Big fizzer . . . !

Weather:  Fine but threatening . . . winds light and variable

Temp:  About 15

River Condition:  Calm

River Level:  Rising from 0.460m at 10:00am - but we didn't find out how high

Boats:  Mitchell

Rowers:  Judy O, Neil

The Geese would have done better . . .

Come on you guys!!

Judy O and I fronted up to the shed with eager anticipation – and when we realised we were the only two rowers we ‘quickly’ signed out the Mitchell and got it on the trestles ready for rigging.  This is where the first (but minor) problem became apparent – the nut on the bow side stroke rigger was missing.  It took some minutes to locate a replacement, but the problem was resolved.

Once under way we discovered the next (and again minor problem) was the fact that I rigged my stroke side oar on the wrong side of the gate.  This is of coure a trick for young players - and old players as well it would seem! 

And then we discovered the next (more serious) problem – I could not steer the boat!  Now some less kind people would say that would not make any difference to the way that I steer, but we decided to head back to the deck and sort it out.  Unfortunately the cable needed to be tensioned and the required tools were not at hand . . . so we gave up the idea of rowing and cleaned up the boat and went home instead.

We also noted another problem when we got back to the ramp . . . the Mitchell is somewhat unbalanced.  No, this is not a reflection about our rowing mate Ron, but the boat quite dramatically flops to bow side when it is sitting in the water.  This was also evident when it was on the tresles. 

Note to self . . . carry more tools!

First Lights . . .

Weather:  Fine . . . winds light and variable

Temp:  About 26

River Condition:  Dead calm

River Level:  Rising from 0.032m at 6:00pm to 0.102m at 7:00pm

Boats:  Bray, Burton

Rowers:  Ron, Jim, Peter, Lee, Neil and John

 Change of Season . . .

Getting ready for a twilight row . . .

This was our first evening row after the ‘passing’ of Daylight Saving . . . hence we needed to put lights on both the Bray and Burton.  We also welcomed Jim back into ‘his seat’ and Peter rowed in the all-important # 3 position.  And just to make things interesting, Ron wasn’t aware that Lee was in the #2 seat instead of his customary bow seat.  Close to home Ron called ‘touch it Gags’ and the boat moved the ‘wrong’ way! 

Place marker 1

Home and Hosed . . .

Weather:  Fine . . . winds from the NW at about 10kts

Temp:  About 22

River Condition:  Mostly calm but choppy in gusts

River Level:  Falling from 0.477m at 10:00am to 0.250m at midday

Boats:  Roche, Burton

Rowers:  John, Carolyn, Kerry, Mick, Judy O, Neil

A Very Fine Row . . .

Kerry stretching everyone out . . .

Nice timing . . .

Everyone was at the shed on time and we had the boats out on the water in good time.   Kerry set an excellent pace and the crew looked very professional.  I coxed upstream and Carolyn rowed in the bow seat – and we swapped at Powerhouse.  The others stayed in their seats while John rowed ‘shotgun’ in the single. 

There was one moment of excitement on the way downstream.  Per chance we met an upstream bound wide ferry under the Chapel Street Bridge and we were ‘forced’ a little close to the north bank.  However we all came through unscathed thanks to the skill of Carolyn’s deft hand on the tiller. 

Washing, rinse, dry, rinse - or something like that!

And there was some discussion about what ‘home and hosed’ might mean – apparently there is a view that we should not only wash and rinse the boats, but that we should also rub them down with a towel or chamois.  Kerry added to the discussion by rinsing the Roche twice!

Thanks again everyone – what a lovely row.