Toons: 
Our first proper training run on Saturday. A planned trip to Marsport was cancelled due to the river being too high. The boat was from sunny Scunthorpe and just lifting it to the river, show what great suspension Pete’s car has.
The great British weather meant that the temperature was just above zero and the container/changing room meant for a fast change. Already I’m looking forward to the summer.
The training went well apart from our inability to keep the damn thing straight. Every time we thought we’d got the nack we’d end up swerving into the bank. We didn’t use the rudder so we could keep up a better speed. The wing paddles worked well but once we got into a good flow the boat tended to want to climb up the bank.
A three hour paddle to Richmond Bridge and another session planned for tomorrow, let’s hope we can steer.
Pete: I think we both realise even on our first outing just how difficult it’s going to be to keep morale high. Mood swings from taking verbal potshots at rowers (”Pond Life”) to getting checked out by good-looking female rowers. This always provides a highlight - the pace quickens etc. Sometimes this is less than ideal - especially when heading for a tree…
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