25/07/09

Mission accomplished.

I completed the marathon row of 42 Km down the Tay at 9.30am having started at dawn from between the road bridges in Perth at exactly 5.00am on Friday 24th July.

My support boat was the Marigot of MVS Tay which took me, the boat, Hazel Ednie from the ISE Dundee University (where I did my training), my daughter Claire and grandson Caspar (age 6) up the river the night before .  The trip is wonderfully described on this link:        http://www.mvstay.org/html/david_winch_charity_row.html

I hope you enjoy the pictures by Ken Bushe.

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As you see in the pictures I had perfect conditions all the way. The water was flat calm with no wind at all until a few minutes before the finish. There was light drizzle from time to time to keep me cool but this did cause one small problem. The rubber covers on the oars became sticky each time they dried and I am left with one big blister and some little ones on my hands.

The sliding seat did not fit me exactly so I also have a sore backside. Otherwise, 24 hours later, I have recovered completely and I put this down to the amount of training I did in the gym.

By the way the boat is for sale. I have promised not to think up another escapade like this in future.

 

Earlier:

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

My boat is a converted sailing canoe to which I have fitted a sliding seat and my oars were once used by Strathclyde University Rowing Club.

I have never rowed competitively but learned first on Poole Park Lake in Dorset at the age of 8 and then in Poole harbour where my elder brother and I sailed a heavy 14 foot dinghy. Whenever the wind died and we were late getting home for tea I was always the one who ended up doing the necessary rowing; I have always enjoyed messing about in boats.

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