2010 Boats to Winter Quarters

ONE LAST CONQUER FOR THE SEASON

She is out there. She is always out there. Halfway Rock. Halfway to where you may ask? I'm not quite sure. Perhaps between Boston and Gloucester. I never took the measurements. She was my first great row. Was that five years ago, perhaps six? I had finally ventured out beyond Marblehead Rock, beyond Childrens. It was where my Echo Islander became "Wilson" as I fearlessly rowed the Southwest swells and chop back to the safety of the bay. (don't kid yourself, I was scared shitless at the time.) A lifetime ago. This morning she greeted me with open arms and still waters. When I set out around 6:30, I hadn't planned to make the visit. Figured a 3-4 mile pull would be long enough. I hadn't rowed since Sunapee and didn't feel I had the juice for something larger, but she knew otherwise. Like a Siren oout of Greek Mythology, I sensed a whisper as I crossed Marblehead Rock heading towards the bell. It grew stronger as I approached Childrens. A peek over my shoulder keep revealing her silhouette against the steel gray of the ocean palette. She was there for one last conquer of the season. Turning East I started making my way towards our rendezvous. Long rhythmic pulls of the oars combined with the sounds of her calling put me in a meditative trance that brought me to her side in less time than I would have otherwise imagined. We embraced for a short period of time, enjoying each others intimate presence and than I had to depart for the return trip home. Around 2 hours later I returned to the dock with sore hands and a sadness in my heart for she will be missed until next season.
Blessings

ETHOS

From the beginning there's been a mystical quality to Rock N Row. More than a rowing club, more than a gathering of likemindedness. Something untouchable, unreachable that answers a need, a desire being beautifully acknowledged.

Recently I started reading a book Kathie gave for my birthday in 1999! Yes, it took me 10 years. The book is titled, Eternal Echos, by the Irish writer, John O'Donahue. Here's a passage....

"When we go out alone and enter the solitude of Nature, we return home to our soul. When you find a place in Nature where the mind and heart find rest, than you have discovered a sanctuary for your soul. Perhaps Nature senses our longing, the restlessness that never lets us settle. She takes us into the tranquility of her stillness. Our longing is purified and we gain strength to come back to life refreshed and to refine our ways of belonging in the world. Nature calls us to tranquility and rhythm."

AHH.......the ethos of Rock N Row...now reconcile this with Pirate Culture!!!!!

Rain Row and Delicate Skies

It’s easy to be spoiled by the visually voluptuous sight of ocean, isles and brilliant sun, stretching endlessly beyond Children’s. It’s easy—especially after this gorgeous summer of nearly perfect weather – to think of anything less as gloomy. This morning Paulie and I struck out in classic “gloom” with worsening wind off our beam and finally light rain. But there was nothing gloomy about it. Maybe that’s one of the fineries of ocean rowing – that the sky is always so present, that even with a grey pallor; if you watch it long enough, initial flatness will reveal subtleties of the most interesting kind. So we pulled and watched the skyward narrative.

The plot down to Beverly formed as a hedge of high, dark wisps skided toward us in the shape of a mare’s tail, then passed bringing rain. But it was a nice, cooling drench, especially as we headed back from the lighthouse, pushing ourselves for a two-mile, uptide run that on a sunny, August day would have left us covered in sweat. This was much nicer, much sweeter. By the time we reached Brown’s Island, my eyes had adjusted to small differences of shade and color that made me regret leaving my camera in the car. On the dock, we didn’t need to comment about how great it had been to be in the currents, wind and waves under a delicate sky. So we mostly just smiled and didn’t talk, putting our boats away— sort of the norm these varying fall days at Rock and Row.

Autumn's Perfume Is In The Nose

Nothing like September light. The edge of summer is held by the sun but the wind and air infuse the nose. It's the hint of autumn, but still just a flirtation.

With brisk clouds at a distance, Carmi and I headed out early to get a jump on the flight team of Thomas, Steph and Dave Brocum, hoping to meet them at Tinkers after we sojourned to the beach and out by Pig Rock. But in our two-hour row we never did, even though it was nice to see Pal Bickford and Sara Simon out in front of Peter Lynch's spread, nicely accommodating the northerly breeze pushing at their sterns.

The long forgotten hurricane has cleared many boats from our waters and we went a whole hour without meeting a single wake. Carmi said when she becomes God she will limit motor boats to ocean travel between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Rowers will have all other hours. Amen to that.

