rowtheworld

Day 7: Weybridge

Posted on by Susan

20190921_05055820190921_123253

Today was the last day of our Thames River row and we ended our trip in Weybridge. This is where the River Wey joins the Thames.

It was an unseasonably warm day with lots of wind and many boats out enjoying the weather. It seemed as though everyone was outdoors, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and rowing. We spent two hours total, we calculated, waiting to get into and through the 3 locks. Boats were lined up in both directions. When we finally arrived at the boathouse to wash the boats and put them away, it was close to 6pm.

We finished with a farewell dinner at a restaurant in Windsor, and agreed that our week was just about perfect.

On to London tomorrow as my trip continues.

[photos: above – packed up boats, Windsor Castle

below- black and white cows]

 

20190921_104352

Day 6: Windsor

Posted on by Susan

20190920_061935Today was the longest row of our trip and it was especially fun. I rowed all day with the two women from my club I’m traveling with. We were on the coxed double, switching the coxing job every three hours or so.

We passed under ancient bridges and went through eight or nine locks. Locks take time since we have to wait for a space to row our boat in and then wait for the water flow to be complete before we row out. It’s a little like threading a needle, since there can be big power boats hogging most of the lock. The cox has to negotiate the paddle in, and often there is barely room to move.

With all those locks and strong wind, it took all day to get from Henley to Windsor.

We stopped for lunch at about 2, then continued to endure wind gusts for the second part of our day. We were glad to get to our hotel, after pulling the boats out at the Excelsior Rowing Club, where we will get them in the morning. Tomorrow is our last day on the Thames.

[photos: swan on the dock; lawn party we rowed past; ancient church]

20190920_04101920190920_055106

Day 5: Leander Rowing Club

Posted on by Susan

20190919_124947Thursday was another excellent day. We rowed half the day, to Henley-on-Thames, known around the world for its focus on rowing. I walked around the city and enjoyed checking out the shops and the Thursday market.
Cameron Buchan, who is training for a spot on the 2020 Olympic Rowing team, gave us a tour of the Leander Rowing Club training facility. The club has been training almost all of GB’s Olympic rowers for over 100 years so was filled with interesting rowing memorabilia. We had dinner with Cameron and Anne Buckingham from the club. Tomorrow will be our longest row yet, 33 km to Eton. 20190919_12015720190919_122225Rowing shells at Leander Club. .