Adventures

THIS IS IT! Now I have the feeling that this Pacific chapter is closed. I took my things and for the first time since 2018.14.07. left the boat physically and mentally. ???????? Honarary Consul of Latvia in Malaysia Mr.Leong orchestrated on

Just graduated the Open Space University of the Pacific Ocean. From South America to Asia????‍♂️ Precise stats will come later, but it was almost 2 years in the making! Just wanted to express my gratitude to those, who rowed together! Family and friends???? Supporters,

28.06.2020 around 17:00 (UTC+8) Malaysian???????? time and 13:00 Latvian???????? time I will start to row ????‍♂️across Malacca strait (will turn on the tracking device more frequent signal, so You can see the location on the web page) Busy with ships,

I have to avoid getting into Singapore waters, because rowing ????‍♂️ is forbiden with the law there, check the pic with red line as the border. I can see the high buildings in Singapore from my location.???? The other pic

More info regarding the anchor party⚓! Those, who clearly didn't understood my previous post. During the night anchor snaped, broken, finito, arrividerici, dosvedanja, čau, Rasma! So I drifted in wrong direction, but when the tides calmed down. I calmed down too and

Although I'm quite close to Malaysia ????????(78 nm in the straight line) those miles will not row them selves ???? For the past few days the tides have been tricky. To escape negative drift I had to anchor in 14

It’s mind blowing, when the remaining distance shrinks under 200 nm. It seams that I’m already there. 161 nm to Malaysia.

The wind and the current are pushing me towards Malaysia. Approx. 235 nm to go. I’m waiting for the announcements on the 9th of June and hoping that they will open the borders and harbors. Fingers crossed.

The island of Belitung doesn’t make it easy to get ashore. During the night, I was pushed away by a storm and tide. I was rowing hard and from the heart. I have arrived on the smallest island jet -

For a couple of days I was scanning the horizon for a piece of land, but with no luck until today. The small pancakes in the sea are clear indicators that I am approaching the island of Belitung. It feels

Monsoon rain-clouds are testing my resistance to water. Despite being an Aquarius, my skin has become wrinkled as a raisin. Belitung is getting closer. 115nm, more or less.

This is something new! A tanker parked in the middle of the Java sea. If I had seen it during the night, I would have thought that I’m dreaming, but there it was, under the bright sun. Or wasn’t it?

At last, the Java sea has changed its face and the long days of struggling against the current are behind me. I’m cruising with favorable current and wind and heading to Belitung island.

I have reached the shallow part of the Java sea. It’s kind of weird seeing a 3.5 m depth mark on my GPS screen and not being able to see land.

It seems that I’m off the cargo ship highway Australia - China. Today I saw the first ship heading to Singapore. Brotherly feelings.

Is eating dry, un-cooked oatmeal bad for you? I don’t think so, and that is why it is my new-found snack of choice :)

I'm still in the Makasar pass. The wind changes all the time. The main goal now is getting around the South point of Borneo island. Keeping a safe distance ;)

The conveyor of the favorable current is out of business. Tides are starting to push me around both physically and mentally. The favorable current was a strong allay. Now things will be less predictable and there is only one way

Long forgotten feelings. I have found a favorable current. It’s tasty as a gulp of fresh air, when you open the tent door. This morning I was faced with a mighty storm of more than 20 knot magnitude, but the

The day before yesterday, my water desalinator ended its carrier. I took it apart and found the culprit - a 4x0.5 cm fish had blocked the pipeline. Water on!

Barely caught a glimpse of the Makassara pass, before it hit me a firm left, right and a closing straight into my face. Will try to go around it.

