Adventure: The Lake Champlain Giant Pumpkin Regatta
October 12, 2009
(Notice the tiny pumpkin in front of the A… it was strapped down, just like the giant.)
I first heard about the Giant Pumpkin Regatta on a Saturday Night Live Weekend Update skit. I believe Seth Meyers was pointing out how incredibly insane Vermonters must be to carve out giant pumpkins and then race them on the way-too-cold waters of Lake Champlain.
The moment I saw that skit I knew I would have to attend that event some day. As it turns out, the race was planned for my birthday! So, we went. I decided to share a bit of it here with you because these guys are all about having a Spirit of Adventure in everyday life.
Some of those pumpkins were close to 1,000 pounds! This is what is left of some of them. Apparently, the seeds will be gathered carefully and saved for next year’s crop… and race. The bumper sticker on the farmer’s truck says: “The Xtreme Sport of Gardening.” Ha! I love that!! 
The teams spent all morning carving and painting the giant pumpkins, which then had to be lowered into the water with a tractor! I believe they said the water was about 58 degrees… and it was a super windy (and cold!) day.
These two guys are the same ones I’d seen featured on the SNL skit… they’re like celebrities, sort of. They’re actually really crazy, nutty guys who I happen to have seen on T.V. late one Saturday night, for about 20 seconds, but still… it was very exciting to see them in person!
Hunter and I, right down at the water’s edge, enjoying the view, the fun, the nuttiness, and the positive energy of everyone around us. You know when people go out of their way to see grown ups race in giant pumpkins, they must have a Spirit of Adventure and a well-developed sense of humor. I love to be around people like that… it’s contagious, you know. (PS: Those mountains in the background, on the other side of the lake… that’s the Adirondacks, in New York!)
This guy capsized (flipped over into the frigid water) wearing shorts and a T shirt! He could’ve opted to be fished out of the water but, instead, he swam the pumpkin all the way back, against the current. The crowd went wild, chanting, “JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!!” in a Finding Nemo sort of way. I felt like we were all a bunch of kids, with our hopes pinned to this one crazy guy.
In the end, it was Team Ben & Jerry’s who brought home the trophy for the company sponsor relay race. One of the team members was dressed like a cow, complete with udders and horns. This one, coming in for the win, wore the horns but opted for the Tie Dye T Shirt instead. I can’t say that I blame her.
Ah… nothing like a day at the races with the family. Here we are, posing with a couple of gentle giants. The one immediately behind me is the State champ. I have to say, this was one heck of a way to spend my birthday!
What about you?
Would you have what it takes to race one of these pumpkins? Have you ever heard of anything more random? Do you find this sort of nowhere-near-the-box thinking as refreshing as I do? Or, is it just plain crazy?
Related posts:
- Adventure: Lessons From Niagara Falls
- Adventure: Frolicking in Vermont’s Stick Season
- Adventure? Feeling Trapped in My Lovely Cocoon
- Inspiration: Nobody Trips Over Mountains
- Adventure: Starting Over
Posted in Spirit of Adventure, about me, travel
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Hey Lisis,
What a GREAT way to spend your birthday day!! And those pumpkins are HUGE…well, except for that tiny one!
I’ve not heard of this before, and I think this is such an awesome idea, of really doing the extraordinary! These people are out there doing something that is fun and silly and just plain lifts people’s spirits! And that’s always a win-win! And so refreshing to see!
Keep on searching out the crazy adventures in life, Lisis! Your spirit always lightens and brightens my own!
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hey, Lance! You know, the event actually reminded me a lot of your Laughter experiment, because it seems like the whole thing is designed just to lift people’s spirits, as you said. The costumes, the craziness, the games and activities are all a great way to raise funds for charity and get people to come out and spend some time gathered together by the water’s edge… while it’s still “warm” enough to do so!
I should have no trouble finding interesting adventures up here. Everywhere I look there is something new and interesting (that I’ve never heard of) going on.
Racing pumpkins ha ha, yeah that sounds awesome. I’d definitely do that just for the experience. You have to try new things, you know? Now you can tell everyone you know that you witnessed a pumpkin race
And besides, if you were crazy, you’d be the only one standing there in every photo. Turns out a lot of people like pumpkin racing.
The pictures are awesome by the way. If you didn’t have pics, it honestly wouldv’e been hard to believe you (kidding lol)
John´s last blog ..Do You Always Need a Plan to Get What You Want?
Next year, Jeff and I have GOT to enter this! Too much fun!!!!
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..These Dreams
@ John: I hadn’t really planned to write a post about it but, when I saw it for myself I thought, I have GOT to take pictures of this and share it with my readers… they’ll never believe it if I don’t.
@ Jay: Yeah, Jeff says he’s already started to nurture his pumpkin for next year… it’s the little one that’s strapped on the back of that first trailer. Actually, there’s a super long, skinny zucchini thing in that picture too… on the left. He may use that guy as an oar!
Hey Lisis.
This is a cool place and area you went to. That was a good idea to take part in it. I like pictures like that to get a better sense of the event. That’s a cool birthday trip.
These pumpkins are huge. I like to cook pumpkin or squash once in a while, when they are in season. One time we made a pumpkin pie and gave some to a couple of friends and it was great.
