CHECK CHECK

“Rumor has it Blackburn crew heading out at 6AM for a distance row, I’m all in, You?”, came the text Friday night.

“I’ll be there” was the reply without hesitation.

After a rest day and a dose of antibiotics felt good to go and go we did. Jean, Terrie, Seth, Chris, Charlie, Steph and Paulie. 

Where to? 

The morning is cloudy, overcast, showers threatening to the north. Steph has a time constraint wanting to be back by 10 we head out to Marblehead Rock planning to round Tinkers and head east to Halfway Rock then around Bakers and Misery, definitely a long row. The wind is up from the west, northwest, rounding the neck we pause and discuss changing the route, Steph wants to go for Egg Rock off Nahant. 

Egg Rock, you know, the crouching elephant lying low on your left shoulder as you head out Lynn Shore Drive towards Boston. Its out there off Nahant and once we pass Tinkers its open water all the way. 

Can’t see it, just head 240 degrees or so and she’ll come up as we get closer. Thankfully she does and we arrive sitting in the swell to rest and refuel. Upwind on the way out we were pretty slow but the promise of a fast ride back is uplifting.

I remember my first Egg Rock row. I did it alone in Wings. Jack had been out there a few times, I was feeling somewhat intimidated by the distance and exposure. One morning I’m out in a breezy chop heading to Tinkers and just decided, felt compelled really, to go for it, cranking away into the stiff breeze, up and over each choppy bit until finally Egg Rock. 

Coming around a fisherman said, “Where’d you come from?” 

“Marblehead”, I said, to his look of wonder. 

Yesterday morning, arriving with six of my best friends, all planning to row Blackburn next Saturday, feeling strong and alive, fortunate to be rowing in the magnificent waters off Marblehead. 

“Check check”, she says, completing our annual pilgrimage to Egg Rock, the crouching elephant, 15.5 miles around!