I have been fortunate to call Montgomery Township, situated on the border of Princeton University, my home for over two decades. My small home is a hop, skip, and jump from Carnegie Lake, a manufactured lake constructed in 1906 by the philanthropist and industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The lake serves as the training ground for the University's rowing teams. Living in such proximity to Princeton University's Lake Carnegie is truly a privilege.
I have lived in the area for decades and have often noticed the Princeton University boat racing team practising on the lake. They race against other college teams in the spring, and I always intended to photograph the races. However, I regretfully admit that I never managed to put the event on my calendar, and I would always lament that I had missed it again.
I remembered the event this year and checked the date and times on the Princeton University sports calendar. I added the events to my calendar and planned ahead for parking. I knew that the northwestern side of Carnegie Lake would fill up quickly, so I decided to use a different approach. I knew that the southeastern side of the lake was accessible by foot or bike from the parking lot at Kingston Lock. I parked my car near the Kingston Millhouse and walked along the Delaware & Raritan Canal Park trail until I found a clearing across from the Princeton University boat launch. It was a convenient and efficient way to attend the event.
The crowds were gathered on the opposite side of the lake, cheering for their respective teams: Princeton University, Yale, and Cornell. Although I couldn't see the beginning of the races, I had a clear view of the boat launch house, the finish line, and the Kingston Millhouse at the far end of the lake.
As I snapped photos, a graduating senior from Princeton University zipped up on his bike from the trail's south end and popped a chair down. We chatted about the upcoming races, the Princeton University team, and his exciting plans for the future.
From what I observed, the men's heavyweight teams from Princeton University placed second in all the races, while the women's teams from the same university won the majority of the races.
The weather was just right. Not cold, not hot. After photographing the turtles sunbathing on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, I drove to Hopewell to sit and enjoy a cold beer at the Dog Run Bar.
I was standing there, checking out the races happening on the canal, when I heard a rustling in the leaves nearby.
@mangochutney, 🤣
@khurtwilliams merily, merily, merily, merily, life is but a dream.