I don’t like getting up early.  I don’t like going out in the cold.  I don’t like how hard it is to get my body working when it wants to be at rest which is, to be honest, most of the time.

But I do love rowing.  Even though it takes place in the dark, cold, early morning hours, when my body would strongly prefer to be curled up in my warm bed.

I love being on the water.  I love the synchronicity, balance, and power of it.  I love how it requires me to pay 100% attention. I love how it feels to be happily tired on the way back to the dock, steam rising off warm bodies into the chilly dawn air.  I love the camaraderie of the other crazy people who do this sport.

Mostly, I love how it brings me peace.

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first light on the SF bay, from the bow

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