It was a shame, when we went to Rannoch Adventure, that for understandable reasons, the awning blocked the view of the boat as she sat on her trestles, but you get the idea. Compared to some of the single scull craft that were also in the yard, she is a big boat. It is immediately obvious, however, that with 12 of us on board, it is going to be 'busy'.
By the time there are 6 of us on the oars with 6 resting, eating or, resting or eating.... it will feel small enough.
A month or so ago, Chris (work colleague), and I took on the Norwich nearly 100. Fair play to Chris, who had completed the Ride London only the weekend before, but if your unwise enough to suggest that you're thinking of taking on the Norwich 100, whilst in the same room as me, you can't be surprised when I offer to do it with you.
x- Royal Airforce and x- Royal Navy, there was going to be no backing down. The challenge was set and taken up and 5 hours and 24 minutes, was a fair crack for the 97 miles we charted around central north Norfolk.
From now on in, this is what an average week might look like. And on that note, I'm off to the gym.
I've also spent a bit of time reading 'Mind over Water' lessons on life from the art of rowing, part of the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance genre and it has helped to clarify a few things for me and is well worth a read whether you are a rower or not. In the end, the vehicle is not improtant, what is, is trying to achieve the best version of yourself. Sometimes you can only do this by trying to find your limits.
'In the boats, we explore the concepts that underlie creation. The raw elements of the sport are our treachers: the wind and the water, the boat and its oars, our own bodies and minds.' Craig Lambert Mind over Water.
