Rowing up the River Test

This was one of those 'gulp' moments. I was coxing Gladys, heading for the River Test in Southampton today. We passed a huge car transporter with a tug holding a hawser at the stern but she was still held to the dock by several enormous cables so we assumed she was going to sail at high tide in about an hour.
A moment later, I glanced over my shoulder and saw the the ship bearing down on us at increasing speed. We skidaddled.
It was a great row, hard work up the Test into a brisk northerly, but easy back with the tide after a couple of excellent and cheap pints of bitter at the charming and welcoming Eling Sailing Club.
Had to stop at the public loos on the way back, of course, and got there only just in time. A notice said 'these conveniences will close on April 4th. Southampton Council is working hard for replacement services as soon as possible."
Right. I bet they are.

Behind the scenes at the Great River Race

A gallery of great pictures of the Great River Race has been put on the organisers' website, including this one of Gladys being taken to the water at Millwall. I can still feel the edge of the gunwale cutting into my fingers - ouch. I have suddenly realised this is probably the only picture of almost all the participating members of Langstone Cutters at the race (plus a few strangers who helped) - pulling together for the greater good.

Smuggissimo

Brian Pearson puts his home waters up for the 'loveliest waters on the planet' title. He has a case, as he sails at Keyhaven, a pretty little village squeezed between the New Forest on one side and the Isle of Wight on the other.
Unfortunately, he backs up his claim with a bunch of pictures showing him and a fleet of friends sailing Lymington Scows. Now, they look like they are having a lot of fun, but the sun's out innit? For all-weather enjoyment, rowing's the ticket.

Coincidentally, pulling boat Gladys (the picture shows Richard coxing loudly) passed through a huge fleet of small plastic boats with a sort of starburst logo on the sail on our way to Emsworth today. Can't think what they might be, but they look as though they might get sailors wet, cold and miserable when the weather gets shirty.

Winter Morning Rows

The low slanting morning sun in December produces some lovely photos. And now the autumn gales have died down it is a fabulous time for getting out on the harbour. On Saturday I had a brisk row in Snarleyow from Itchenor to Dell Quay (the picture is at Itchenor) and on Sunday I went out in one of Langstone Cutters' Teifi skiffs with Mr and Mrs Rooke, who squabbled over where we were in the middle of the harbour just like my mum and dad trying to navigate round Watford on a wet Bank Holiday. The photo shows Gladys on the buoy as a seagull flies overhead.