Great River Race

This past weekend London held the Great River Race where 320 boats competed in rowing 21 miles along the Thames. All boats must have four oars, one passenger, and one cox. It was a gloriously sunny day and one of the most exciting spectacles I've witnessed. There were so many different boats. Celtic long boats, dragon boats, giggs, Celtic ceremonial boats, ones with ornamental dragons as head pieces, pontoon boats. In the words of one man there, "This is such a great spectacle because there is absolutely no negative energy present." Too true!

I saw Fran and the others set off for their starting time, and they were cooking. My job was to drive along in the car and cheer them on their way. They began just before Tower Bridge, off of Canary Wharf, and us driving could barely catch up with them. Driving in London is phenomenal, and the bus really is the way to see the city, not the ever convenient underground. But we drove along, following the river, in severe traffic. We had one designated view point before we were to pick them up: Hammersmith.  We drove for so long, and nearly missed them. It was faster to row to Hammersmith than for us to drive! With only two minutes to spare, we cheered them on, then raced to the finish.

We admired the many boats.

Boats of olden days.

Dragon boats.

Giggs.

Celtic boats with dragon heads.

The crew #36 putting the boat into the water.

The crew preparing to set off.

The "boys" setting off!

I was in a car driving alongside the river: the queen's family,

Big Ben from the car

the eye along the Thames

Driving next to parliament

At Hammersmith, cheering them on! They are second from the left

And the finish!!

The ensuing party.

Happy passenger and cox.

The entire crew.

 The crew finished 35th out of 320. Not too shabby!