Boating

On Saturday finally we went rowing in my keel boat. Roy was very brave and even managed to steer the boat occasionally. Jutka, on the other hand, was the real brave one as she set out on our little trip never having ever rowed in a big boat before. Good job I didn't know that, or we might not have set out in the first place.

The boatman warned us that it might leak, but assured us that there was no fear of capsizing. As it turned out there was not a drop of water in it, which was the good news. Everything else was more on the bad news side:
1. Jutka was absolutely hopeless, although towards the end she started getting better, but by then we were scrapping the whole affair.
2. I was not well enough to counteract the fact that she was useless and we could not go round the moored big boat which is a hotel. The speed of the river round that boat, coupled with the early summer spate it was in stopped us going further up the river.
3. Her seat started disintegrating, which might have just been bad luck or was perhaps caused by her pushing on it due to her inability of rowing properly. The boatman promised to fix the seat, although I am not sure when, if at all, we can go out again. Perhaps when I find myself a strong, big bloke who knows how to row I might risk it.
4. I got myself a sore bottom from the hard seat and a big blister on my left hand from the oar, but who's complaining?

All in all I am glad we went. It was not exactly a resounding success, although we have spent about an hour and a half just going about half a mile up river and back again. Still, the old boat passed with flying colours and if the weather allows it, we might try again sometime this summer.

Today Pete Serres arrived, which is good news. Visitors can be a chore, but he is a great conversationist and will cheer us all up. I am at home alone now while the boys have gone out to dinner and for a walk along the river at night. I didn't feel like it, preferring my cosy armchair and TV.