North-West point of Sulawesi! Wouldn't lie, if I would tell You, that this was planned to reach by 20th of March!!???? Wouldn't lie, if I would tell You, that I have mixed feelings regarding the Celebes sea????????! Haha, ok, someday, I

Coastal rowing is underrated. With Ocean rowing boat, which is not the quickest to manoeuvre it's quite risky. For those, who likes the moment of discovery, there are plenty. Every new bay opens something magical. I love it! Ahh, yeah,

As You already know, I'm rowing????‍♂ along the coast to avoid the counter current➡. I'm thinking weather it really makes my life easier????????Ok, ok, the main thing is that I can anchor or tie the boat to the buoy for

Celebes sea currents ain't no joke! Sometimes, not often, I have to row????‍♂ back➡ to continue forward⬅! This happened few days ago, when I got too far away from the coast. The countercurrent stopped my progress, tried next day my luck,

After 40 hours waiting ????????‍♂on the buoy the headwind dropped during the night, so I????‍♂ rowed under the moon from 1am to 5.30am. Speed was like in the "good, old days"???? It was still dark, but managed to find new

My progress⬆ have been very slow, while rowing ????‍♂around the north tip of the Sulawesi????, but I'm so grateful???????? to be able to enjoy this beauty????

Yesterday, after the post with fishing house the wind dropped, so I was excited to row some more nautical miles. Weather forecast seemed to be ok, I even dreamt to reach the horn. It wasn't big of a distance for

This is hilarious. I rowed for about 4 hours and then hit a "wall"???? My intended route????‍♂ is to row around north tip of Sulawesi island. Didn't I knew that there gona be wind about 10-12knots? I knew, I just wanted

On 29.02.2020 I'll restart #aroundtheworldbyhumanpower from #indonesia to #malaysia it will be around 3000 km / 1620 nm. How far is 3000 km? . Row together, grow together! #gRowTogether #boredofborders #rowingthepacific #oceanrowing

I have a lucky buoy! I started at 4:00 in the morning and finished at 22:00. 18h of gymnastics with oars. I almost missed Sulawesi. It all ended in a classical way - to get into the bay, I had to

There it is, the Sulawesi island. Yesterday, the currents “let go” and I could row SW. Today, I can get only S. I need just a little bit more, to hit the Sulawesi jackpot.

A warning signal cut the night, as 2 cargo ships passed the boat. I’m ok. A negative drift pushed me 2nm to the S. Today I’m compensating for that. I lost a spoon.

I’m trying to row towards Manado. It is SW. For now, I’m getting only S. Siau volcano looks important.

A lot of turtles and sharks and criss-cross streams, but over the horizon I can see SARANGANI island. It’s Philippines already!

If the conditions are right, it takes about 2 days to cross one meridian (60nm). Once, even 20h were enough. The Eastern length of the 128th meridian will stay in my heart for a while, because it took me 11

A couple of days of complete lull and I’m baked in the sun to a crisp. Meanwhile the tidal current is taking me in the wrong direction.

In 4 days, I met 4 fishing boats. Very friendly people, offered a tow. Thanks, but no thanks - I explained in sign language.

The mission was to approach the land, so I wouldn’t get blown too far East. I had to pass two bays because of head-wind and cross-streams. One of them was only 200m away, but I couldn’t get close, no matter

One day, the ambient temperature dropped to 29 degrees Celsius and it felt a bit chilly. It seams that I have completely tropicalized. Fortunately, I have a sauna at home, will have to live in there :)

The surprise and joy of the week - in a far corner of the storage space I found a pack of dried apples from Latvia. I thought they had run out long time ago, but now, in the Indonesian waters,

As you probably can see in the location map, I’m moving very slowly, but surely in the right direction. Fortunately, it’s not raining and I’m not being pushed back :)

15km in the N-hemisphere already, but still no sign of cold. It’s not even like being backed in an oven, more like being melted in a glass-works factory :)

EQUATOR!! Hi, N-hemisphere! Buy, D-hemisphere! It looks exactly the same in the dark. Time for bed :)

A couple of days ago, I was in an area with 1km depth. Suddenly, I noticed some kind of a mast sticking out from the horizon. At first, I thought it was a yacht or a navigation light pole on

Sometimes, during the night, the current can take you in the wrong direction. Sometimes it means rowing half-asleep. But under a full-moon like tonight, it is even enjoyable.

