Dragon Boat Competition - Part I

We had our Dragon Boating practice this evening down at Lake Couchiching. It was actually a beautiful day out despite being a bit chilly. At least it didn’t rain.

The practice went well. There are 20 paddlers, a drummer and a person who steers on each boat. We had a paddling lesson on land for about the first 20 minutes. Paddling in races is apparently quite different than regular paddling; higher arches and less pulling through the water and naturally a lot quicker. We spent about 40 minutes on the water.

By the time we made our arrangements to meet in the morning it was about quarter after 7. I was debating whether to go to the gym or to go for a rollerblade since I was already down on the waterfront trail. I decided to go rollerblading. I did 5km and half way through it was starting to get quite dark; the trees form a canopy over the trail so what little light was left wasn’t helping much. Of course then I began thinking about the dead girl that was found on the trail about 6-8 weeks ago and my mind started wandering. I started thinking I was hearing someone behind me when really it was just the leaves being blown around as I flew past them. I tried putting my focus into what I had just learned at the Dragon Boat practice and the timing of the strokes; one, two, three…one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, night, ten, one, two, three four, five, six…etc. Not that it really worked too well; even though I was counting the thought of the dead body on the trail was still lurking in the back of my mind.

Well at any rate made it back to my car just about the time it was completely dark.

I should be packing some things to take down to the park with me tomorrow morning (we were told to bring 3-4 changes of clothing). I’m going to do that and some cleaning once I’m done writing this.

Our first race is at 8am! I’m going to have to leave about 1 ½ hours earlier than I do for work. I’m not actually complaining though because I think it’s going to be a lot of fun!

I bought two new books today, both that I’m quite excited about. The first one that I got, and which I’ve already started, is Margaret Atwood’s “Moral Disorder”. The other is Mark Haddon’s “A Spot of Brother”. Mark Haddon also wrote “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” which was my favourite of 37 books that I read in 2004. I remember the year because I read it in two nights on the train up to and back from Hokkaido while Lisa was visiting me in Japan, she is the one who recommended the book. So I’ve started Margaret Atwood’s already tonight because I figure it is shorter than the other so I can finish it before leaving for Germany and the other one I can take with me.

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow...at least until the afternoon!