Rowing the Trinity

It has been almost 3 years since the last time I stepped into a boat and rowed.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was my senior year of high school and I was on the rowing team.  There are very few feelings that can equate to rowing.  When you fully understand how to set the boat and get the most out of a stroke the feeling can not be described.  When I learned that we would be participating in a trinity river trip I was very excited.  I missed the feeling of complete freedom and control in what happens to the boat.  

Once the day had arrived I went to the rec filled with anticipation.  I had hoped that I could use my own boat prior to getting to the rec and within minuets we were informed that some of us would be allowed to use individual canoes.  I knew this is what I wanted to do and immediately volunteered for the canoe.  Although I had never used a canoe before I figured it couldn't be that much different from the boats I rowed in for crew.  

At the lake we each separated to our individual boats and brought them down to the water.  I was a little nervous at first and worried that the boat would behave differently than a crew boat, however, the second I got into the water that worry vanished.  I felt at ease in the water, as if I had never stopped rowing.  Once the trip started all my memories of my high school rowing started to come back and I felt at home.  

As we rowed down the river I began to notice all the trash and pollution lining the water.  I was unaware of how poorly the trinity was kept and it was pretty upsetting to be honest.  The river I used to row on back home was also pretty dirty but no where near as bad as the trinity was.  As we progressed through the river the pollution began to die down until it was not noticeable anymore.  

The final part of the trip was by far the best.  Dr Williams had spoken about a view of the city but I had not thought it would be as amazing as it was.  For the entire trip there are very few things to look at…trash and dirt essentially.  It is not until you enter the final 30 minuets of the trip that you really experience Fort Worth and understand the reason why this canoe trip is popular.  As you turn around the river bend and under the bridge you see the back drop of downtown Fort Worth.  I don't know if it is because I am from a small town or what but for some reason I find city lights to be one of the most mesmerizing things to look at….So as I went around the corner I was awestruck by the Fort Worth skyline, which is a much more interesting skyline than I would have ever thought.  

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.  It brought back memories from my high school and allowed me to experience Fort Worth form a new point of view.  The freedom that one can experience on the water is different than anything else in the world.  I am glad I was reminded about what this feeling is like.