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September 30, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #9
9. Date: Wed, 30 Sep 98 02:27:53 GMT
Latitude: 37 degrees 24.764 minutes North
Longitude: 123 degrees 10.334 minutes West
Q. Are either of you sea sick and if so how are you dealing with it?
Both sick as dogs today. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. No energy, no motivation, just want to die. At first it's good to try and do something like pedal. Keeps your mind distracted. But if really bad, only thing is to sleep. Worst thing is to look at a computer screen for too long... Like I am now!
Q. What do you do if you get ill? Or get bad toothache?
We carry an extensive medical kit so we can treat ourselves.
Update from Steve: Jason and I both feeling seasick, Moksha so narrow and rolly, constant violent motion banging shoulders against side every few seconds. Weather grey and cold, ocean very wet. Miserable. Why do we do this???
Lewis & Smith,
The Moksha crew
Posted at 5:21 PM
September 29, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #8
8. Date: Tue, 29 Sep 98 04:40:53 GMT
Latitude: 37 degrees 36 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 48 minutes West
Moksha's bow reaches for the dying embers of the sun slipping over the horizon toward our destination Hawaii. Over Steve's shoulder -as he plugs away at the pedals (yawning all the while I might ad - legacy of last night's all night piss up). I can see the faintest glint of the Golden Gate Bridge under which we departed earlier today. We're at that strange cross roads between leaving the security of land -and all that it represents- and entering the uncertainty of open ocean. By tomorrow the only way of knowing where on earth we are is from numbers on a GPS screen. It's actually a great feeling -marking our transition back to water as an expedition- We both feel calm and contented despite the fatigue; the stress of getting away from US shores falling away behind us mile by mile- now only one of the many memories that our incredible time in the US has given us.
It has taken two years since arriving bare foot and semi-naked in Miami to be ready for the Pacific. We are both different people now - and its taken the tempering of having to 'make it' in the New World to prepare us sufficiently. There are so many people to thank for making Expedition 360 and its various educational components what they are now. You all know who you are -so from Steve and I a big THANK YOU!
The US section of our great odyssey has closure to it at last. Moksha's bow leads us to new worlds and experiences in the path of setting sun. But enough of the sentimentalism -time to get real and check dinner; rice, soy chili con carne and apple flakes- to replace breakfast that ended up being fed to the fishes...
Update from Steve: Wonderful to have ocean all to ourselves again. Can still just see Golden Gate Bridge behind and the Farralone Islands ahead. This feels totally different from the Atlantic. Two months of peace, solitude and occasional bad weather to keep us on our toes. Join us every day for an update.
CLASSROOM EXPEDITION: To all schools...
WELCOME ABOARD me HEARTIES!
From Capn's Lewis n' Smith.
Q. Are you physically exhausted yet?
Yes... Both of us are completely knackered! (Serves us right for not getting fit)
Q. Do you miss going for a walk?
Not yet, but it won't be long!
Q. Are your legs and knees aching yet?
Steve's left leg is clicking! My back isn't great either. Need to take Arnica tonight to stop aches and swelling.
END
Posted at 5:17 PM
September 28, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #7
7. Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 08:05 PDT
7.59am - we're off!!!!
Jason and Steve
MOKSHA
Corroded gear that resulted in the postponed departure -
Posted at 5:15 PM
September 25, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #6
6. Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 23:14 PDT
Latitude: 37 degrees 50 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 28 minutes West
Dockside, Presidio Yacht Club
Myself, Jason, Shirley (expedition support) and Kenny (cameraman) are sipping cold American beer in the warmth of the Presidio Yacht Club. This is our quot;wrap it all upquot; business meeting, but I find it incredible to believe that, before the weekend is out, Jason and I can no longer expect indoor heating, cold drinks, soft chairs or hard ground for two months.
I ought to be nervous, emotional, but my mind has decided that it is wiser to be indifferent. I'm exuding a little false bravery perhaps, which is easier than the alternatives. Clothes? Personal belongings? Toothbrush? I haven't even thought about that yet. My mother will not be at all surprised.
