Round Purbeck Row
July 2007
On Sunday 22nd July I had to wake up at 7am to prepare for the Swanage to Wareham row followed by the Wareham to Swanage boat push.
Two teams rowed our gigs, 'Old Harry' and 'Peveril' 18 miles from Swanage through Poole Harbour and up the River Frome to Wareham Quay. Including a very quick loo stop at Bramblebush Bay, we rowed into Wareham in approximately 3.5 hours.
After a quick pint and some chips, one boat was towed directly back to Swanage and the other strapped to its trailer ready for the push home.
Armed with collecting buckets (and with a huge sign on the safety vehicle apologising to all the traffic we were holding up!) club members and supporters called on various pubs en route in Stoborough and Corfe, seeking support, hard cash and a well-earned drink.
Personally, I knew I'd hit my 'wall' about 2 miles outside of Swanage because I kept stepping on the flip-flop of the person in front of me which must have been very irritating.
Anyway, we managed the 10 miles and were made most welcome in one of our locals (with more ale and proper food!).
It was a superb team effort and enabled us to raise money for local causes.
And on reflection, apart from the flip-flop fiasco, getting up at 7am on a Sunday morning was definitely the hardest bit!
Dee Barron
