An antidote

After the pathetic-ness of my Slumping Saturday I roused myself from my stupor, extricated myself from the couch, and actually went rowing on Sunday. I had already paid, after all.  

Curiously when I tell people I went rowing they often think I mean on a rowing machine- often even after I have shown them the blisters on my hands. I have to explain I mean in a real boat, on the Yarra, with real oars; that's how you get blisters, not on a rowing machine. It's the manipulation of the oars - squaring them in the water, pulling back, then feathering them out of the water as you slide forward for your next stroke, that creates the blisters.

Anyway, I arrived in a grumpy mood. I didn't want to be there, yet the day before I was completely sick of myself and my inactivity. We got the boat down to the river- often the hardest part, those boats are not light - got the blades in, did up the oarlocks, adjusted our feet so we could come to a full slide, and gently pushed off.

We were in a quad, so that meant we had to row in time with each other, and we were sculling so we had two blades each, instead of just one. (The Aussies among us will remember the Oarsome Foursome: they rowed in a four, with one oar each, so they were sweeping.) Luckily I was in the stroke seat up the 'front' (technically it's the back as you row backwards) and so I kept time, the others followed me. Simple, almost meditative once you get your rhythm.

These guys are sweeping; they also look far more professional than we did!

We rowed all the way into town, I love seeing Melbourne from the water, it's such a different perspective. All up we rowed 9km. Nine km! No wonder my butt hurt and my hands are covered in blisters. But, I felt much more positive after that. 

But also much more tired. Exhausted actually. And hungry. The vegequarian in me didn't stand a chance as when I got home I fried up steak and egg and stacked it on a bun like hamburger with cheese and tomato. 

Thus fuelled up again I also went dancing that night- salsa. Fortunately I had agreed to go with a friend or I would've given that idea up after all the rowing. I'm glad I didn't because it was fun even if I did have to cover my hand in bandaids.

I must remember all this next time I full into a slump and don't want to go to yoga, or rowing, or dancing.