I have caught a wild-tempered current and clawed on it’s back with both of my oars. I’m enjoying the ride while we are heading the same direction.

After 3 days of whirlpool with frontal waves and occasional thunderstorms, the wind from the South is back to move the vast amount of water. It helps a lot. Thanks! I have sailed into Indonesian waters!

I’m approximately 40nm from the shore. Far enough, so I can peacefully sleep during the night, and close enough, so I can feast my eyes on the horizon during the day with a tasty mountain ridge curling along the shore

The rain is pouring down and something is pushing me back towards Madang. I hope this will not last long, because this is a good week in general. I set a new distance record - 61nm/24h, met 2 fishermen boats

I’m on the anchor, because I was being pushed back regardless of rowing. I’m waiting for the wind or tide to change.

2 days without sat-phone reception. A current is taking me North with a speed of 1,3kt.

Closer to the pass between Bismarck/Solomon sea, the traffic is more dense. Ships are coming one after another. Thankfully, they are respecting the small boat and keeping their distance. #238nmToMADANG

If you by any chance are planning a vacation in the Solomon sea in the beginning of July/end of August, you can leave the sunglasses at home. Instead, you should pack water and wind-resistant suit and warm socks. The washing-machine continues

Vakar te līksmi gāja. 90% vēja no dienvidiem un 10% no austrumiem. Nonesa no kursa. 15h airēju no sirds un no rajona. 10h lietus. ————————— Yesterday was fun. 90% of the wind came from the South and 10% from the East. It

Without going into philosophical details, there is a concept in martial arts (I have a bowline belt) about using the free energy. It means that if you are pushed, you should pull and not push back. I have turned towards

It seems that I won’t make it around the Southern part of Louisiade islands, because the wind has pushed me North, but the speed is a bit better here. 20 nm ahead there is some kind of a reef. I

The Anti-growth color that I applied on HivaOa island was really good in preventing growth on the bottom of the boat, but now it has faded away. The small mussels have created a new civilization beneath me. I often see sharks

If the choice would be between eating and rowing on a clear night under a full moon, I would go hungry :) #753nmToPNG

During the night, the wind pushed me North, so I will be passing Bellona island on the Northern side. The good news is that the speed has increased. #765nmToPNG

I’m aiming between Bellon and Rennel islands. There is an 8 nm gap there. It should be enough to squeeze through :) The island is still out of sight. #802nmToPNG

It seems like a dream. Or is it a reality? Or is it a real dream? Yesterday marked exactly one year in the Ocean. ONE YEAR? 3 months on the land and 9 month in the boat. 13100 km together

To see an island so close and do not stop seams quite rich! :) The sky must think that I’m a mushroom That’s the only explanation for the regular showers I get. #897nmToPNG

Today the festival is taking place on multiple stages. I started rowing at 6.30, now it’s 22.20 and I just crawledd into the cabin. The main goal was to get down towards SW, to get around the far S point

In the morning, a friend I haven’t seen for a long time, a whale-dolphin 6 m from the boat. In the afternoon, a 300 m long cargo ship, fortunately, more than 6 m from the boat =) Other than that,

Yesterday at lunchtime a shark swam by, wiggling its tale like a friendly dog. It circled the boat and was gone. #1073jjToPNG

Coconuts, garlic, onions, ginger, papayas, bananas, green paprika, cucumbers and lemons are piled up in the boat. Today I continue to PNG. The locals here are very friendly and helpful. I am the 6th tourist on the island this year :)

I thought it will be a 24h marathon, but it turned out that you can't see anything in that bay during the night. I tried to approach the shore, but it was dangerous in the pitch dark. I had to

I'm in the bay. Thank God, the wind is a bit calmer here. The islanders can't be bothered with navigation lights. It's pitch dark. I entered the bay, using GPS. @garmin I love you!

