When I get up, I think … Oh, I would really like to just make some coffee vs that first outside walk. But, that would not be fair to Emmett, so out we go and once we get out … I LOVE the fresh air and often dawdle longer than necessary before getting back inside.
Emmett is a VERY GOOD BOY and deserves a treat!!!
My little snow covered house in the woods!
But … snow removal …
I thought to shovel as earlier the snow seemed light.
But warm temps meant shoveling was difficult.
YES!!!
Of course! As soon as I finished clearing a path, it started snowing again.
Clarisse Cremer finished her first Vendee Globe in style…
I spent a good part of Wednesday morning watching all there was on offer and it was SPECTACULAR! Clarisse raced well and shared the ups and downs … the fears and ultimately the conquering of those fears. It was a stellar race for the very young (31) skipper. I feel so fortunate to have followed her race. I also have several videos of her journey to this Vendee Globe saved to watch later.
Meanwhile.
From this evening’s walk:
A little snow today. The forecast is for a little snow tonight and tomorrow and … winter back with 1-3-7-10 inches forecast.
Yes … Winter advisory tonight … Winter storm watch later this week
Clarisse Cremer is due to arrive in Les Sables d’Olonne: day 87 and some. She might have arrived day 86, but she has slowed her boat due to large seas and strong winds and conditions in the Bay of Biscay that make a fast arrival dangerous.
Clarisse is 31 years old. She has a degree in business from an American university and HEC Paris … but she was in HEC’s sailing club and opted for professional ocean sailing.
She has run a steady race for Banque Populaire X in a proven boat. She has been a joy to watch and follow: authentic and personable through all conditions.
If she arrives in less than 90 days, she will have the record of fastest, solo circumnavigation by a woman: a record set by Ellen MacArthur in the 2004/2005 Vendee Globe.
Currently, as she is approximately 154 nm from the finish (as of this writing) and her tracker info is updated every 30 minutes … and I am checking on the hour and half-hour!! … she anticipates crossing the finish line on Wednesday afternoon (France time which is 7 hours ahead of my time).
In the past days, for the past finishers, Clarisse, and 2 weekend-ish finishers, there have been some large Atlantic storms to navigate.
Holy Cow! I go to bed every night with the skippers on my lips in prayers and hope for their safe navigation to the finish.
Meanwhile …
I have observed that there is a horrific NE U.S. snow storm, i.e. “a ‘norEaster'” … lots of heavy, wet snow.
Forces of nature.
Here, in NW Montana, there is little snow on the ground, it was 40ish and it rained.
Dreary.
My team…
But in the “be careful what you wish for” … winter is forecast to return at the Week End … stay tuned!
Let me warn you … do NOT have a drink of something in your mouth … you will spit it all over the place when you watch this. And, no, I did not, but I am still laughing so hard my stomach kind of hurts.
Click the sound button if there is an X on it :)
This is Leia. She turned a squeaker toy into a nose flute and would like to play a few notes for you. She’s still learning so please be nice. 14/10 pic.twitter.com/dUc493g6M3
I have been making bagels regularly … as in not running out!! … since mid-October when I first used a new to me recipe: Overnight bagels from The Clever Carrot’s (Emilie Raffa) book: Artisan Sourdough Made Simple . It takes me about 10 minutes to mix the dough early evening, leave it out overnight, shape, boil (30 seconds each side, hence the watch timer) and bake in the morning. The morning work is about 15 minutes hands on time, 1 hour elapsed time.
In addition to the bagels themselves, I am stuck on the Everything Bagel seasoning on top! I have tried a couple brands. My favorite is from King Arthur Baking (formerly King Arthur Flour) .
I had a good and productive weekend … caught up some work hours and business bookkeeping, did a fair amount of batch cooking for this week and the freezer …
A chicken in the instant pot yielded a jar of broth and a container of shredded chicken for soup and tacos this week, plus cubes of broth and chicken into the freezer for future meals.
Another instant pot batch of black beans (to the right) … some for the frig and some into the freezer … and the bagels are just out of the oven!!
The final instant pot use was for a batch of yogurt. Emmett gets a spoonful in his breakfast bowl and I have a spoonful with him as well as a fruit topped dish of yogurt or yogurt smoothie for a morning snack, i.e. Elevenses :)
So, we are good to go with bagels and other good stuff for our work week.
The Vendee Globe 2020 race is racing to an historic finish with 6-10 boats probably finishing within 24 hours of each other: Wednesday-ish. The back of the fleet (2 boats) rounded Cape Horn last evening (Sunday 1/24/2021) creating another historic race event: all of the fleet in the Atlantic before the finish. The middle of the fleet is split into 2 groups allowing for some match racing in those groups. This type of closeness in the race has never happened before per all who know more than me. That as well as the access we (followers) have had to video, photos and live interviews continue to make the race very exciting.
Meanwhile, the weather has been cold, but not much snow and very damp and gray. But last night, through some high fog…
… a frosty moon on our after supper walk.
Happy Monday!
According to Ari Huusela, aboard S/V Stark, Monday is the best day of the week. Ari’s signature line is that he is “Super Happy!”. Ari is in the Vendee Globe 2020 as an adventure sailor. A Finnish airline pilot, he is fulfilling a 20 year dream of sailing in a Vendee Globe race.** Below, his video as he rounds Cape Horn. He had a tough time with 2 wipe outs, i.e. knock downs, boat on its side, capsize, broach … not fun, but nothing broke and now he is around “the HORN”!!
**A sailor cannot just show up and race in the Vendee Globe. There is a required set of qualifications in other IMOCA races. Additionally, a sponsor(s) are required. Most of the participants have worked years to get all together to qualify to take the start. It is those stories, in addition to the incredible resolve, physical and mental strength, ability to repair all boat systems for lines and ropes to electronics and hydraulics … to climb the mast for sail, track, instrument repairs. All of this for 80-100 days in a row, non stop, no assistance.
*****Edit I’m throwing caution to the wind … I wanted to post Ari’s Instagram photo: his selfie with Cape Horn in the background. Instagram (and Facebook) has stopped playing “nice” with links and embeds … so a screen capture. As I am a small potatoes, non-monetized blog, I don’t think an issue, but DARN IT Facebook/IG!!! what the heck??
So, there is “Super Happy” Ari Huusela from @arihuusela.oceanracing. Cape Horn in the background. Thank you Ari for your daily smiles and joy! And HOORAY for your courageous trip around the ‘horn and indeed, around the world. You are an inspiration for all of us watching.
