Pumpkin Regatta 2008

If you think the idea of getting in a very large pumpkin and rowing across a lake is
crazy?you would be exactly right, but here in our community of Windsor Nova Scotia that
is exactly what we do. This year the Annual Pumpkin Regatta took place on a sunny warm
Oct.,,,,,, where 60 pumpkin rowers gathered to show off their artistic skills and sea
legs to race across Lake Pisiquid in record time.

Our journey to this day took place last year during the regatta parade when Anastasia
lend over to me and said ?Next year we are going to be in the parade with our pumpkin.? 
Of course, me being a bit cautious said ?No, way I am not getting in a pumpkin.?  Of many
slight hints or just friendly reminders through out the year, we went to the annual
weight off and bought a 833 lbs pumpkin from Danny Dill, son of world famous pumpkin
grower Howard Dill.   Then Anastasia brilliantly named our pumpkin
 All  Empowered Howard, perfect name.

We had one week to plan everything out.  We needed ores, life jackets and of course a
theme for our pumpkin.   Anastasia and I have many deep discussions on being in control
of our lives.  The analogy we use is a bus built for two drivers.  For many years we both
have let others drive our bus but now we are in the drivers steering our way to our
destiny.  Now some time we do go ?in the ditch? but we always manage to get out and most
times with help from each other.  We envision the bus very 60?s, full of flowers and
color, so that was the obvious choice for the pumpkin.

On Saturday Oct,/// the day before the race we headed to The Dill Farm to start carving
this giant pumpkin.  We had a fabulous pit crew armed with ice cream scoops, bowls,
spoons ,paints and tons of laughter. We only had one minor obstacle, no one  thought to
bring a knife, HMMM.   After tracking down a knife the carving began.  The whole day was
a complete blast right from carving to painting to many visitors wishing us good luck
then questioning our sanity.   With much laughter and great pride the wonderful people at
Dill?s farm tucked our pumpkin away in the barn until morning.

Race day was Sunday.  The black dodge diesel  shining and decorated, pumpkin on back,
kids on back ready to throw out candy, the parade began.  When we finally reached the
Falmouth side of Lake Pisiquid where the pumpkins were being unloaded into the water
reality hit us both,  ?What are we doing??.  We both laughed and thought too late now we
are here so le?ts enjoy and have fun and this is exactly what we did.  After getting use
to the idea of a very tippy pumpkin  and waiting far to long for the race to start, the
whistle blow and away we went.  While rowing we talked about what we will be doing
differently next year, like no water would be the first thing.  Yes we took on a bit of
water, thank goodness it was not a typical cold October day.  We sang songs, one of our
favorite was Dr. Hooks ?On a cover of the ?Rolling Stones?.  Some of you may or may not
remember this one.

After 33 minutes of rowing and a few times spinning around in the pumpkin we managed to
reach the dock.   We where both exhausted for sure, but overwhelmed with excitement and
pride that we did it. We did not win nor did we finish last not even in the middle but we
finished, that was the main thing.   To our pleasant surprise our child all expressed
their pride for us.  Of course not before they let us know it was a bit crazy to do this
, in the end they were proud.

Will we do it again?  For sure, plans are being discussed has how to prevent the water
issue.  This story is a continuing one.   Next Anastasia wants to jump out a plane, I put
my foot down and said no way??

Jacqui & Anastasia