This is unreal! I'm rowing non-stop for 19h already. Strong wind. Huge waves. The boat almost flipped over. One oar ended it's career. I have a spare. OK. Fingers crossed. #9.24nmToNedo

If the Ocean pushes you towards an island, it is a clearly defined offering. You have to make a stop. #43nmToNendo

Almost a month has run by since I untied from the buoy on the beach of Tuvalu. The distance rowed, though, has nothing in common with running :D but everything goes on! This evening there were fireworks of stars! #1290nmToPNG

The wind-mill and the rain stopped for a moment to take breath before the next performance. The Sauth-East wind has become quite constant and luckily enough it lets me steer to S/SE. For the first time since leaving Tuvalu I

14.06.2019 The Southeast wind is very generous. While standing by the oars I’m in a constantly spinning washing machine. The waves are coming from the side, but I’m managing to move a bit down. I have made an unforgivable mistake by

The wind is quite strong. Waves have white crests. Often impact force throws me off the rowing bench. I have switched to rowing in a standing position. #1475nmToPNG

Yesterday after dark I watched lightning storm in the North and South. The sky above me is clear and full of stars ;) #1550nmToPNG

It seams that one crown is not enough for the ocean. It took me back to the spot that I left 20h ago. I hope that the Ocean doesn’t know how many Ligas and Johns live in Latvia :) #funfact

I can’t see the progress map in Google Maps, but from the GPS system on the boat it seams that I have drawn a patty :) #1614nmToPNG

Winds and currents are pushing me in a circle. I’m not sure if I will manage it, but I would like to draw a Līgo crown in the map =) #1633nmToPNG

Yesterday I practically didn’t see the sun at all. Clouds and rain. On the positive note, they were accompanied by the wind and waves that pushed the water. At one point I reached a speed of 10,5 knots! It’s been

It is always nice to have friends over. Today my lunch porridge was accompanied by dolphins who ware dancing around the boat. #1705nmToPNG

Roasted almonds are still blowing my mind. The sun is baking in +39C which is 4 degrees below the temperature before Tuvalu. I can feel the difference =) The winter is coming on the S hemisphere! #1772nmToPNG

I am not on a shipping route, but it seams that I’m crossing an airway route. 4 planes flew over in one day, and 3 of them had no smoke tail. What does it mean? During the night the wind stopped

I found the backup spoon that I got from my friend in SaoPaulo, Brazil. It’s quite useful now :) #1812nmToPNG

I’m safe and sound out of the lagoon. The ocean is still as a table and I’m hungry like a sea-dog. I made the first serving of a potato porridge, but couldn’t find my spoon. Had to use my toothbrush

One of the missions on the island ????is to find 9kg oat flakes for the next rowing ????????‍♂️stage. It seemed to be impossible, because after checking all the shops I managed to have hold on only 0.6kg. All the flakes

I have turned the boat down, south, towards the Tuvalu island. The distance isn't too long, but it’s quite responsible. I have to catch the island! Join me with good thoughts and virtual presence at the paddles to support Plecs and

#funfact series continues!! This morning I woke up in the same location (W longitude), where I was 2 days ago =) The wind and current is pushing me back to Hiva Oa!

Fun fact: every morning before starting to row and every evening before going to sleep, I brush my hair and beard. Why? Don’t have a clue =) #becauseIhaveabrush 587 nm to Tuvalu.

Half-way. Half-way doesn't count when it's only half-way from one island to another and also when it's halfway around our beautiful planet Earth. Damn! Bu it is half-way around the planet with no engine or sails. An endless sense of gratitude takes

ROCK 'N' ROW! The biggest half of the way to the next stop Tuvalu is done and now only the smallest half remains :D 1234 nm to Tuvalu.

Its head was about 1 m wide. Its mouth was about 80 cm. It was 4 m long, gray, with white spots on her back and a white belly. It was very friendly and spent 3 hours with me and

The southern hemisphere’s summer resignes and autumn takes ower with regular cloudbursts. I”m looking forward to seeing yellow and red palm leaves appear on the horizon =) 1366 nm to TUVALU.

