lot of work the last couple of months promoting
the project. Doing press releases, mass snail mails and e-mails, talking with
people and still teaching and running the rowing program at LBRA.
I just got home from Speaking at a conference in
I set the time aside for training so I am taking this opportunity to intensify
my training.
Although I much prefer to get in the boat and row, it is not always possible so
when I have time available I do these training sessions. I stock up on what I
need or want to evaluate. Print out a schedule on calendar sheets to make notes
on. Then I go for it! It is not the same as being in the boat but it has
advantages and more amenities like a toilet and shower. I can listen to music or
watch TV while on the erg. I can move it wherever I want or even use the ergs at
the boathouse. I can use the computer and telephone. Go to the store in my off
time if I need something. The point is to just stick to the schedule and do the
work. The goal is to get to the point past physical and mental discomfort and
get into the zone. I have found that it takes about four days for me to reach
that point.
I have 1 hour left of my 2 hours off before I jump back on the erg for another 2
hours. I am not resting so well yet so I am going to journal.
I was evaluating a medical gel seat cushion made by Jay. It ruptured my last
session. It did not even last 2 days. What a bummer. I guess I will not use that
product on the ocean row.
I am evaluating the Luna bars and trying all of the different kinds. They seem
to have less sugar and more nutrition than some of the other products. They
don't have as many calories though and I am finding it difficult to eat
anything. After 2 days my appetite is diminished. I know I need a minimum of
5000 calories and 5 liters of water for every 12 hours of rowing. I am writing
it down and my caloric intake is falling way short. This is day 2 out of 5. I
haven't lost wattage output on my stokes and have no muscle soreness or cramping
as of yet but I know from past training that If the nutrition and caloric intake
does not improve, I most certainly will. I am also having difficulty resting and
sleeping. That should improve on day three. I have organized my schedule to be 2
hours of training and 2 of resting. Not all of my training is on the ergometer.
Every morning I go to the gym for a 2 hour workout and on Tuesdays and Thursdays
I take the Rowbics erg classes. The combined time for that workout is 3 hours
minus travel time. I had a three hour rest period before the training so it
worked out OK.
I am averaging between 25,500 and 26,000 meters per 2 hours and I am stopping
for 1 minute every 14 to consume water. My braces are causing sores on my legs
and feet. I will have to try and pad them. My hands are just getting sensitive
and will probably begin to blister. I am going to use some gloves and see if
that helps. I like using golfing gloves for rowing. In past sessions they
did reduce the amount and severity of the blisters but did not prevent them
entirely. Golf gloves cover the entire hand and are tightly fitted thin leather.
I can operate the GPS and other things without removing them. They also tend to
grip better when they are wet.
I
began at 7 Am on Monday morning. Thursday morning during the 10 AM rest shift, I
had the first break thru sleep. I woke up less than 2 hours later feeling rested
and ready to go another two hours. Sleep was consistent for the next four rest
periods so I had accomplished what I felt I needed to do.
In less than 5 days, I rowed 22 two-hour shifts for a total of 466,335
meters on the concept 2 rowing machine. I spent 10 hours working out at the gym.
I lost a total of 16 pounds
I
have determined that I need more calories. Nutrition was good but I only
consumed ½ of the required caloric intake. According to the rowing machine I
would burn 1300-1500 per two hour session of work and according to my records I
would consume 600-750 calories per session. I ate as much as I could
That
it is best to have no caffeine or stimulants, I could not sleep in rest periods
Cotton clothing leaves skin rashes. Rowing clothing worked well
My braces need work!
Day
one and two were strong. 24000-26000 meters at 150 watts Day three experienced
an expected decrease in output. 22000-23000 meters at 79-107 watts and Day four
after experiencing positive rest the numbers began increasing
23000-24000 at 125-150 watts.
February 13,2007 287
days and counting
My
Bank called and said my wire transfer sent on the first of the month was sent
back? I verified all of the info with the bank and it was accurate. John Parker
just told me I was up to date on my monthly installments yesterday. It is too
late to reach them by phone so I called Woodvale and left a message. I’ll have
to try them early in the AM. I can’t shake the feeling that something is not
quite right. I am feeling very anxious over this. If they do not allow us to
participate in the organized race then Frank and I would just have to go
independently. We would find a way.
