On March 16, 2013, my boyfriend Eric and I embarked on an unusual Saturday morning. We’re a moderately active couple, but we’re full of athletic ambition, so we signed up for the Buffalo Bayou Regatta weeks in advance as one of SWA’s corporate sponsorship teams. When the morning arrived, it was time to prove our canoeing abilities—or at least, to resist tipping over and becoming one with Buffalo Bayou. I’d decided that if we could manage to stay upright and complete the 15-mile course it would be a success.
Buffalo Bayou Regatta boaters line up for the race.
When we arrived at the intersection of 7700 San Felipe and Buffalo Bayou, there were mobs of people gearing up for the race. The energy was heavy with anticipation and excitement and it quickly became clear that Houston houses a large community of boaters. We found our reserved canoe and waited for the starting horn. At the sound of the second horn, we dragged our canoe down the steep bayou embankment and into the water. I marveled at the traffic jam of kayaks and canoes, especially the ICF racing kayaks that glided through the chaos and down the waterway at remarkable speed. Unexpectedly, the competitive spirit came out in both of us and we decided to race.
The race twisted toward downtown and gave us a glimpse of the wildness within Houston
The first half of the course wound through a residential area west of downtown Houston. The second half ran through Buffalo Bayou park (designed by SWA) before it reached the core downtown area. Paddling through the bayou opened my eyes to the nature and wildness of Houston’s central urban fabric. We dodged underwater fallen trees and kept our eyes open for wildlife. Traveling this waterway gave me a chance to see the city with new eyes. I wondered why it took so long for me to discover this side of Houston. The lush and densely vegetated banks made me feel worlds away from the highways and strip centers that characterize Houston. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is on to something with this regatta. What a great way to show people why they need to protect and value the bayou ecosystem.
By the time we neared the finish line, my arms were on their fourth wind. Our canoe was neck-and-neck with another canoe team and we battled them to the end. Eric and I managed to get third place in the Corporate Cup Mixed Couples division. My body was shaking from exhaustion but delighted by the new appreciation for Houston. To me, this was winning.
Posted by Jenny Janis in Bayou By Us, Community on