Thomas, Stephanie, Carmi and I have decided to row a mixed quad in the Head of the Charles if we can capture a boat and get a few practices in. It is R & R's first appearance at the largest regatta in the world, and about time. Let's hope we can find that dubious quad and show our colors to all those flat water whimps from Harvard, the boat clubs and the like.

THIS IS THE TALE OF 5 INTREPID ROWERS WHO WENT ROWING ON SUNDAY SEPT 5TH: Frank, Loretta, Gail, Shelia and Stan

Windy but mangeable seas, but other than that a beautiful day
We rowed as a group to Salem Harbor saw "Friendship", under partial sail, on its way to Gloucester Harbor (ed note: for the Schooner Festival), and the "Fame" under full sail doing a sight sighting trip. Never saw that view of the "Friendship" before:very majestic and certainly a beautiful vessel. If I had a camera, which I don't have enough courage to carry on these trips, it would have made and impressive picture.
The "Fame", a "Chebacco" fishing schooner, was sailing out of Salem Harbor, my guess a sight seeing trip, because it turned to avoid us and continued in the channel towards Marblehead. Also about this time the Salem Ferry left for Boston: quite an interesting array of vessels.
But I digress:on the adventure of the intrepid five
At about Salem Harbor the wind picked up and seas became interesting. So discretion being the better part of valor we turned back to Marblehead. Things were proceeding fine: seas were active, wind was up but we were making good headway. When we turned to go around what I think is Peaches Point, and that is when the wind shifted to our side and backs and proceeded to blow is all out to sea! So again we collected ourselves turned and preceeded toward Browns Island. About this time I lost track of Gail and Frank, I think that they headed towards the main inlet to Browns Island while Shelia, Loretta and I headed towards the inlet closest to Salem.
Shelia was blown furthest off course and rowed hard agains the wind and sea, making slow but steady headway. About this time another strong gust of wind came up and turned her slighty, caught the bill of her cap, and blew her hat off her head! It was quite a sight watching her try to rescue her favorite baseball cap, but alas it was not ti be. After trying for several moments to retreive the cap from its watery imprisonment, the capricious nature of the wind and tide won out and the cap, with her signature rear-view bike mirror, "now sleeps with the fishes" (ref: Godfather part 1) or lobsters as the case may be.
Loretta was partially in the harbor while I stayed out: we both cheered Shelia on to her safe harbor. We watched and waited while the wiond, her haur and the spray was flying all over the place. Gee I wish I had a camera! Inexorably she closed the distance and we all proceeded across the inlet to the dock. Whe we arrived at the dock we saw that Frank and Gail had safely embarked on dry land. We all congratulated ourselves on a well earned accomplishment.
Unfortunately, this may be our last row this year:with the fast approaching Jewish Holidays, her mother visiting for two weeks (I actually get along with her), a 60th birthday party for her brother in Bar Harbor and possible follow on treatments for Sheila's Thyroid cancer make it difficult to find time over the next few weeks. Plus the end of the rowing season is approaching.
One last thought. As Sheila and I were leaving the boat yard we looked back at the dock and noticed that an entire flock of water fowl, possibly Herons, had alighted on the water by the dock. There were at least 2 dozen. They were swimming around bobbing and feeding. again, I needed a camera!!
We both thought that that was an appropriate ending to a very interesting day and, for us a season.
(posted by the captn' as requested by stan...)

O, what a feeling!

The RocknRow prescription for joy: 6 boats + 6 rowers + one gorgeous day on the Essex River. Cue the puffy white clouds & the peanut butter, jelly & chip sandwiches. Add one wet dog, and the most supportive spouses in the history of America. Pure joy.

Left to right: Paulie, Sarah, Steph, Eileen, Charlie & the VIKING revel in the glory of a Sunday morning on the Essex River.

Marblehead Rowing Club rocks in Sunapee - Marblehead, MA - Marblehead Reporter

Marblehead Rowing Club rocks in Sunapee - Marblehead, MA - Marblehead Reporter

Storm Row

Okay, so it wasn't as bad as the images here but a few of us wanted to taste the aftermath of the tropical storm that was racing into Canada. So Paulie, Thomas, Uber Guest Athlete Trish Karter and I headed into 3-4 foot swells with an 18 mph tailwind to embrace the conditions. And we did. Rowing laps around Marblehead Rock and the bell buoy beyond, we pulled our Echos up and down the troughs and crests in crsytaline, brilliant sunlight, feeling about as alive as you can on earth. It was memorable -- ocean spray in our faces, the magical sightings of seeing your crew mates disappear out of sight, only to reappear seconds later as we traversed the swells. It had some kick and edge withouth being reckless -- just about right for a late season row in the R & R ethos.