I
get rejected so much and have so many limitations placed on me because of
disability you would think I would be non responsive but actually every time
hurts like the first time. It is never easy. I never really get over it. I try
to mentally prepare for it without being pessimistic. I don’t really know how
to be optimistic about being denied the opportunity to try. I suppose one door
may close, another may open… or a dead end is just a place to turn around…
Maybe I am just worried over nothing. We will see!
February 12, 2007 288
days and counting
February 08, 2007 292
days and counting
I
continue to go to the gym to work out in the mornings. It seems as though my
place there is secure and they will continue to allow me to utilize the
facility. The orthopedist says the knee is OK, he reminded me that there would
be arthritis, that I have only 50% of the lateral meniscus left and that I am a
paraplegic. He said it could take a year before all of the swelling goes down
and it heals completely. He reminded me that I am 46 year of age and not 20.
Thanks allot! At least the ortho doctors and my primary care doctor all give me
the green light to go ahead with the crossing.
I
signed on a professional writer and press release agent to distribute a major
press release about my project. I have designed post cards and magnets that I
have been printing up myself while waiting on the order to come in from the
printer. I have distributed about 400 and mailed about 160. I have begun
receiving calls from people who have received the cards. Jelco products are
sending me some newly designed rowing specific
Gel seat pads to evaluate. The Rowers from
My
daughter is back in the hospital.
I
am still going to the gym on the navy base. I think they are going to allow me
to keep going. I have resumed steady state rowing on the indoor rowing machine.
I have an old model concept2 with a tractor seat on it. I am sure it is not
calibrated and up to speed but that is not what I am going for. I do 2 hours of
steady state rowing between gym workouts per day. Since National team and World
Championships come before the ocean crossing, I will need to add some sprint
work, shift gears and begin going for speed. I have an ortho appointment on
February 6 for my knee. I have to finish up a course in Celestial navigation and
obtain a short wave radio certificate.
01/15/2007
In
a message dated 1/15/2007 1:02:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, one of my friends
writes:
I'm
bummed about your leg. Can you surf at all??
My
Response: A surfing and Row of Life
Update:
I
went with a 9'6" Infinity wave ski to San O on Sunday. I did pretty
well.. I was actually able to paddle and balance pretty well. I did catch 2
waves. It was only 2 ft. Windy and somewhat choppy conditions. It will take some
practice and I will have to work on the set up of the ski. Steve of Infinity and
the rest of the wave skiers or butt surfers as Steve refers to them, are
ecstatic. They have been trying to get me in a wave ski for several years now.
Don't worry! I am not giving up my longboards! I can do both. I am continuing
with range of motion and stretching. I started a strength training and a
cardio program at the Navy Base and its back on the Concept2 indoor rowing
machine, rowing on the water and surfing in between the AM & PM
gym workouts. Enough down time already. I also put in my request for a
handcycle at the VA.
At first they turned me down at the gym on the Navy base. Long familiar story.
Disabled person asks via telephone, they say no, disable person asks after
leaving information and presentation, they say no. Disabled person sits on gym
doorstep waiting for the person who, sight unseen, keeps saying no. After
meeting me in person said person agrees to let me use the gym and to assist me
with my personal training. I say familiar because it is like the story of how I
was turned down by an accredited school in
The
Navy base? Turns out, as a military veteran I am eligible to utilize the
facility on base free of charge. It is also not far from my house. Wished I had
known about it sooner. It could have saved me a lot of money. Talk about your
financial hardships.. supporting the entire household in
Jeez
the things I have to do and go through.......people just don't think people with
disabilities are capable of anything except breathing and occupying a space on a
couch. An exceptionally good reason for me to try and accomplish an ocean
crossing by oar! It just seems as though I am having to go through more
difficulty than anyone in trying to make this happen. Franck does not seem to be
having any trouble in
I
am happy he is getting support for the project and that it is coming from some
place. He has support of the French Foreign Army and he has the boat in
possession already, although I think we still owe some money on it. The entry
fee has become my responsibility and I can't seem to get any support for
this project here in the
Anyway
back to the question at hand. Can I surf at all? YES, but riding waves on my
knee's is out of the question for a while. I can quad style it and just body
board or maybe sit backwards the way I did before.
