The previous post about big water rowing strategy for small water boaters has been helpful to a lot of non-boatmen tasked with rowing.  Several friends have asked me to write another with more rowing skills to learn and practice.  In truth, it took me decades to get comfortable with the basics, most likely because I rowed only occasionally.  Really ( Read more... )

This article was originally written for a group of southeastern boaters who planned to row 18 foot rafts laden with 18 days of food/equipment through the Grand Canyon--without rowing experience. All were strong kayakers, canoeists, or paddle raft guides. Rowing is different. A heavy raft in Big Water requires new strategies. So this is my ( Read more... )

...is worth overdoing. That was their mantra.

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We're leaving tomorrow and I'm to row a raft again. How did everybody find out that I can row? I guess I better read the guidebook about the river. I'm mostly packed and ready to do the pre-trip garden harvest and cooler pack in the morning. The temperature is going to be in the 100's. I have a big hat from Africa, a long sleeved shirt and an ( Read more... )

Here's a nice new post on the NRS blog by a friend of mine. It's about Staying Connected to Boating... The author gives examples of several different ways of negotiating the river, and makes the point that a full connection to river running and to the river itself comes from trying many different craft and styles.... which is in my view what adds ( Read more... )

Last night was the final rowing class and my energy was so low that I laid on my back on the concrete floor, waiting for class to begin. I knew from my bike ride to the boathouse that the wind was up on the river, and the instructor was saying just that. She had us work out for a half hour on the "ergs" while a couple people carried the remainder ( Read more... )

On Monday, during my rowing class, a set of black helicopters started circling overhead. It was hard to pick out any details on them, because they were so dark. They flew east through downtown, flying so low that they were below the tops of the buildings. Then they turned south over the river, over our heads. They turned west over Ross Island, ( Read more... )

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