This video about rowing tells about Lake Union and the history of rowing there and in England. A friend on Facebook posted it. The narrator reminds me so much of my Grandpa Grossman. Grandpa wore a similar cap, could always be found down at the dock, and was the person who introduced me to rowing when I was a child.
Grandpa's career was in retail and when he retired, he went to his love, which was boating. He had a boat concession down on the river just behind the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. In the summer, he would employ teenage boys to help, and the river was full of paddle boards, canoes, rowboats, kayaks and whatever other floating craft Grandpa could find. My brother and I relished the chance to visit, because of course as the grandchildren we got our pick of boats. It is a very fond memory of my childhood.
My question of my Facebook friend is: has any such tribute been made regarding women and rowing? Women started taking up oars a long time ago, but the 1976 Olympics were the first time they competed...and at 1000 meters, since 2000 meters was judged to be too taxing. The narrator even says a word about the sense of spirituality he believes rowers share., "the church of rowing" as some call it. I love this short piece and will watch it again soon.
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