Flying Dragon

Calm water and almost 40 degrees F greeted us this morning, finally. Yea! We could actually have a very pleasant row in our double. Shortly after we came in, the rains started and later the wind is supposed to get worse. This was definitely the high point of the day. Hardly anyone out.

Only met this one boat just entering the Montlake cut going west it’s a Seattle Flying Dragon Boat Club boat-- one of many different types of boats one is likely to see in this area.

A bit of history from their website: “In ancient China the dragon boat was at first a religious vehicle to appease the rain gods. Later, Qu Yuan, the great war-time poet, committed suicide in the river Mi Lo, as a protest against the political corruption of the day. To commemorate this sacrifice, the people began to organize Dragon Boat races in his memory, along with observing traditions such as eating Zhong-zi (rice dumplings) over 200 years ago. No the day is known as the Dragon Boat Festival in China. Dragon Boat racing has also become an integal part of the chnese culture, representing patriotism and group integrity”

Today it’s an international sport and recreation.

Personally I’d rather pull on 2 oars evenly than paddle on one side,.... but these are fun to see...

And in back, the newly remodeled University of Washington football stadium, in front of which is the old UW crew boathouse, called the “Canoe House” -an old navy hanger that served as the UW shellhouse from 1920-1949. (Not the very first boathouse however -there was another from shortly after the sport started here in 1901.)