Off to the Big Beanpot in a couple of hours. I've got my packing mkostly done, but
did it so late and in such small incrememnts that I'm fairly certin I'll have
forgotten something. On the other hand, I'm deliberately not bringing an extra
sweatshirt on the theory that I might want to buy one there. (I do have a sweater,
a chamois shirt, a fleece jacket, and a waterproof outer jacket, so no one need
worry that's I'll freeze.)
I need a medium suitcase. It just feels
silly to be bringing my big one for only five days and normal clothing (no skiing
or rowing or camping gear, I mean) but I couldn't fit my clothing plus camera gear
into a small carryon sized suitcase. I also have thick socks, waterproof shoes,
and a hat and light gloves in anticipation of some icky weather this weekend.
Maybe I should go pack another book just in case there is more inside than
expected.
Oh, and last night the city of Tempe had a little sendoff
party for everyone going to the Head of the Charles - one city women's four, one
club men's eight, and a junior girls' four. And Rudder, whom they forgot to list
on the program (the guy who runs this "didn't know he was going", despite having
been there when we were loading Rudder's boat on the trailer last weekend. Duh.)
They even had the mayor present to christen a new boat at the same time. It was
all nicely done, and especially impressive that, though they gave nice long-
sleeved rowing shirts to the city crew, they're also handing out polo shirts to
everyone who is racing and representing Arizona. Nice touch. We took my boat down,
since it matches Rudder's with the AZ flag colors, and they had a few shots of him
rowing it on the news.
Only a couple minor nits to pick:
1)
Given the official nature of the event, I understand why they had sparkling cider
there for everyone to drink in a toast.l But they also used cider to christen the
new boat. (Incidentally, the same four I've coxed a couple of times - hadn't
realized it wasn't officially named yet. Unlucky.) That's not right, just not
right. Boats need real champagne. Generally cheap champagne, mind you, but real.
It's a symbolic thing.
2) Second, echoing a recent local news
article, the mayor kept referring to the city crew as "ranked fourth in the
nation". Uh, yeah, whatever. What they actually did was to finish fourth in just
one of the hundreds of races at Masters Nationals in August. They do get credit
for making it to finals at least, but it's just one race and they didn't even win.
As Rudder pointed out, by that criteria, he's ranked second nationally - three
times. And that's not even taking into account the fact that this was only
Masters Nationals, and there are also Juniosr N aitonals, Club Nationals,
and the real thing, just plain Nationals - that last being where the Olympians and
owuld-be Olympians compete. Oh well. It bugs me only because it's factually wrong,
and because he kept saying the same thing over and over, but I suppose it makes
everyone feel good.
3) On the news show that night, there was a claim
that this was the "first Arizona crew going to the Charles". Uh, no. I'm pretty
sure not, seeing as I was in the boat that went three years ago. For that matter,
so was the woman stroking this one. It's true that they can confidently expect to
do better this time, but still, we were there. Also, they will certainly
not do as well as a local singles rower, a former Olympian (from Bulgaria) who has
raced at the Charles quite a few times. The year I was there too, she won her
race. That's a pretty big thing to overlook. One hopes this all was written by
randome city officials, not by the lake's small-boats coordinator, who is actually
a rower and coach and should damn well know better.