Peaceful Moments

On behalf of the Vérité crew we wish you a Happy New Year filled to the brim with peaceful moments on the water.

 

Mission Accomplished

It's a big deal when a boat comes out of the water. There are so many things to keep in mind especially when it is a wooden boat. When the Queen Bee arrived on deck the drones buzzed into action, stroking and scrubbing her in adoration. Soon it will be time to pay our Queen some well deserved attention after the best rowing season ever!  Many thanks to those who donned their Carhartt's (if they were lucky enough to have one) or their woolens and rubber boots to help with the process: Big thank you's to Maria, Chris, Tom, and warm honey hugs to Sally, Kathleen, Nancy, Barbara and Jan. 

 

 

Lenticular clouds

 Lenticular clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis) are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form in the troposphere, normally in perpendicular alignment to the wind direction. If the temperature at the crest of the wave drops to the dew point, moisture in the air may condense to form lenticular clouds. Due to their shape, they have been offered as an explanation for some Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sightings.

When lenticular clouds hang over Mt Rainier we notice. You know we might see a UFO! But mostly... it means the weather is changing and rain is on it's way.

So every extra time out on the water now is a blessing. This week Jill's husband Crash (a former Penn oarsman), came out to meet the Verite in his new rowing shell. Perhaps inspiration for his shell was the result of reading "Boys on the Boat" which rekindled his crew instincts or maybe it was due to watching Jill have so much fun rowing on the Verite? Either way it what a lovely boat. And what wasn't to enjoy - the rains held off, a new gal - Karen rowed along, and Theresa brought pumpkin pie.

 

I mean, who said brown bagging it isn't fun?

The wind doth blow

The wind doth blowed this Monday past,

as noted by our flapping hats.

The dock rolled this way and then back,

our arms were flapping just like bats!

 

Crone wisdom ruled the day,

so we just sat,

out of the way,

in between the boats,

no, there was no smoke,

and had the most marvelous of days.

 

Happy Samhain!

 

 

To Thor and Back

The three sisters:

Nancy, Kathleen, and Terese

coxed

to Thor and back.

 

Thor, is a bulk container ship is from Majuro.

Majuro is the largest of the coral atolls that make up the Marshall Islands.

I am sure it is sunny there.

 

 

Not grey and misty like here.

 

 But the weather doesn't bother us!

We're happy!

and warmed up after putting her canvas cover on.

High Tide

Each week we gather at 2:30 pm on the dot. It's a bit like watching bees come back to the hive. Every new arrival is welcomed with a mix and a mingle, the volume of the hum naturally increasing.  We seldom know who will show up or what the weather will really be like (so often it is miserable at home).  It is best to not have any preconceived notions, to be open, to be willing to 'wait' to see what will happen.

This week:
Nine showed up on a gorgeous autumn day. A fireboat and harbor watcher (tiny head in our wake) provided moments of observation but no rest  - the tide was pushing us back at every stroke. The ship in the bay our goal. A man in an orange suit with a small paint brush and a can of paint watches from above. We look back at our position and think yes, this is far enough out to leave 'it all' behind. Famous last words; Traffic, everywhere you go! We search for a calm patch, nose toward the Thea  and call for tea. The day ends with calm reflections of what it is like to "just be".