(AKA: Hunkered Down, Day 6)
What a lineup on ESPN 2 yesterday. Axe throwing. Cup stacking. Marble racing. Putt-putt. Nothing, however, was more jaw-droppingly captivating than the 51st Annual Stone Skipping Championships.
It being March of 2020, and being locked down in my house, and having a mobile device in my hand, I could only do what any self-respecting person could do: I live-tweeted it.
And that’s it. I’ve got nothing more to say.
Who knew that stone skipping has had a Championship competition for 51 years (let alone a championship at all)? I love the nuance of your reporting. Perhaps you will live tweet the walking on stones in a stream and not getting your sneakers wet championship. (One sneaker wet is known as a “soaker”, two sneakers wet is known as a “double soaker” and is cause for elimination).
Ahh, the soaker, I knew it well as a child. Our instructions from our parents were not to get any soakers. As if this was ever possible. Chris Grant, DJ Brightly, his brother Joeby and I would go off to the streams in the woods on long hikes. This was a totally valid and well certified kid activity for a Saturday morning. These outings were filled with stream crossings that required a high level of kid computations that involved determining the path of rocks by which to cross the stream. This challenge was taken up many times but was fraught with slipping off a rock to get the aforementioned soaker.
We knew we were all going to catch some type of 1960’s hell when we got home. The goal was to only have a soaker and not the dreaded double soaker. A wee bit of joy was taken when you had the same foot slip into the water avoiding the said double soaker. Small things that I remember that will bring a smile to my face.
I am so blessed to know you! That kind of commentary is so rare….of course the event MUST also be quite rare. But thank you David Beedle!
Great stuff I would have loved to witness this keep me in the loop next time !
Thanks David. We’ve been painting the ideal skipping stones with the kids not realizing the potential for physical exercise.
Point of Fact, I thought George Washington, the big spender, was to have skipped a silver dollar across the Delaware? Was this the start of governmental fiscal irresponsibility? Hmm.
Jack – Ha! It is with great joy and a huge smile that I read your comment. If only we could go back in time and live stream (and I do mean stream) the not getting your sneakers wet championship.