As you will know, Covid-19 has put paid to plans for a relay row around the coast of Scotland to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Scottish Coastal Rowing. However, the organisers are not downhearted, and a digital RowAround is under way.
You can follow progress on the website linked above – there’s a map that shows the sections completed, and clicking on them takes you to a collection of words and photos celebrating that section.
The first section, Annan to Bowness, includes a beautiful story about a mermaid read by the RowAround storyteller, Jan Bee Brown. There’s also a history of the Bell Raid, and some lovely notes from the Annan ladies, including this one:
The first time I tried rowing was in the ‘Pride of Annan’ on Castle Loch at Lochmaben. I was in the bow doing quite well, following the stroke, listening to the cox when a swan came into land on the water on the port side; I was transfixed. I completely lost timing and ‘caught a crab’ ending up like a sheep on its back with my legs in the air. Thankfully nobody had a camera so my embarrassment was not recorded for posterity. — Christine M.
Update: I’m putting all of Dónal’s videos on a single page for your enjoyment: Dónal’s Daily Tunes
Of course Dónal isn’t the only musician in the club. Click on this link to hear Peter play Speed Bonny Boat on his practice chanter.
As many of you will know, Dónal has been entertaining us for the past couple of weeks on Facebook with a Daily Tune. He’s very kindly uploaded them to YouTube so we can enjoy them whenever we need cheering up. Thanks, Dónal! Here are the tunes so far, in no particular order:
Tune of the Day number 6 is Fanny Power. This tune was written in the early 1700s by the Great Irish Harpist Turlough O’Carolan for the daughter of his benefactors, her name was Frances Power
Tune of the Day number 8, Tabhair dom do Lámh (Give me your hand), was written by a musician by the name of Ruairi Dáll Ó’Catháin (1570-1650).
Club Treasurer Marion writes: The Committee has agreed to defer payment of subscriptions which would have been due from the 1st April, until the beginning of whichever month it is agreed that rowing can recommence. At that time the amount will be reduced pro rata, ie if it was August then only 2/3 rds would be due. Hope you are all keeping well.
Barbara here. Rowing may be out for the duration, but QRC’s club spirit endures. Val has organised a few virtual gatherings via the Zoom app and they’ve been a lot of fun. The one in the photo was organised to help Lesley celebrate her birthday, hence Val’s glorious hat and Keith’s raised glass. In the bottom left corner you can just make out Jennifer’s pile of beautifully chopped veg, ready for the chicken stir-fry she was making. On another chat, people showed off their cats.
It’s free and reasonably easy to set up: https://zoom.us/ The phone app is available in the appropriate app store.
A QRC WhatsApp group has also been set up – 32 people in that so far. Admins are Dónal, Anne P, Keith, Marianne and me, email any one of us to join that once you’ve installed the app on your phone.
Now that most of us are restricted to one walk/cycle per day for exercise, the internet – especially YouTube – offers a lot of inspiration for those keen to keep up their fitness ready for a return to rowing.
First up, a pep talk from the Mayo Clinic.
Getting serious now: keep-fit exercises for rowers without a boat or a rowing machine.
Planking is excellent for the core.
And here’s a twenty-minute workout with no equipment.
Finally, a shout-out to all those club members who, as essential staff, are still out there working. Thank you all.
