Boat Races

Traditions are events or circumstances that are repeated over and over, was the first time a mistake or was it planned and just turned out in a way we wanted to duplicate such a wonderful event. If it wasn't wonderful, we wouldn't try to duplicate or do it again. Families, neighborhoods, friends, any group or individual has some type of traditions. We could talk of hundreds of examples over the years. There a couple of families that we have done things with for ever. Every year, usually in the later part of the summer, we meet for a picnic and and then the competition begins - boat races. Now these aren't your normal boats - even though style doesn't count it does make an impression. In reality which boat gets to the finish line first doesn't matter much at all, there isn't a prize, just temporary pride or boasting. There are a few people in the group that would say they usually finish first - the problem is there are more of those than is possible for the number of races that have taken place. What the boats are make out of is left completely up to the participants. Only a couple of times has someone thought another persons design was unfair, I'll get to that in a second. Doll parts, hollowed out fruit, make shift sails - you name it, it's probably been tried. The two most common materials used are glue and duck tape! Duck tape is the best, because if you use enough of it your boat is most likely waterproof. Everyone try's to get a little extra nudge or boost to start - but our location is a slow moving cannel that runs through a local park on it's way to water some families gardens. I'm not an engineer, or have been accused of inventing a design that will change nautical production forever. Honestly most of the boats are put together fifteen minutes before we're suppose to be at the park in the first place. During my frantic rush to produce a boat I came across my secret weapon. Another one of our families traditions is a 4th of July picnic and firework show. These same three families are involved, but we have a whole lot of other families that participate as well. Some times we have so many people and fireworks being lit that we don't use them all. That was the case the summer before this particular boat race, the left over firework was about eight inches long and a couple of inches wide - just right for the top of my vessel. With that spraying out the back my boat I would have to be propelled way out in front of the competition. At least that was the intent. I needed to be in the water so it could be lit just at the right moment. That all worked alright, for that matter it started to off OK as well, the problem started shortly after - I guess when the top of the boat is heavier than the bottom it corrects it's self. Who know that the firework would continue to go off for a while under water? It sure wasn't faster! Maybe putting an engine on the top of the boat would be a good idea if it was designed properly - in this case it made it slower. I didn't come in first - not even close, but it definitely gave everyone a good laugh. I think that next year there might be a bunch of new ideas as a new precedent has been set. I just need to think out the options at least an hour in advance.