The Running of the Clams

Well, gosh, they cancelled the 87th Annual Anglican Church Regatta, just because it was a cloudy, drizzly morning with a thunderstorm in the forecast. Always a mistake. There is really no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing... And as the day progressed the weather improved, as it tends to do.

Although, yes, it would have been a challenge for the young canoeists to keep straight. Perhaps the Regatta needs some dry-land challenges to go along with canoes and swimming?

All that, however, caused the calendar to be drastically altered, and brought forward the Annual Running of the Clams for the coveted Chowder Bowl. There was a lot of buzz amongst the Bondi crew leading up to this, and the earlier date was driven by demand.

So, the Clams will be going to the Post on Thursday, tomorrow, at 7 p.m.

It's hard to pull things together last minute, and change schedules, so we do hope we'll have the Muskoka Music Men with us, and maybe a Piper... but we've got some great guitarists here at the resort, so we won't be short of melody

Mike's put up the Event tents, courtesy of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, so we're good to go even if it isn't perfect weather. Clams like a wet, muddy track, so there's no problem there.

We've even got a hopeful call in to Dr. Norman Yan, Professor of Biology from Guelph U. who works out of the Dorset Research Station in Dorset and who is a world reknowned expert in the field of fresh water, calcium levels within that fresh water, and the effects of that on clams and other truly cool critters that hang out in our lake. The Dorset Research Station, at Paint Lake, is an unsung hero -- this is where the fight against Acid Rain was fought, this is where cutting edge work is done on our environment and climate changes, and we bet you don't know where it is, or that it is. Our clams, however, are grateful indeed for the work being done on calcium levels in lakes, because without that, they cannot form shells. No shell, no foot, no racing clam... Our fingers are crossed that Dr. Yan can join us...

That is serious science. The Chowder Bowl is serious fun. Results of the Race go to the University of Massachusetts to contribute to other scientific endeavors in Statistics. For the rest of us, it's just a great little party...

The Ministry of Silly Hats recommends funky headwear for the occasion. Seven o'clock, at Nancy's beach at Bondi... bring your Clam from Bondi Bay (sorry, no foreign clams are allowed in the water here, due to Ministry of Transferable Clam Conditions requirements. Bring a good Clam-ish name: Clamate Change; Romeo&Clamiette; Shell We Dance?; Mussel Beach... we're sure you get the picture...

Shhhh..... listen..... I think I hear the pitter patter of tiny clam feet training in the shallows...