Head of the Charles + Newburyport

This past weekend, Alex and I went to the Head of the Charles. For those of you who don't know, the HOC is a huge regatta in Boston that happens every October. Rowers from all over the world come to compete and take on the infamous Charles River. I try to go every year, but this year I had extra incentive, as my community rowing association in Simsbury had two boats competing! GO FVRA! :-) Anyway, I drove up to Alex's house in Hamstead NH first and we enjoying spending Saturday at the HOC and Sunday in Newburyport, MA. Newburyport reminds me of Essex, CT. . .it is so quaint and fun! The pictures of this weekend turned out to be a series of Alex shots and boats from a distance :-) (I didn't have a long lense with me this time, so I don't have any crew action shots. .too bad!!)Enjoy!!
Boston - The Head of the Charles

Lesley is where Alex and I met. . .we took a walk down memory lane before heading to the race :-)

Alex in Haravrd Yard

Newstand at the "pit" in Harvard Sq.

The red line was our home base for 2 years. . .:-)

The famous Weeks Bridge

Teams at the starting line waiting to begin

An alternate view. . .can you tell the Weeks is my favorite spot on the Charles??It's so pretty :-)

Caramel apples. . .YUM!! There was so much yummy food and free stuff to be had along the river!!
Newburyport, MA

Call all starbucks lovers. . . .Is this not the cutest starbucks ever?!

Alex "posing like a model". . How cute is she!!! :-). . .brick walls seemed to be a theme this weekend.

Life.Is.Good ....great store, great philosophy

The snowboard bench

And to end the weekend. . .a beach walk on Plum Island

Row... Row... Row Your Boat

Well, I have decided to join a crew team again. For those of you who don't know, I rowed for a couple of years in Boston while at college. I loved my time on the Lesley University crew team and have always had a desire to row again when I had the time. Rowing crew is a love/hate relationship. . . it is crazy hard, but very very addictive! The Farmington Valley Rowing Association (FVRA) has a boathouse right down the road from me. They FVRA is a community rowing association. Rowers come from quite a few different towns in this area and form teams of all sizes and levels.

So. . .I recieved a call last week asking me if I would like to join a womens team. I will most likely be rowing a quad (4 people). As of right now, we are planning on rowing three days a week at 5:30 a.m. on the Farmington River. Should be fun!!! I am a morning person, so it shouldn't be too hard to get up! Hopefully, we are starting tomorrow morning, so will keep you posted as to how it goes! Here are a few pics from the rowing days in college. . . .

This quote inspired me to get back into the sport-

"Not everybody wins, and certainly not everybody wins all the time. But once you get into your boat and push off, tie into your shoes and bootstretchers, then lean on the oars, you have indeed won far more than those who have never tried."

One of the Lesley Boats at a race in CT

The launch point at a college regatta

Most of the Lesley Crew Team 2004- I wish I was in this pic, but I took it! :-)

Me in my rowing days (with roommate/teammate, Chrissy) 2004.