Training this Monday was not the usual affair, not by a long shot, to such an extent that I didn’t even get out on the water, but instead spent most of the time in the kitchen of the clubhouse. The reason being that this was to be an end of term Dragon Boat Experience for a local Cub group and Sarah and I were doing the catering for the Hurricanes who were there to run the event.
It was the perfect, hot summer’s evening, for such an event, with not a trace of the rain that had blighted us a few days earlier, but not quite so perfect when you are trapped in the kitchen with the ovens on full blast!
Along came a whole pack of Cub Scouts, with parents and siblings, ready for an evening on or beside the lake. Buoyancy aids were dispensed, instructions given and the Cubs loaded on to three boats, each with a helm, coaches and drummers – one of which was my son, who was most amused at being asked to drum, given his inability to even clap in time to a song!
Despite all reservations he did well and had a fantastic time drumming for his boat. Then once the races were run, the boats were brought back in, Cubs unloaded and the boats taken off the water and put away, before the team returned to the clubhouse for pizza and cold drinks. Of course the Cubs were brilliant and made the most of the opportunity to get in the water and lark about. I’m not sure how wet they got whilst out in the boats, but before they left most had ended up paddling or swimming in the lake whilst watchful parents looked on, probably jealous of the cooling water! It was great to see them just having fun mucking about in the water and hear the laughing and fun they were having.
Sadly being on kitchen duty meant I didn’t get to see most the evening’s event, but I really didn’t mind a jot, as it was a chance to give back to a club which I feel has given us so much, made us feel so welcome and so much a part of their team. That’s one of the reasons I have come to really love Dragon boating, the sense of community, working together and enjoying the company of some of the nicest people you could hope to meet.
Oh, I will admit, the pizza was not homemade, it was courtesy of a Costco run, but we did knock up a decent salad and I baked cookies and chocolate fudge cake for afters, which seemed to go down quite well!