It is nice to see you and Hunter enjoying the special day.
Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..Outdoor Mountain Hiking Trail Adventure – Realistic Optimism
Hi Lisis!
GREAT fun! And yes it is absolutely crazy! These are the kinds of events that remind us not to take life so seriously but just go do goofy things for the sheer kid-like FUN! I love it! Thank you SO much for sharing this!
As for me actually doing this? I’d have a fabulous time taking pictures (not much of a water baby) and I would certainly get caught up in the wacky fun of it all – I actually did just looking at your photos!
Hey, Armen! We actually got some pumpkin pie while we were there. Also Ben & Jerry’s’ was serving scoops of their Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor, but it was WAY too cold for me to try ice cream. Maybe next year I’ll be more acclimated.
Hi, Suzen… that’s exactly right. When you see all these grown people (not just college kids) being silly and goofy and fun, it’s a great reminder to not take life so seriously. I’m sure they all have “stuff” going on in their lives too, but instead of staying home worrying, or feeling sorry for themselves, they get out… mingle… race pumpkins… whatever it takes to keep enjoying life!
I would totally try this, if the water weren’t SO cold. Maybe I’ll race a summer squash, or watermelon instead.
Haha Lisis!
That is one insane story, races in a pumpkin across the ocean!
Definitely sounds like something I wanna do!
Great post, it made me laugh!
Have an awesome day!
Diggy – Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..How to Resist the Temptation of Junk Food
Happy Birthday! It looks like we share the same birthday, but I didn’t get to do any thing as cool as watching giant pumpkins being paddled around a lake. Sounds like a great way to spend the day. It took me a second to recall the tune, but once I did, I really had to laugh at the “keep on swimming.”
Eric | Eden Journal´s last blog ..The Day I was Laid Off was the Best Day of My Life
Row THIS! : )
Alison | Quest for Balance´s last blog ..Adventure: The Lake Champlain Giant Pumpkin Regatta
Racing pumpkins is something I have never heard of or even thought of. (which is probably a good thing)
Looks like a blast. I am looking forward to our photos for your next birthday when you will be IN one of those giant racing pumpkins!
Those guys are crazy…
brigid´s last blog ..My School Of Thought
When you announced that pumpkin regatta I had no idea what to think. Now I do, great fun. I love the car sticker, the xtreme sport of gardening.
Yes, I would go and wear a wet suit. John and I have been the rescuing kayaks at swimming events and that was fun too.
Either way, join in and have fun too. Once you are cold, you get numb and then you do not feel so cold anymore.
It looks like there are quite a lot of good (crazy) people to connect with in that Vermont.
wilma ham´s last blog ..What happens when instead of an old fashioned partner I become a sponsor.
“size matters”
HILARIOUS.
Hayden Tompkins´s last blog ..How to Sabotage Your Income
Hope you enjoyed a most wonderful Birthday. Great fun with the pumpkins, amazing and random indeed. You go to all the cool places.
Thank you for your comments. I promise, I do read them all. I know I haven’t been on top of replying to comments lately, but it’s because I’m trying to make the most of these last few days of Fall. In fact, I haven’t even unpacked most of my boxes because I figure I’ll be kind of “trapped” in here before long (trying to stay warm), so it’ll give me something to do!
I fully expect to do a lot more blogging (and commenting) once Winter settles in to stay. For now, I’m thrilled you guys are here, I’m reading all your comments, and I’m spending a LOT of time playing outside.
[...] @Serene_Balance I think you’ve captured the essence of Vermont. Lake Champain Giant Pumpkin Regatta. http://bit.ly/mbaYh [...]
[...] Ever heard of a pumpkin race? Wait, don’t answer that. Lisis from Quest for Balance has and she told us all about it in her post this week. Check it out. [...]
I think I want to move to Vermont! What a cool way to spend a day, and I love the way the crowd supported the guy who flipped and swam back with his pumpkin. My gosh, simple pleasures… That’s what I love about New England. It’s history, tradition, and honest fun for anyone who wants to take part in it.
So glad you wrote about this, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..A Study in Sibling Reverie
Hey, Megan! I loved that part too. At first it seemed like everyone was just waiting for someone to flip their pumpkin and land in the water so they could revel in the fact that the person was an idiot for racing in the first place. While I was waiting for the event to start, I heard several people say, “I just wanna see someone flip over!”
But then, when it actually happened, there was a moment of, “See, I told you so” going on, but it quickly turned to, “Come on! You can do it! Don’t give up!” I’m not sure if it was the crowd or the guy’s non-quitter spirit, but all of a sudden we were all one, wishing him (and each other) the very best.
Kinda nice, really.
[...] and get me through: my son’s smile, the beauty of Fall, roasting marshmallows by a camp fire, racing giant pumpkins in the lake… just about anything will do. When times are easy, I make a mental (and often written) list [...]
Hi Lisis,
I have not seen this before and I find it really interesting. What does it even feel like to race in a pumpkin? I guess the best way to know it is to try it out myself.
Cheers,
Vincent
Vincent´s last blog ..Why Bankers Only Lend Money To The Rich?
Vincent, if you want to try racing in next year’s regatta, I’ll be in the front row, cheering you on!!!!