As warm-up before today’s rowing, I cut down three small trees. They were the most likely culprits for an invasion of roots into sewer pipe behind our house. The stopped- up drainpipe from house to sewer was somewhat of an emergency yesterday evening, which warranted a weekend and nighttime visit by a plumber who specialized in that problem.
The area where the roots invaded was right under three small Palo Verde trees, so they were all three cut down today.
Palo Verde trees are pretty when they bloom, but they are not nice to be physically close to. They are covered with stiff, needle-sharp thorns. The three scratches on my arm are three of a few scratches received while cutting and carrying away branches. A few cactus thorns managed to get stuck in my legs also. Ordinary results, it seems, when working near and among native desert foliage and plants.
Palo Verde trees don’t make good firewood either. If burned in a fire, the wood burns quickly and the smoke stinks.
As for today’s rowing: It was more fun than it had been the previous few days. The reason it was not boring and was fun today is: I didn’t watch any movies or videos to distract from the experience of rowing. The rowing was mindful, focused and sufficiently ethereal to be fun and mentally absorbing. Even though I rowed alone…. online, but alone. Sigh.
Happy rowing to you.
Hi John – I stumbled on your blog when searching the web for rowing technique and have read many of your posts. As I study your result data that you post, your numbers are motivational for me as a new rower. I come nowhere close to the times or stroke rate you post for any duration, my heart feels like it will jump out of my chest when I try. At the age of 45 myself, I truly do appreciate the information you have shared, you sir are a well-oiled machine on the C2 – truly inspiring! Anyways, just wanted to say thanks for sharing, much appreciated…
Dan – Thanks for commenting. If you are looking for more motivation and decide to try online rowing, you might like it and you might find that it helps you because online rowing motivational for a lot of people. When I manage to have an online rowing session in the company of others, I usually enjoy the session more than when I do it alone. But just doing some rowing – any rowing- daily or as near daily as possible, no matter what the pace, distance or time … is a mundane but extremely important factor. It helps you to cultivate a “positive addiction” to something that improves or maintains your health and slows the aging process.