Learning to Row

Today was windy and rainy this morning but became a gorgeous, sunny (although still windy) day by lunch time. Just after lunch, I met Calvin's 5th grade class at school where the 31 students and 4 adults set out for a walk to the port. We walked to the local rowing school (aviron in French) and then set out 2 by 2 for rowing out into the gulf.

The kids had done this sport 2 other times but this was my first time to ever row this kind of boat. Calvin and I were partners and had a great time! He started out as the rower until he got tired and then I took over about half way through.

Calvin was the one that navigated us through the tricky spots. Narrow passages were a bit difficult with 18 boats on the water but other than a few bottle necks, we all did great.

No one ended up in the water or even very wet. The three other parents were in the boats with their children but the teacher just walked along and cheered from the shore.

Can you imagine an American 5th grade gym class walking 30 minutes each way through busy, city streets - spending 90 minutes rowing without signing any waivers - and then walking the 30 minutes back??

There were big boats all over the port today also, as this week is the Week of the Gulf (la semaine du Golfe de Morbihan). This is where boats from all over the world converge in our gulf for festivities, regattas, and concerts. We even saw a big, wooden ship that resembled any pirate ship you have ever seen on television (only this was real!). Very fun!