I
think if I am careful and try not to be so aggressive and competitive that I
should get back out into the line up. My new braces are sea worthy and I found
these things body boarders use to keep from losing their fins called fin tethers
that will work to keep them from falling off my feet and being lost in the ocean
like my previous attempt at surfing with braces on. Some new reef habitat for
some grateful little sea creatures is currently being formed some place between
Dog patch and the power plant at San Onofre, unless one of the surf fishermen
happen to catch it before it becomes permanently attached. Some of my friends
think that it will be found and utilized by some grateful disabled person
south of the border. Who knows where or if it will wash up? I have to keep
reminding myself "the healing time for a lower limb injury or surgery
is not the same for a paraplegic" It takes longer. I just have to work
around it. Don't be bummed, be patient. That's what I have to do.
So,
surfing is on! Just have to go back a step
Through
Hell or High water, The crossing is on!
Your
now up to date on everything.
Friday, January 19, 2007 my horoscope for the day
Today You
may be quite uncertain about your place in the world, even if you recently
thought everything in your career was rock solid. Now it can feel as if someone
took away your compass and you cannot get your bearings. However, don't worry if
you are lost, for this is not a long-term cycle. The uncertainty can open up new
possibilities as you search for your new direction.
It is sometimes interesting at the end of the day
just to see how close and relative horoscopes can be. I had a great week. I was
finally welcomed at the Gym on the Base and they were helping me all
week. I went a couple of hours in the morning and worked out with a
group that has been working out together there for about 2 years. Then I would
go back at night for a couple of hours and work with a trainer.
Tonight I went in and looked around for her to see if she was going to help
me train. I found her but she dropped a bit of bad news on me. She said she was
no longer permitted to work with me. Said she couldn't because she was not
certified to train people with disabilities. This is now coming from higher up.
Another sight un seen judgment call on what a differently abled person can and
cannot do! So as it stands now, I can utilize the gym but no one is permitted to
train or work with me. I am on my own. I really like working with someone
but I can go it on my own. After spending all of last year with a
personal trainer, I did learn some things.
They seem to really like me at the gym. I get
along with everyone there just fine. I am not in anyone's way, I am safe and not
hurting anyone or myself, I am going into the gym when it is not that
crowded and busy. It is accessible for my wheelchair. I don't get it? I
don't need a physical therapist. I need strength training. It is a gym and that
is what they do? I am just wondering how long they will allow me to use the gym?
Possibilities as I search for my new direction? I can't think of any right now. I just have to wait and see how it is on Monday. Just use the gym until I find something else or they say no because of issues of liability! This is what I am expecting, Welcome to my world! Its those little extra challenges that make succeeding in spite of them so special! If these obstacles built the physical strength I would need to row across the ocean, I could have done it several times already.
January 31, 2007 300 days and
counting
I am still going to the gym on the navy base. I
think they are going to allow me to keep going. I have resumed steady state
rowing on the indoor rowing machine. I have an old model concept2 with a tractor
seat on it. I am sure it is not calibrated and up to speed but that is not what
I am going for. I do 2 hours of steady state rowing between gym workouts per
day. Since National team and World Championships come before the ocean crossing,
I will need to add some sprint work, shift gears and begin going for speed. I
have an ortho appointment on February 6 for my knee. I have to finish up a
course in Celestial navigation and obtain a short wave radio certificate. 300
days is not a lot of time. Its going by rather quickly.
November 27th, 2006:
Salut à tous…
Vidéo en ligne sur mon blog
Translation: Hello with all... Video on line on my blog
http://perso.dromadaire.com/totor42/video.html
http://perso.dromadaire.com/totor42/ocean_rowing_race.html
On n’arrête pas le progrès.
A Tchao
Translation: Progress is not stopped. With Bye
Oct 26, 2006:
Bonsoir à tous.
Un peu de lecture avant de vous coucher ? Non, je pense que vous dormez déjà !
