Learn To Row Day

So today was National Learn To Row Day. The Austin Rowing Club held an open house so we stopped by to check it out. After a brief tour and some work on the rowing simulator to teach us the basics, we were off to learn the difference between sculling (two oars, one in each hand) and sweep rowing (one oar on only one side of the boat). Then it was time for the actual boat. We got into an eight person sweep and set out under direction from the coxswain (cok-sin). Try to imagine the photo below with 8 awkward amateurs instead of a finely tuned team and you will have a partial idea of the situation.

It was a great experience and given the time and the money, I'd join the club in a second. You can't beat the views and it's always sweet when exercise is fun.