October was the Head of the Charles – a rowing regatta held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It’s one of the oldest in the United States, one of the biggest, and this is the first time I’ve been included in the competition!

I rowed for Conibear Rowing Club, in a Women’s 4 (of women-of-a-certain-age), coxed by the infamous Ines Pearce from Los Angeles. We had an awesome race and came in 2^nd in our category. No medals for 2^nd place, though…

But as my daughter the former coxswain says, “Head of the Charles is like Disneyland for rowers!”

It’s like a carnival, when you’re not rowing with all your strength on a curvy course that passes under 6 different bridges. And for folks who think our own Fremont Bridge and University Bridge are charmingly antique, let me just say, they can’t compare with these truly ancient stone bridges – some of which appeared to be close to crumbling into the Charles River as we rowed under them.

Thousands of rowers, lots of sunshine and blue skies, great food (and more great food), a chance to visit old friends… combined with a condo closing before I left and a house closing the day after I returned. If only work could always be this much fun!

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