My response to the onset of rain is a fairly good indicator of how things are going. It often results in a quick dash for cover until the rain stops - that’s an alright day - or sometimes leads to an extended several-hour break, “just in case it starts to rain again” - that’s when I’d rather be at home! Well, today it didn’t just rain; it poured. And it was beautiful.

After my frustrated blog last night, I knew things were starting to come round. So it was a kind of half-hearted whinge really, in full knowledge that better times were just around the corner. I then had a decision to make: should I row into the night to try and make up for the bad day, or just let it be. After all of 2 seconds, I decided to pack up for the night at midnight, and get a good rest in order to start the real attack today. It looks like it was a good idea.

From the moment I started rowing at 10 o’clock (that’s not that late - it would be 6 o’clock local time!), everything’s gone to plan, despite the weather still having a lot of improving to do. Generally, it’s been really sunny but, around the middle of the day, a few clouds started to gather. At first, it just rained lightly, but you could see there was more to come. As the different-coloured sea drew closer, it really kicked off. The water was amazing, looking as though it had a fine mist resting on top of it. Today, I didn’t run for cover; I kept on rowing and enjoyed every minute of it, thankful for the free shower! Had it continued all day, it might have been another matter, but before long, the sunny blue skies returned and I was dry, and clean, in minutes.

Overall, I’m hoping to cover over 40 miles while rowing before I go to bed. If the wind does its stuff overnight, that should push me along the extra 10 miles I’m looking for, plus a little more (hopefully!).

For the time being, things are great. Could it be the beginning of the end?!