Saturday of Eights

Saturday was the exciting end of Eights. I watched the boys bump from Donnington bridge then headed down to the boathouse to visit with the girls before their race. It took me at least half an hour to walk the tow path around to the other side because they weren't allowing us to ride bikes. When I got to the boathouse, the girls asked me to Marshall for them...so I started almost immediately walking to the other side. After another half hour I arrived and was told that we had y missed the deadline to send a marshall. I felt bad that I didn't get there in time but there wasn't much we could do then... I guess the good thing about this was that I made it to the other side in time to see the girls race. (otherwise I probably would have waited to long and been too late)

The were amazing!! They bumped very soon after the start as they have done every other day...and we were soon on to celebrating their victory!

The Saturday of summer eights was one of the most "typical" Oxford type things I have been too. The river was jam packed with people coming from a wide range of social groups. Along with all the University students and boat clubs...there were families around with kids picnicking in the park side...and there were several older people dressed stylishly in the Old boat crew suit coat complete with straw hat. Smells of grill out food were every where, something I cannot wait to get back to when I go home this summer. People covered all of the boat houses...pouring along the stair cases and the railings of the balcony...the atmostphere was bustling, exciting...the rowing was pretty intense. It makes a nice memory.