I woke up in an absolute stilness. There is no sound in the ocean. The air is like a smothering cotton in which the words are wrapped and silenced.

The most beautiful sunset in the Pacific so far. The sky looked like a flaky cake with layers of clouds and sunshine. Delicious!

I just had dinner. It’s 19.30, but the Orion has already risen. There’s almost no wind. A slight tossing. I swam today for fun =) Cheres!

10 days since Hiva Oa. I still have mango that I can cut into my morning porridge. It’s strange, but the 2 months on the island seems like a dream that I could have seen only in my sleep. There

The ocean is gentle - small waves and a good stream. It will soon be a week since I rased my anchor. Time really flies. There’s a bird sitting on the nose of the boat.

Tahuata and Hiva Oa had not yet disappeared as the island of Ua-Pa emerged above the horizon. Right now I paddle past it. While I'm resting on the island, the Ocean is running into a no-brainer. 43 nm 24 h! Lets

Except for the few times I was awakened by the screams of the radar, warning about the same fishing boat, I slept like a bay. I guess the body has realized it has to go into the Ocean mode, because

Lulled by the tune of the ukulele and warmed by friends' sincerity, I raise the anchor. It is a mere coincidence that the man who welcomed me here with a hadn't been seen for 2 months, but now he vibrates

6 days in paradise! Since my arrival I have been living on the yacht! Very friendly French couple took me as their family member :) They are big fans of that crazy fish Manta Rays, so we went to dive

THE SHORE! I laid on the ground. I was given water with lemon slices, fresh mango, topa and juicy coconut. Polynesian beads were put around my neck and a song was sung in the local language accompanied by a guitar,

Fantastic night! Imperceptible blackness, from time to time some rain, that wakes me up rain, and then silence. Beautiful and alive moment! As it turned out, the headliners of this night’s festival is the group Milky Way. Its soloist the moon,

I switched off for almost 2h. Not bad. The current from the NA has pushed me down again. I rowed back. Now I should get some more sleep but it does not come. That would be like going to sleep

I rowed all day long against the waves and in sidewaves, just to keep the distance to the rocky shores of the island. From the moment when the sun goes down, until the moon rises higher and glimpses the ocean,

I CAN SEE HIVA OA! The sun just rose over the ocean. Friends, you can still manage to join me in the boat/donate to: @plecs https://www.ziedot.lv/growtogether-3111

Today, 8 small dolphins joined me on my way. With their spinal fins they showed me the best current line through the wave maze.

I'm close, but you can’t get off at “Close” and you can’t tie your boat to "close". =) 79.8nm to Hiva Oa.

I was visited by a small (about 2 meter long) but very aggressive shark. It had a damaged fin, a reminder from another battle. It followed me and tried to hit the boat, but the boat is strong. I defended

260nm to Hiva Oa! Today I was visited by civilization - a small fishing boat and French Polynesian Coast Guard Helicopter. The pilot got close enough, to see that both my thumbs were pointing up - everything is fine, I

Hello, 9th parallel! I’ve missted you, darling. And the speed here is like in the good old days on the 5th parallel.

445 nm to Hiva Oa. Zigzagging up and down I hve made 4000 nm from Lima. After 4 months, the oars have become my arm extensions and the blades are now my hands.

532 nm to the island. Bad news: all video recorders have ended their careers. Good news: I started to write a book!

For two days I was rowing but pracicaly standing still. Don’t misunderstand me, I was still mowing West (to the left on the map), but the island is below me on the map. =)Yesterday, however, I felt that some of

If the Pacific has a FB profile or he likes surfing the internet, then I would like to thank him for the strong current that is now helping me to get to Hiva Oa. The new speed record is 47nm

Ha ha! Now I know how it is, when a flying fish hits the back of your head. Nothing major. After the collision it changes trajectory and flies further.

