Alcatraz

We turned to tourism this afternoon and visited Alcatraz - "a fascinating tour, with a good audio guide and stunning visibility"

Seat racing

This morning's training saw more seat racing and faster times over the 1500m course at Lake Merced. Coaches Jason and Sally (driven expertly by Austen Dorey) are close to announcing the crew for the San Diego Crew Classic.

The Blogger

The Harding Park golf club offers not only a good breakfast but also a fee wifi hotspot - perfect for early morning blogging.

Schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday

Shiplake to SI at 8:00 drop in front of school near gym. (SI VARSITY/JV PRACTICE AT 5:30 A.M. - Shiplake staff will meet any Shiplake boys there soon after 5.30 and sort things out) PLEASE COORDINATE RIDES IF NEEDED. Call Susanne McEvoy for rides from the south and Susan Gerahty for rides from Marin - although I think the arrangements were all sorted at the In and Out on Monday evening.

They will go off to breakfast and then return to the Gordon house for study time. 2:30 the boys will go back to Lake Merced.

OPTIONAL DINNER: SHIPLAKE ROWERS WILL BE PICKED UP BY THEIR VANS AT LAKE MERCED AND TRANSPORTED TO NICK'S. If you don't want your boy going, please pick him up at Lake Merced after their afternoon row (5:30) DINNER AT 6:00 - Brit Hahn has invited all the boys to have a final dinner at Nick's Crispy Tacos inside Rouge at Polk and Broadway, immediately following practice. This will be rather quick and a fun way to send the boys off to San Diego. OPTIONAL should be over by 7:00-7:30!!

WEDNESDAY: Shiplake to LAKE MERCED at 5:30 A.M. with SI Varsity/JV teams for FINAL DROP with ALL THEIR GEAR.

Apologies again for delays on Monday, and once again a million thanks for all the rides.
Charly

Lunch in Sausalito

Today's training included a 25 km bike ride to Sausalito and back. The boys managed to find up-market restaurants for their three-course meals while Sally and the rest of the staff bought sandwiches in a deli to eat on the seashore. Cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge was a highlight for us all.

Coaching

The team is very conscious of the experience and skill of the two coaches, Sally Unsworth and Jason Foster - who have worked together on development of national oarsmen for the Great Britain squad.

New Friends

One important job for a cox is to meet representatives of other clubs. Freddie Hunting takes this seriously.

Keeping clean

The hot tub is a part of being in California

Calories

We have enjoyed two meals now at Louie's, with the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and the excellent clam chowder and sandwiches.

Hard training

We are getting into a routine of early starts at Lake Merced, and training is going well.
This afternoon we cheered on our wonderful hosts from St Ignatius as many of their crews won races with excellent times at the Windermere event at Redwood Shores.

Lake Merced

More schedule details

After a good outing and some tuning of riggers on Thursday, the schedule is firming up. Water training every morning at 0700 at Lake Merced.
Then:
Friday 28 Mar - shopping, following by land fitness (running) in the Presidio Park area (end 5 pm)
Sat 29 Mar - cheering on St Ignatius at their race in the Windermere classic. Evening: team meal in Chinatown.
Sun 30 Mar - 26 km cycle expedition to Sausalito and Tiburon.
Mon 31 Mar - boat trip and tour of Alcatraz
Tue 1 April - free time. Perhaps also the St Stupid's Day Parade
Then on Wednesday we move to San Diego.

At the lake

First morning: sunny, cool (46 F).

The Vikings have landed

We had a smooth journey from Heathrow to San Francisco, picked up our hire cars and found our way to the park beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, through the jams caused by a rare 9-vehicle crash on the bridge itself. We smelt the fresh sea air, and enjoyed a walk after our ten hour flight.
Welcomed by the Gordon family, the boys all met their host families over supper and went off to counteract the timelag.

Training starts at Lake Merced at 0630 Thursday.

Tour schedule - in outline (and may be updated)

Date	Morning	Afternoon	Evening	Comment
Wed 26 Mar	Arr LHR by 0645 for UA 955 Checkin 0705 Dep 0905	Arr San Francisco 1315	Welcome Reception
Thu 27 Mar	0630-1000 Rowing	Sightseeing	Early night
Fri 28 Mar	0630-1000 Rowing	Sightseeing	Early night
Sat 29 Mar	Lie in	1200 Windermere Collegiate classic - Redwood shores (watch)	SCBC Supper
Sun 30 Mar	Lie in	Mystery Tour
Mon 31 Mar	0600 Ergos at St Ig	1500 Rowing
Tue 1 Apr	Shopping	1500 Rowing
Wed 2 Apr	0530 Rowing	To San Diego UA 955 Checkin 1355 Dep 1555	Arr 1716
Thu 3 Apr
Fri 4 Apr
Sat 5 Apr	San Diego Crew Classic
Sun 6 Apr	San Diego Crew Classic		Last Supper
Mon 7 Apr	Lie-in. Pack. To airport for 1100.	UA 948 Checkin 1157 Dep 1357	Via Denver – 3 hour stopover Arr 1716; checkin 1820 Dep 2020
Tue 8 Apr	Arrive LHR 1215

Luggage

Remember:
Carry-on baggage
For travel worldwide on United Airlines, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer.
A carry-on bag must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin.
Carry-on bag dimensions should not be more than 9" x 14" x 22" (length + width + height) or 45 linear inches (the length, height and width added together)

NO LIQUIDS CAN BE CARRIED ON UNLESS IN VERY SMALL BOTTLES

Carry-on baggage restrictions for flights from/within the U.S., the European Union and Japan
Liquids, gels and/or aerosols are permitted through security checkpoints. Items must fit in one clear, re-sealable quart or liter-sized plastic bag, in containers of 3 oz/100 ml or less. In the European Union, items must fit in one clear, re-sealable liter-sized plastic bag, in containers of 100 ml/3 oz or less.

Welcome

Shiplake College Boat Club will train in San Francisco, thank to St Ignatius College Prep School, and then compete in the San Diego Crew Classic, in April 2008.