Journey of a recreational vet triathlete, GigRower & adventure sport enthusiast and amateur photographer
Evening row in a rather misty murky evening. Lot’s of race training. Cox: Julie, 6: Tina, 5: Mikey, 4: Jonny, 3: Steve, 2: Me. 1: Kev. After a vigorous row went to Longboat with some of the crew where we met Trev who was buzzing after doing the CPGA Supervets Champs in Swanage with Rame who came 4th in plate.
Nice warm up ride on the relatively flat Nedereind route in Netherlands near Utrecht.
Followed this with a Fulgaz ride around Plymouth waterfront taking out a number of historic sights
Ended the ride with this iconic sight of Seaton’s Tower that represents Plymouth
This was another 20 min ride testing out Fulgaz. It was a nice ride following Lake Como to a town called Bellagio. I followed this with some strength training with weights. Earlier did a Pilates session as below:
20 minute row reviewing the program Fulgaz which was quite good ride but unlike Zwift nobody on the ride. However the video representation of the route was realistic. Also the feel on the bike was good with lots of data. My first impression was like Rouvey but better at this first review. After this did some strength training with weights.
Later in the day did a vigorous row working on starts and race pace rowing 🚣♀️ . Cox: Julie, 6: Kerry, 5: Jo, 4: Sarah 3; Me, 2: Alison, 1: Jonny. Rowed into the slip past the Scillonian III which was sheltering from the storm Agnes which was coming in on Thursday.
Quick WattBike virtual training ride around Zwifts London route which reminded me of last weekend as part of the Thames we rowed around in Westminster is displayed on the map where I cycled around virtually. Followed this with a strength session with weights and then by a 5km gig row on choppy seas as below: Cox: Wendy/Julie, 6: Jayne, 5: Julie, 4: Steve 3: Trevor, 2: Kevin, 1: Me
Quick zwift but WattBike stuck in 1 gear. So followed this with a WattBike training session. Bit of a change from gig rowing now the season is coming to an end.
Followed this with a some strength weight session. With bench press, one arm barbell row, Tricep curl etc
Steve picked me up with Sarah and we drove to London and met with some of the crew at a service station on the way. It took 4 hours to get to Exeter as the traffic was horrendous on A30. We decided to go on on the M5 and onto the A30/303 route but this was also heavy with traffic with lots of long hold ups. We carried onto the M3 and travelled to the scouts campsite near Ham in Richmond in South West London and arrived at 18.30 after starting the journey st 9.00 am. Put up the new tent ⛺️ and had a meal that was laid on by the Scouts which was really good. Had a few beers and welcomed the rest of the crew who had dropped off Morladron at Millwall docks the start of the race before hitting the sack
Last quick fast gig row before the London Great River Race. Cox: Wendy/Julie 6: Steve, 5: Ian (Guest from Bermuda), 4: Trevor, 3: Felix, 2: Alison, 1: Me. This was a fast row with a lot of training for buoy turns and race starts. Really nice row with Ian from Bermuda 🇧🇲 who rows in a gig club over there. Afterwards went for a drink in the Longboat with him and found out about the Regatta they run in Bermuda
Up at 5.00 am and had a great breakfast prepared by the Scouts and got ready for the race and went to get the the coach to Millwall from the campsite in Richmond at 07.30 am and we arrived at the start at Millwall docks. We had to move our gig and get it ready for the race. The rest of the 🏴☠️ crew arrived and met our passenger Raf who replaced Alison but could not row but was our GoPro film 🎥 director.
Once in the water at Millwall docks we rowed against the tide up and down ready for our start time of 12.40. Lots of boats and as you see above we were nearly taken out by a boat that had a cox that should of gone to specsavers 🤓. We moved up efficiently with the tide just before the start time under instructions from our brilliant cox James. Here we go.
It was so exciting passing all the iconic buildings along the Thames and our passenger Raf was taking a lot of footage on the GoPro which is in the process of being edited. We were working hard with a even stroke rate and a well coordinated water taken by each rower by the cox James to keep our fluids up in a very hot 🥵 day at around 27C plus. Further shots below of various sections along the Thames.
So that was the fantastic event and challenge for me and the team. This adds to my other challenges I have done in London namely 8 London Marathons and Olympic distance Triathlon in my younger days. We ended the night early morning singing sea shanties. Up at 7.30 for a lovely breakfast at scout campsite and then back to Penzance which took around 6 hours and thanks to 🏴☠️🚣♀️ crewmate Steve for driving as my car is getting ready for repair
Good training row for the Great River Race Row. Nice evening and reasonably calm seas. Also did some race starts and practiced several change over of crew with Alison and Sarah. Cox: Wendy, 6: Jemima, 5: Julie, 4: Steve, 3: Trevor, 2: Alison, 1: Me and Sarah as passenger and rowed in 5 and 2. Afterwards went to LongBoat for a crew discussion for Friday and Saturday.
CAMTRIER