Steve Smith,
Moksha crew
Posted at 5:13 PM
September 24, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #5
5. Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 19:48 PDT
Latitude: 37 degrees 50 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 28 minutes West
Dockside, Presidio Yacht Club
Looks like we're headed for "kick-off" on Sunday, weather permitting. I can't say that we will be finished with preparations, a boat is never finished, but we will be ready.
This summer, and particularly the last few weeks have been extremely intense. As bizarre as it may sound, we are looking forward to pedalling to Hawaii for a rest!
Steve Smith,
Moksha crew
Posted at 5:12 PM
September 23, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #4
4. Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 18:25 PDT
Latitude: 37 degrees 50 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 28 minutes West
Dockside, Presidio Yacht Club
It's that groundhog day feeling! Moksha is back on her trailer again, tucked away behind the Presidio Yacht Club. It took us all morning to offload all the supplies Jason had so painstakingly packed along Moksha's hull last week, and now we have to wait for her to dry out until tomorrow. Several coats of protective epoxy paint over the pedal drive and housing are required to eliminate the galvanic corrosion which scuppered our departure last Sunday. Two new pedal drive units are on their way here from Micromarine, so we will be ready to leave by the weekend, weather permitting.
Steve Smith,
Moksha crew
Posted at 5:10 PM
September 21, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #3
3. Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 19:03 PDT
Latitude: 37 degrees 50 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 28 minutes West
Dockside, Presidio Yacht Club
After all the hard graft to get ourselves fully prepared to pedal the mighty Pacific, it was a great disappointment for Jason and I to find several holes in the pedal-drive casing just 10 hours from departure. On the other hand it was a wonderful stroke of good fortune to have discovered it at all. Thank heavens that Scott from Pitchometer chose to deliver and personally test our spare prop at that late hour.
We remain shocked how galvanic corrosion could eat through an aluminum casing within a week of salt water immersion. The good news is that Micromarine, our sponsor for these otherwise superb units, agreed today to help cure the problem with replacements or whatever it takes to get us off to a good start. We expect to be able to set out for Hawaii within the week, Jason commented yesterday that this delay is probably a blessing, allowing us to really fine tune the logistical and educational aspects of the expedition which were only just barely wrapped up by last Sunday.
Moksha is fully loaded-up and chomping at the dock lines as she waits here at the Presidio Yacht Club, Fort Baker. We should be able to select a new departure date sometime tomorrow. Standby....
Steve Smith,
Moksha crew
Posted at 5:08 PM
September 20, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #2
2. Date: Sun, 20 Sep 98 17:30 GMT
Latitude: 37 degrees 50 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 28 minutes West
Dockside, Presidio Yacht Club
Pre-departure photo taken aboard Moksha 9/19 and transmitted via Inmarsat C.
On a last minute pre-departure systems check, Jason and Steve discovered a corrosion problem with Moksha's pedal drive system. They hope to have the system replaced and to be able to reschedule the departure for next next week. We will report on their progress tomorrow.
Thanks, John Oman, GOALS
Posted at 5:04 PM
September 19, 1998
San Francisco to Hawaii, Second Attempt. Update #1
san francisco, ca to hilo, hawaii
September 19 - December 31, 1998
1. Date: Sat, 19 Sep 98 18:06 GMT
Latitude: 37 degrees 50 minutes North
Longitude: 122 degrees 28 minutes West
Dockside, Presidio Yacht Club
Jason Lewis and Steve Smith will be departing San Francisco in their Pedal Boat Moksha on Sunday morning, September 20th, 1998. Next stop Hawaii...
The departure will be from the Presidio Yacht Club, Ft Baker, Sausalito.
From either north or south on the 101, take the Alexander exit just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the first left 200 yards from the freeway towards the Marin Headlands. There will be a tunnel up ahead. Take a right just before the tunnel and follow road down into Ft. Baker. Right at first stop sign, left at the second and then follow the road around till you hit the PYC. We will be leaving from the main pontoon in front of the club. Departure will be at first light Sunday morning, September 20th, 1998.
Check back here for the latest information. Or check our toll free number at 1-800-943-0114 for daily Expedition 360 news.
Thanks, John Oman, GOALS
Posted at 4:19 PM