First rowing of the new year

thedailychannel.com — adventure

First Row, 1996

Saturday, January 6, 1996

First rowing of the new year, Irene and Joe came to the boathouse too. Pushed away from the dock at 7:15 and immediately saw a seal blowing. It was cool out, I didn't warm up until the first mile was over. Rowed about five miles, going slow, took about an hour and ten minutes, trailing along behind Alex and the club until I passed them

Several fours were on the water, followed by their launches, and black birds were present in great flocks. Made the turn at two miles instead of going out to the ocean, since a fishing boat was bringing a large wake in with its catch & I didn't feel getting wet, especially since I was carrying my sweatshirt in the baycraft.

A few hundred gulls swirled and swarmd behind the boat as it made its way to the fishing dock where the handwritten "Live Squid" sign can be seen, slowing gradually and losing its bow wake.

During the hour, the few tendrils of pink cloud gave way to the sunlight that often turns the marina gold as it shines through the ground mist. I Almost tipped several times as I failed to pay complete attention and let my right oar dive deep as I pulled hard before squaring the oar. After three or four weeks off the water you can get out of tune, not to mention out of shape.

On the final half-mile I had the wind at my back to steady me and could balance nicely. I always like it when I can row without tipping back and forth, which anyone who sculls should be able to do when both water and air are calm. I tried out the "turn your head at the catch" method of looking around and expect to have a truly stiff neck tomorrow; this is a lot harder than it sounded when I first read about it. Still, I can see how you could immediately correct your direction on that same stroke after you develop the required rubberneck flexibility.

Coasted in to a dockside welcome from Irene and Joe. They fed me a few bites of ham and cheese croissant and Joe held the boat & moved it down the dock to make way for one of Pam's eights. "An eight is a large boat. It has eight seats in it." Is it not true?

I also went rowing a lot in 1994 and 1995, but I kept track of it a lot better in 1994.

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