Memory Lane

I had an unexpected trip down memory lane this weekend, when during a visit to the Sivananda Yoga centre in Putney (where I hope to get teach yoga before long), I had the opportunity to go for a lovely walk along the Thames. Not only did it bring back memories of happy years spent living not far away on the other side of the river in 52QM, but also of the three years I spent rowing at high school. From a fitness point of view, they were surely the best years of my life so far (though if I keep the yoga practice up, I hope to reach those heady heights once more! :). They also afforded plenty of time out in the fresh air (OK yes, and the driving rain and the cold too.. not to mention at the mercy of the dreaded, blood-sucking flies known to us as "Blanny Bombers"!) connecting with nature, and although all our practice time was spent on the River Stour in Dorset, most of our races took place right here on the Thames. For some of them, I was actually the cox, rather than a rower, so I recall the care I would have to take navigating my charges under the many bridges of the Thames, including this one, Putney bridge.

When looking upon this scene though, I noticed one crucial difference between the rowing clubs dotted along this part of the Thames (I think I counted at least four) and our little boat house and dock in Dorset, and that is the sheer distance you have to cover to get the boat from the boat house into the water here in London. The photo shows barely a quarter of the slope these girls are about to have to trek up with a great, hulking boat slicing into their already exhausted shoulder muscles.. and we had no need for wearing wellies either, where I learned to row. We just lowered the boat gently into the water from the safety of a horizontal - and dry - dock! So, dear Reader, call me a wimp if you please, but in case you should ask yourself why I never took up rowing again back in London, this photo says it all! I was just too pampered back on our small but in many ways perfect River Stour :)


Young rowers on the Thames at Putney