The First Sunday Row of the 2011 Season
By Stan

Well on Sunday 8 of us took the first Sunday row of the 2011 season: Charles, Vivien, Sheila, Stan, Sarah, Jay, Bobbie and Paul. It was cold and overcast but off we went. The day turned ugly and on the way back from Salem the wind came strong from the East. Sara had some difficulty and on the return leg had to beach. However, she was rescued by a kind homeowner, who provided shelter and refreshment for her. When Jay picked her up she didn't want to leave and the adoption papers had been started! More importantley when we spoke to her later that day she was doing much better. With the help from Lord Tennyson I've included a little poem to better describe our row!( Hope the formatting works!)

The Row of the Brave Eight*

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2 miles, 3 miles

5 nautical miles onward

All in the Ocean of waves

Rowed the Brave Eight

‘Row on the Brave Eight’!

‘Row for the Salem\Beverly bouys’ said he

Onto the Harbor of Quiet rowed the Brave Eight!

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‘Row on the Brave Eight’!

Was there a person dismay’d?

Not tho’ a Rower knew

Nature had a another brew!

Theirs not to make reply

Thiers not to reason why

Thiers but to do and Row dry

Into the Ocean of waves

Rowed the Brave Eight

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Ocean to the Right of them,

Land to the Left of them,

Roiled and thunder’d

Storm’d at with froth and spray

Boldly they rowed and well

Rowed for the Salem/Beverly Bouys’

Onto the harbor of Quiet rowed the Brave Eight

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Flash’d all their oars with spray

Flash’d as they tried to ‘catch’ a wave

Charging the angry sea

While all on land wondered

Plung’d into the trough

Rowed over the crest

Right through the wave they broke

Back from the adventure they rowed

But not the Brave Eight!

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Ocean to the Right of them,

Land to the Left of them,

Roiled and thunder’d

Storm’d at with froth and spray

Boldly they rowed and well

Rowed for the Salem/Beverly Bouys’

Onto the harbor of Quiet rowed the Brave Eight

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When can their adventure fade?

O’ the wild row they made!

All the rowers wondered

Honour the row they made!

Honour the Brave Eight,

Noble Brave Eight!

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*Special reference to Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

“Charge of the Light Brigade”

Memorializing Events in the Battle of Balaclava (Crimea Russia), October 25 1854

Written 1854