My most valuable resource is TIME. I’ve spent 3 months in the ocean and I’m swimming in delight about this investment =)

If some kind of a nuisance (a zig-zag current, that can’t be explained, because the map clearly shows a strait-forward stream towards West) is happening for 2 days straight, there is at-least one good thing in all of it -

Freeing the boat from the speed reducing mussel/seaweed civilization and blue light on all ocean traffic lights results in 45nm/ 24h. Bailaindo!

Ok, I have lost 6kg, so the Ocean tried to feed me, throwing 3 flying fish into my boat. I gave them another chance =) (Picture from the internet)

I jumped up from the rowing bench. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a huge pizza floating approximately 20m from the boat and it was getting closer. Yes, a month away from civilization can also cause hallucinations. When the

Handbook "How to prepare for ocean rowing”. 1. Start getting ready in autumn when it's colder and damper. Get dressed in the morning as usual for work in the office. Then go out into the yard and pour 2 buckets

A couple of days ago, full moon forced the clouds away, rolled out a carpet of light and said hallo. I stopped rowing and absorbed the view. It is a megamoment. It is a gigamoment. All I can do is

During the cleaning day I accidentally washed of the patch for prevention of motion sickness. In a while, oath meal and goji berries went to the dolphins.

At last, the clouds opened up and I saw the sun - at least for a little while for the first time this week. I spent an hour in a truly powerful company. A whale was following me for about

During the first two days the ocean was flat like a table. Then it slowly got to speed and now it is a real centrifuge. The waves are coming from all sides, but I’m still moving West.

“gRowTogether” is the next stage of traveling around the world without an engine, without any sails, only on human power. Crossing the Pacific Ocean in a rowing boat solo from Lima, Peru to Cairns, Australia. The distance is 15500 km.

We are in Lima!

After the Ocean gifted us with too many golden sunsets, we decided to cycle back into the desert, inland one more time. Soon we reached the Nazca city. It's name is derived from the Nazca culture that flourished in the area

We' ve been rolling already more than one week in Peru. The villages and cities are more distant here, so when we can found one, we stay for the night load up our water and food reservs. It is really

The wild nature part of Bolivia, which we enjoyed the most was definitely the stretch from Oruro to Chilean border. It started with complete flat road out of town, surrounded by lake, mountains, sand and wind from the back. We

Due to the health problems we had to stay in Cochabamba for more than planned. Getting out of the valley was quite steep and we were unsure whether we will be able to find some place for the night. Pedalling

We had chance to experience how Bolivians celebrate the day of the Sea. That might sound strange at first moment - why the country without sea border are celebrating this kind of event! The locals told us why and we're

We finally rolled out from Santa Cruz de la Sierra with the Cochabamba on our minds. The dream come true day come for Linda soon :) Since the beginning of this tandem journey she dreamed about midday swim in lake,

Before reaching the border in Corumba (Brazil) we had to cycle through Pantanal National Park. It meant 225km in 2 days and limted acces to civilization (haha, we will soon learn what does that means in Bolivia :D). The road

After Pedro Luiz saved our souls in Assis (host us, feed us, updated our camping and bike equipment), we headed to Vārpa. No, You didn't misunderstood, it's Latvian name of the place in Brazil, state of Sao Paulo. In the

First we got stuck at Sao Paulo for couple of days and not having an exercise was not on our plan, so we to a chance to kayak in Sao Paulo lake a bit. Getting out of the metropolis was quite

If You can pronounce Itaquaquecetuba, then You have learn portuguese language! That's what locals told us :D So we are trying

We wake up at 5. Try to start at 6 (haven't done that jet :D ), then till 10:00 temperature rises up to +33C, then till 12:00 we feel like in oven (+37C), so we have to take a break

On 24.01.2018, 10:00 (Latvian time) we start to pedal our tandembike across South America form Rio das Ostras, Brazil to Callao (Lima) Peru!