Clamtastic!

We had 46 entries for this year's coveted Chowder Bowl.  Some of my favourite names (who didn't quite crack the medal podium) included Clamtankerous, Lord VolldeMollusk, Clamitude, Inclamdescent and Clam Before the Storm...   Clamboys and Aliens, and Escargot Girl! were also brilliant. Clamerican Debt ran well at the start, but then seemed to just get mired down...

The winner, running 5 feet, was CLAMTASTIC, the entry of Thea.

In second place was CLAMMY POTTER, Alaina's entry.

Third place went to LAKE CLAMPLAIN, Dan and Shelley's clam; and we had a tie for fourth, between CLAM FU PANDA, Katie's entry,  and THE CLAM'S SPEECH, entry of the Kelly family (but the clam was found by Hugh, so credit must go his way!)

The tension on the dock in the morning, as Brian (Resident Clamologist) carefully measured the track left by each clam.  The ducks patrolled the course all night to ensure fair play.

It's tremendously good fun, this business of racing clams.  Our clams don't just run for fun, either, results from the Clam Race go to science - the MNR acknowledges that we are among the very few folks studying just how far a clam can travel overnight. We are working on a grant to examine just how happy IS a clam, too...  And the University of Massachussetts uses Clam Race Data in a statistics course. 

Running Room

Ralph is in training for a marathon, so dutifully every day he laced up his shoes and headed off for his training run.  His comment about the hills around here is better left out of a family post...

The loneliness of the long distance runner was abruptly broken this week -- about 4 km from Bondi, a black bear gambolled across the road in front of Ralph.  It was a good sized bear -- and they always look even bigger, and blacker, when they are romping along. 

Ralph stopped to contemplate a) the bear, and b) the possibility that the bear had family in tow.

And while he was stopped, two deer came tearing out of the bush not very far away. One slid and skidded on the pavement, grabbing for traction, before both sailed off into the forest on the far side of the road.

"Wow," thought Ralph, "lots of wildlife out here today."

Whereupon the wolf came trotting out of the bush, in no hurry, not looking right or left, following the deer.

In the wake of all this activity, things quieted down, and Ralph resumed his run. There's really no cause for concern.  Bears, provided you give them plenty of room, will extremely rarely bother a person, even one who is jogging.  And the wolf wants nothing to do with you... he is a very focused individual, and you are not on the menu.  It is extraordinarily rare to see a wolf -- although we hear them frequently -- and to see all the "big three" at once is indicative that Ralph should probably be out buying up lottery tickets.

We did take note, however, that the following day, he went on the Island Swim, rather than the road trip...

Daniel's Busy Day

Meeting the chickens was a highlight for Daniel...  Chasing them deeper into the asparagus wa fun too...

Then he spent the afternoon in the lake, where, fearless, he demonstrated that he can put his face underwater.

Also that some of his toy trucks do not float...

Then off to the cookout, for hot dogs and corn, s'mores and the chance to cover up his ears when the potato cannon fired.

All in all, a very good day! 

They're Off!

It's the Celebrated annual Clam Race for the Chowder Bowl!

46 Clams went to the Post -- the start line marked out with burning citronella candles and a line drawn in the sand, about knee deep.  That's the approved and technical start designed by our resident Clamologist Brian.

In this photo, some of the crowd gathers on the dock to watch the clams jostle for starting position...

They will run overnight, and we'll be back at 8.30 Thursday morning to determine the winners...

Then it's off to the Marathon Swim... and the Regatta -- which was delayed due to some rain Wednesday morning. It's going to be a busy day.

The highlight, however, will have to be the medallists in the Chowder Bowl.  How can it miss?  With Clamboys & Aliens squaring off against Lord Voldemollusk; with Clambustion challenging Peanut Butter & Clam; Clamerican Debt and Clamtankerous ready to duke it out on the lake floor...  it's got to be spectacular!

Don't touch that channel... we'll be right back.

Boys and their Toys

The potato cannon makes a regular appearance at the Wiener Roast. With constant fine tuning, and the careful application of the propellant, the lads can lob a potato almost to the Port Cunnington Road.

Not to be outdone, Jean-Luc arrived with his own, slightly more green, version.  A huge section of surgical tubing, joined at the centre with a strip of old blue-jean denim, this catapult was a thing of rare beauty.  Powered by human muscle, this device zinged the 'payload' almost as far as the propane powered potato cannon itself.

It dazzled.  It was a hoot. It was, as the kids say, wicked.

Blogger to Blogger Face to Face

I have got designs on some of the photographs that Jenn Jilks has been posting on her Facebook page and on her own blog,  Cottage Country Reflections.

She has been putting up some absolutely wonderful photos of her vacation with us this week, so thanks very much for the Shout Out, Jenn...

Jenn and I have been following each others' blogs for a long time, but we seldom have the chance to meet face to face, so it's been great having her here with her family.  Today we hiked up into the back fields to check out the wild blueberry crop.  It's doing well.  The blackberries are setting fruit now, too, so they will be along soon. And there are lots of raspberries. All of which make the walk through the fields more a buffet than a hike...

We are already hatching some nefarious plots...   planning an ad campaign for Napster, the famous cat artist... and I've got my eye on getting permission to use some of her pictures here...

A Day at the Beach

Elisa discovered she could make the water dance. 

Ann discovered the joys of just hanging in the hammock...

Marty and Tim were playing pirates with Grandma and Grandpa...

Marcus was cruising fast on the sailboard.

And as if all that was not enough, they gathered the kayaks to go along as escorts, and the adults all swam to the Point...

What a perfect day at the beach!

And what a beach it is!  No wonder our grandfather, Joseph Tapley, thought of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Although, as has been pointed out, we have less surf, and no sharks...  Which is all good.