Outside my bedroom, on my porch, I have a spectacular view of much of what is the glory of the Pacific Northwest. On a rare day (it happened a couple Saturdays ago!), you can see the Cascade Mountain Range, Mt. Rainer, the Olympic Mountain Range, the Space Needle, Capitol Hill Radio Towers, Lake Washington, the beginning of Montlake Cut, and…Husky Stadium. I really like looking at Husky Stadium. I’ve had numerous good memories associated with this place. Since I was a kid I’ve gone to games with my parents, watching Greg Lewis sprint past laggard defenses for the endzone, Mario Bailey hauling in bombs from Mark Brunnell, or the Purple Haze defense beating the snot unmercilessly out of opponents. Ah, those were the days.
The past decade, college football at the UW has been in rebuilding mode. I went to every home game in 2008, during the 0-12 season, so it was quite sweet to see them in San Diego at the Holiday Bowl punish Nebraska. And now the Dawgs go bowling for a second straight year. As I always say to my co-workers when placing my (mostly losing and inane) bets, “hope springs eternal!” It looks at long last we’re getting back on the right track!
Part of that rebuilding process is the $250 million renovation of Husky Stadium. It’s incredibly interesting watching from my vantage point, both at home and when I pass it on the way to work in my car or on my bike, the sheer destruction they have already done.
Take a look at this website for a realtime three camera view of the stadium and a time lapse of the work.
Being a big Dawg fan, and renovating our own home (the ocean boat) at the same time, I think of the many parallels between OAR Northwest refurb. of the boat and stadium demo.
We too are tearing down and stripping apart our home, a perfectly ocean-worthy boat, and using the hull as a foundation to build a very unique rowing vessel. We’re not going to share exactly some of our modifications yet, but suffice to say, just like the Husky Stadium renovation, we’re not in the business just to row around something, but to provide an experience groups and individuals in many different fields can participate in, learn from, and interact with. It’s the story and experience behind our upcoming trips that we’re selling, not just the row.
Speaking of rebuilding the boat, to finish up from the two earlier posts about the beginning work of removing old equipment from the boat, I’d like to introduce our OAR Northwest Intern, University of Puget Sound (or is it just Puget Sound) Novice Men’s Rowing Coach, and ski bum, Alex Mann.
Alex spent time with Jordan and I on a Sunday removing all the remaining parts, which included the seat tracks, round hatches, electronics panel, and odds and ends.
There is a whole lot more work to share, many people and groups to introduce and thank, and long hours ahead in preparation to our adventure around Vancouver Island in April. Happy Holidays.