A lire… en pièce jointe
Article du journal la semaine de Metz du
26/10/2006
Bon week end
Franck
Translation: Good evening with all. A little reading before laying down you? Not, I think that you sleep already! To read... in enclosure Article of the newspaper the week of Metz of the 26/10/2006 Good week end. Franck
Oct 23, 2006: Start Date Announced
"Dear
Competitor,
The race start date for the Atlantic Rowing Race 2007 has now been
finalised and it gives me great pleasure to write and inform you that the Race
will start from
With this in mind, Woodvale Events is now organizing a function for Atlantic
Rowing Race 2007 competitors, which will take place in the Spirit of Teignmouth
Visitors Centre, Teignmouth in
This function will culminate with a daytime seminar covering relevant subjects
such as team sponsorship, charities and team PR, to be taken by two times Ocean
Rower, Sally Kettle and 2005 Race winner, Clint Evans.
The seminar will be followed by a masquerade ball in the evening, hosted
by Spirit and Teignmouth that will also celebrate 12
months to the race start gun. The
ball will include live music, a buffet and a cash bar, and the dress code will
be DJ’s and posh dresses!
The seminar will start promptly at 1100 hours on
The seminar is exclusive to registered Atlantic Rowing Race 2007
competitors but the masquerade
ball is open to family, friends and the general public as well as all ocean
rowers, past, present and future. This
is a unique opportunity for you to socialize with your fellow race competitors
and to meet those that have been there and experienced this unique adventure
during previous races. This is a
great opportunity to celebrate a unique event on a key milestone date!
Registered Atlantic Rowing Race 2007 competitors are invited to attend this
function at no cost. Additional
tickets to the masquerade ball can be purchased at £15 per person, direct from
Woodvale Events Ltd. Tickets can be
purchased by cheque, bank transfer or credit card.
Please note that we accept all major credit/debit cards except American
Express and their will be an additional 2% credit card charge for any payments
made by Visa or MasterCard.
If you would like to attend this function and purchase additional tickets,
please complete the attached reply acceptance form and return it to Woodvale
Events no later than
I hope that this information is of interest to you and please do not hesitate to
contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely
Teresa Page (General
Manager, Woodvale
Events Ltd)"
Oct. 22, 2006:
Le Républicain Lorrain par le de notre futur projet avec
Angela Madsen.
Vendredi dernier, j'étais en interview sur France Bleu Lorraine Nord à Metz.
10mn pour parler des projets et de l'ocean rowing race.
Mardi, j'ai rendez vous chez France Bleu Lorraine Sud Nancy à 15h pour une
interview dans l'émission l'esprit du sport avec Laurent Pilioni.
Un article devrait
également bientôt paraître dans le journal la semaine.
RTL9 et France3 sont prévenus. J'attends qu'il me contact.
Bref, la comm est lancée.
Si vous avez des idées, merci de me le faire savoir.
Franck
Oct.,12,2006 ROWOFLIFE News - 411 days till the start
Frank just
returned home from Corsica with the boat. He
was able to pay 5000Euros with
The boat comes equipped with everything Woodvale requires us to have for the race. Ideally we would love to mount cameras to film and to make a documentary of our project and we would like to to update some of the equipment on the boat and now that we have the boat we can remove the previous owner sponsors to make room for our sponsors, when we get sponsors.
News from Angela
My daughter went into a diabetic coma and is recovering. I had to go to Florida to pick up my Granddaughter, who is 3, to care for her while her mother recovers. I was planning to start personal training after my knee surgery and I guess I have, just not the kind of training I had imagined. 3 yr. olds are tough.
My orthopedic surgeons said my Bucket handle tear of the lateral meniscus was the worst they had ever seen and that it took them 2.5 hours to complete the surgery. They said I should be good for several years. No surfing for at least a month :-(
October is Global Disabilities awareness month.
I received awards from Youth for Human Rights and the American-Iranian Friendship association for Humanitarian contributions and charitable services.
The correction to the certificate is that it was for winning a gold medal in the World Championships of rowing, Eaton, England, 2006
Coming soon to our website. Youth for Human Rights will have children from all over the world submit artwork. Some of the artwork may even be used and incorporated to the design and painting of our boat. We are proud and privileged to partner with Youth for Human Rights in a humanitarian effort to make the world a better place for all people.