Only ten days to go!

Greetings, Gentle Reader, June 11, 2009

Another day of rain…and only ten days to go.

Another day of rain…and only ten days to go. Here’s what’s on my mind.

Throughout the Chesapeake watershed, the water gathers. From tiny puddles flowing into little streams, which themselves flow into the countless creeks and tributaries that feed the Potomac, the heavy rains of late are certainly having an impact on the volume and velocity of the river. I’ve been anticipating the upstream dash on the Potomac to be the most demanding segment of the row, and this rain will not make it any easier. I’m told that it takes a week or more for water in the highlands to make its way through the system to the Bay, so I’ll be attending to the Weather Channel from here on out with a keen eye. A bit of sun next week would be welcome. Another week of rain will see me rowing on an aquatic treadmill.

Today I visited REI with a $40 gift certificate with a determination to hold the line at forty: a couple of car-topping pads for transporting the boat this weekend, maybe some new straps, and a fistful of Sharkies were on the short list. (Those Gentle Readers of The Big Row will recall that Sharkies are essentially electrolyte Gummi Bears, perfect for quenching thirst and replenishing electrolytes without filling up.) Alas, no Sharkies...and no Sharkie surrogates. But I still blew past $40 by $38, reflecting that gift certificates are usually among the most expensive presents possible for the recipient, yes? Josh, thanks for the gift!

Tomorrow I head north to Loomis for my 40th high school reunion. Then, on Sunday, it’s off to Lake George to retrieve the boat from my mom‘s house, and on Monday it’s a whirlwind visit to the Adirondack Guideboat folks in Vermont who will administer some TLC to the mechanicals. I estimate I’ve got about 1500 miles on the oarlocks and pins, and it’s time for some tighter tolerances before I hit the Potomac. Finances may be a little loose in DC these days, but I’ll have none of that sloppiness on my ship.

Loomis is celebrating it’s 50th year of lacrosse this year, and this weekend I’ll try my hand at running on a midfield during the annual Alumni game. “Running” may be a stretch for what I’ll do, of course, but trust me to find a way to make my opponent’s superior speed, size, and endurance work against him. As Santiago says in Old Man and the Sea, “I have many tricks.” One of my Boys’ Latin colleagues, a fabulous player and stick-stringer extraordinaire, has lent me his stick for the upcoming game. Today I spent an hour at a wall getting used to it. Simply put, it is a magic wand. Players “in the day” had to learn to throw around the particular idiosyncrasies of their stick; they were wooden, hand crafted, and no two were exactly alike. THIS stick is truly an extension of the players will. “In the day” I was a mediocre player at best, but today - unopposed, I admit - I was able to put the ball wherever I wanted it, intuitively. Maybe my Loomis gambit will be to participate in the warm ups and then, like, have to make like a really important call or something. It could be ugly...but it will be fun.

Closer to home, it appears there could be a nice send-off at the Rusty Scupper on the 21st. I appreciate those of you who have said that brunch from 8 to 9AM on Sunday would be a pleasant way to see a foolish man embark on a banal journey. My own concern is that my penchant for morning coffee will have me reaching for the relief bottle more than once before I clear Fort McHenry. (TMI? Sorry.)

Finally, a word about fundraising, if I may? As you might have noticed on the website, Kathy has arranged for donors to be able to contribute via Pay Pal. I’ll ensure that your donation will be noted by Boys’ Latin and acknowledged for tax purposes. Very easy. All funds go into the Financial Aid budget at school, and as you might imagine, the stresses on this component of any independent school’s budget is, times being what they are, intense. I’ve not been pushing the fundraising element of this adventure very prominently, but I WILL say that donated monies affect real families in a most tangible way. So, if you’re thinking of climbing aboard with your checkbook, circle back to Pay Pal and make it happen now, OK? Sure, the Potomac might be running against me, but those strokes will come easier if I know you’re there. Just do it, OK?

One or two more blogs before launch, OK? Hope to see you at the Scupper on the 21st; it should be sunny!

Mr. Frei