Yup, today is Minnechaduza Day. I bought five turtles for the turtle races over the spillway, and there's supposed to be a canoe jousting tournament- one highly touted grudge match between the Valentime Police and Fire Departments. All put on by the Valentine Chamber members, in the City Park - a huge piece of property on the east side of town that has the Minechaduza River running thru it. Tonight there will be a barbecue supper and a Beer Garden. An all day affair of fun and pure insanity - so like the people I've met here.
Mike joined the Cody Fire Department this past Thursday. Well, he can't be a firefighter, but his knowledge of fire trucks and operations and repairs will help the community and the volunteers. His experience in small motor repairs is already being used - and they are glad to have someone with Paramedic training in the Department as well. He can't practice of course but he can advise on medical matters and operations, which he is good at. And the guys here - instead of discounting him as 'old school' 'crippled' and 'no longer useful' - are enthusiastic about his help and participation. He's not being sloughed off like old and useless skin here. No, these folk are intelligent and mature enough to understand that experience and knowledge are valuable commodities.
So it is chilly - 60 deg - this morning, and rain clouds hover. We are going to the Park to have some fun and to share some laughs and food, to participate and to share. Never seen a canoe jousting before; this should be fun - that water is COLD and clear and the plastic turtles should swim well too. I don't really care if mine win a prize - it is just fun to play with people on the same level.
Mike joined the Cody Fire Department this past Thursday. Well, he can't be a firefighter, but his knowledge of fire trucks and operations and repairs will help the community and the volunteers. His experience in small motor repairs is already being used - and they are glad to have someone with Paramedic training in the Department as well. He can't practice of course but he can advise on medical matters and operations, which he is good at. And the guys here - instead of discounting him as 'old school' 'crippled' and 'no longer useful' - are enthusiastic about his help and participation. He's not being sloughed off like old and useless skin here. No, these folk are intelligent and mature enough to understand that experience and knowledge are valuable commodities.
So it is chilly - 60 deg - this morning, and rain clouds hover. We are going to the Park to have some fun and to share some laughs and food, to participate and to share. Never seen a canoe jousting before; this should be fun - that water is COLD and clear and the plastic turtles should swim well too. I don't really care if mine win a prize - it is just fun to play with people on the same level.
UPdate! : Well, we arrived, and the first heat of turtles had already been run, and I won a $10 gift certificate for coming in second! LOL I owe it all to my turtle... LOL
Here's the turtles racing around the final bend in the river:
And here's the jousting at the Old Mill Pond...
These guys were serious! LOL It was a lot of good fun and actually got hot out there toward 1 PM. We got hot and tired and came home. What a wonderful park right on the edge of town! Lots to do, lots of water running thru it, hilly and cool under the trees. And again - no graffiti anywhere, everything clean and well kept, no one tearing anything up or bothering other folk. Sigh. What a lovely day!
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